Since July, scientists have been watching Cleveland Volcano for signs of an eruption. The potential for an explosive event has only increased in the last month.
A lava dome has now reached the lip of the volcano’s crater, and if it keeps growing, it could overflow and create an ash cloud. The volcano is located on unpopulated Chuginadak Island, so an eruption wouldn’t create any immediate risk for human life. But Cleveland does lie under a major flight path, and air travel could be affected if the volcano does blow. Ash fall could also impact commercial fishing by damaging boats, and it could also be harmful to people with respiratory problems.
Governor Sean Parnell announced this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend this morning, and it comes out to $1,174. Payouts will occur on October 6th.
PFDs are based on the Alaska Permanent Fund’s average performance over five years. They’ve been on a decline since 2008, when a record amount of $2069 was paid out. Last year, the dividend was $1,281. The year before that, it was $1305.
The number of PFD applicants rose this year by 1 percent. About 676,000 Alaskans applied for the dividend, and so far, 628,000 of those applications have been approved. The total amount of money being paid out is about $760 million.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake was felt on Shemya just after 10am on Wednesday. Its epicenter was about 60 miles from the small Air Force base and about 20 from the unpopulated island of Attu. There have been no reports of injuries or damage.
The Aleutian Chain has seen a good deal of seismic activity in recent months. A 7.1-magnitude quake hit the central Aleutians in June, followed by a 6.8-magnitude aftershock in September. But according to seismologist Natasha Rupert with the Alaska Earthquake Information Center, today’s quake likely isn’t a related event.
The World War II Valor in the Pacific Monument was only established in 2008, and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge officials are still determining how to manage it. A recent trip to Atka provided a major opportunity for local input.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory bumped the aviation color code from yellow to orange yesterday after the group observed that the lava dome in Cleveland’s crater was growing again. The dome has expanded 50 percent this week, and it is now nearly 400 feet in diameter.
Cleveland lies 115 miles from Unalaska, and a major eruption could affect air travel in the region.
Last week, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation released their final report on a spill that took place in the Adak small boat harbor last year.
According to the document, nearly 70,000 gallons of #2 diesel fuel were released from an underground storage tank operated by Adak Petroleum in January of 2010. The spill was the result of over-filling. The spill area was monitored for roughly two months, and clean-up efforts finally concluded 11 months later with 5,000 gallons of diesel recovered. Marine waters were contaminated, but the report lists no specific impacts on wildlife.
For the second time this summer, residents of the Aleutian Islands evacuated for a tsunami warning. A 6.8 -magnitude earthquake hit just before 3am near Amutka Pass, about 200 miles from Unalaska. The wave was supposed to hit the community shortly after 4. Residents were able to return home when an all-clear was given at 4:12.
According to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, no destructive wave was recorded and the region is no longer in danger. That’s because the quake hit at a depth of 26 miles. It’s also because the quake turned out to be smaller than expected – initial readings had the quake at a magnitude of 7.1, and the number was later revised down to 6.8. A representative with the United States Geological Survey says that the water level only rose about two centimeters in Atka, which was also evacuated.
After a summer of eruptive activity, Mount Cleveland has finally calmed down some.
Today, the Alaska Volcano Observatory downgraded its color code for Cleveland from “orange” to “yellow.” AVO had detected a lava dome expanding in Cleveland’s crater early this month, but that dome has not shown growth in the past two weeks.
Cleveland has not released any ash clouds, and explosive activity has been limited. However, scientists warn that the volcano could start rumbling again at any time. In the event of serious eruptive activity, air travel could be affected. AVO will continue to monitor Cleveland using satellite data.
The Northern Waters Task Force met up for another meeting this week, this time in Unalaska. The group was created by the state legislature, and it’s tasked with coming up with recommendations on Arctic policy that work for Alaska.
KUCB’s Alexandra Gutierrez was at the meeting to learn about role the Aleutians are expected to play in the changing north
