ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, May 14, 2009, 2:00 PM AKDT (Thursday, May 14, 2009, 22:00 UTC)

REDOUBT VOLCANO (VNUM #313030)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

The 2009 eruption of Redoubt continues. Seismicity over the past 24 hours has changed little and remains elevated. Rock avalanche events, discrete earthquakes and minor volcanic tremor have been evident in seismic data. The lava dome at the summit continues to grow and occasional incandescence has been observed in nighttime images from the hut web camera. Growing lava domes are typically unstable and can collapse with little or no warning. If the lava dome in the summit crater does collapse it will likely result in significant ash emissions and pyroclastic flows that can initiate lahars in the Drift River Valley.

Vigorous steam emissions are continuing from the margins of the lava dome, and a steam plume is rising to about the summit of the volcano. Rock fall activity continues from the unstable slopes of the lava dome, producing minor ash clouds in the vicinity of the summit. No ash has been detected by satellite or radar data.

AVO is monitoring Redoubt volcano closely and the observatory is staffed 24/7. AVO will provide frequent updates of the volcano's status and the earliest possible warning of significant explosive activity and other hazardous phenomena. An AVO gas measurement and observation flight is in progress.

VENIAMINOF VOLCANO (VNUM #312070)
56°11'52" N 159°23'35" W, Summit Elevation 8225 ft (2507 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Seismicity at Veniaminof remains elevated. AVO continues to observe small earthquakes and volcanic tremor located near the intra-caldera cone. No unusual activity has been observed on satellite data or by pilots flying in the area.





VOLCANO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: http://www.avo.alaska.edu

RECORDING ON THE STATUS OF ALASKA'S VOLCANOES (907) 786-7478

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Tom Murray, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
tlmurray@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAF
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907) 474-7131

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

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