Current Pavlof status from AVO:
Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:10 PM AKDT (2010 UTC)
PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW#1102-03-)
55°24′57″ N161°53′24″ W, Summit Elevation 8261 ft (2518 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WatchThe eruption of Pavlof continues. Seismic activity continues to fluctuate over levels consistent with those observed during the past week. Satellite views continue to show persistent thermal anomalies at the volcano. A partly clear view by satellite last night showed a steam plume to ~20,000 feet above sea level, otherwise views have been obscured by clouds. A brief view of Pavlof by the web camera in Cold Bay showed no steam plume this morning.
If activity should increase in intensity, larger ash clouds that could affect higher-flying aircraft may be produced. The most immediate ground hazard in the vicinity of the volcano includes light ash fall on nearby communities. Previous historical eruptions from Pavlof caused only a few millimeters (about 1/10th of an inch) of ash to fall on King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, Cold Bay, and Sand Point. Mudflows in drainages from the flanks of the volcano, and lava flows and avalanching of hot debris on the upper reaches of the volcano are also of concern in the uninhabited areas around the volcano. Satellite and seismic data and eyewitness observations suggest most of the surface lava activity is occurring on the southeast sector of the steep-sided volcano; this suggests that the Pacific Ocean side of the volcano is at most risk from avalanching hot debris.
At this time, we expect this eruption to follow the pattern of previous eruptions. The last eruption of Pavlof began in September 1996 and consisted of a several-month-long series of ash explosions, lava-fountaining, and lava-flow production. Ash clouds reached as high as 30,000 ft asl on one occasion. However, most ash clouds were below 20,000 ft asl. Prior to 1996, Pavlof erupted in 1986 sending ash as high as 49,000 ft asl on at least one occasion. A hazard assessment for Pavlof and the Emmons Lake volcanic center is available on the web at http://www.avo.alaska.edu/pdfs/SIR2006-5248.pdf
