Alaska Volcano Observatory

From Neal and McGimsey (1997): "Following the late 1995 eruption (McGimsey and Neal, 1996), AVO staff examined satellite images of Shishaldin on a daily basis and tracked the decay of a hot spot at the summit of the volcano. AVO also reviewed USCG footage of the volcano taken during routine patrol missions; the footage showed no unequivocal signs of eruptive activity but commonly captured a vigorous steam plume emanating from the summit crater. Photographs by AVO personnel on May 16, 1996, however, clearly display fresh ash on the upper flanks and crater rim [see figures 7a, 7b, in original text]; no specific eruptive event had been documented to account for this ash, and its origin is unknown. Based on its fresh and snow-free appearance, it was likely deposited not long before the photos were taken.