3 volcanoes in the Alaskan chain of Aleutian islands are erupting right now, and two more are rumbling. According to an NBC report, Aleutian 3 volcanoes erupted at the same time for the first time in at least seven years. This increasing volcanic activity is not causing any inconveniences at this time. But it is an interesting issue; volcanoes may be unpredictable, so scientists are keeping an eye on it.
According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the Great Sitkin volcano, Mount Pavlof, and the Semisopochnoi volcanic are all on an orange volcano warning level as of Sunday, August 15th. This suggests that eruptions are happening now, but they’re minor, rumbling ones with little ash. (https://flathatnews.com/)
Only a trace of ash has been found on Mount Pavlof and Semisopochnoi, with no ash found on Great Sitkin. However, lava is streaming from Great Sitkin. Semisopochnoi has experienced strong seismic shocks and multiple explosions.
Furthermore, Mount Cleveland and the volcanic complex on Atka have been exhibiting indicators of activity. Thereby, including increasing heat beneath Mount Cleveland and minor tremors beneath Atka. Both volcanoes are on yellow alert.
Mystery resides in the Aleutian Arc
Although such simultaneous volcanic activity is unusual in the Aleutians, it is not unheard of. The Aleutian arc is a sequence of volcanoes that runs along the subduction boundary between two tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The chain runs from Alaska’s Alaskan Peninsula to Russia’s the Kamchatka Peninsula.
When volcanoes erupt, they often cause other neighboring volcanoes to erupt as well. But the reason for this isn’t always evident. A distinct kind of mystery resides in the Aleutian Arc.
Volcanic and seismic activity expanded throughout 870 kilometers (540 miles) of the arc in 1996. Likewise, prompting experts to infer that the behavior was more than coincidence, though the cause remains unknown.
It’s also not fully clear what’s going on in this scenario. The distance between the two outermost volcanoes in this eruption, Great Sitkin, and Semisopochnoi, is over 290 kilometers. Researchers discovered last year that a series of volcanoes along the Aleutian Arc may be part of a larger supervolcano. But only one of the currently rumbling giants, Mount Cleveland, is included in the group.
There is nothing to be concerned about at present time. But the occurrence could out to be very scientifically intriguing in the future.
Geologists and volcanologists will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on the situation. It will be to determine if there’s a link to previous outbreaks of simultaneous activity. Also, to learn more about this strange arc of volcanoes.
