Cleveland Volcano in Alaska Showing Signs of Eruption [PHOTOS]

By IBTimes Staff Reporter | September 23, 2011

Mount Cleveland, also called the Cleveland Volcano, in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, has been reportedly oozing lava, presaging a possible eruption.

Satellite images showed a 165 meter (541 feet) in diameter lava dome in the summit crater on Sept. 20, which increased from 150 meters (490 feet) as of Sept. 9, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

As of Thursday, it could not be verified if the eruption of lava was continuing because clouds blocked satellite views, but a rising lava dome in the crater increases the possibility of an explosive eruption, AVO said.

Though the growing lava dome remains entirely contained within the summit crater, it is now approximately 20 meters below the eastern rim.

"If lava dome growth continues, lava may overflow the crater rim to produce a lava flow. Sudden collapse of the effusing lava could result in the generation of a volcanic ash cloud."

AVO, which has issued a "watch" alert for Mount Cleveland, said there was no necessary indication that the volcano will erupt, but volcanic events can occur without warning and may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours.

Like us on Facebook

Explosions from the summit crater vent could spew ash plume as high as 20,000 ft above sea level that could easily get in the paths of aircrafts and threaten air travel.

The observatory, a joint program of the United States Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the state Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, has issued notifications about volcanic ash hazards from Mount Cleveland to aviation.

AVO is unable to forecast a confirmed eruption, but the Cleveland Volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased potential of eruption, it said.

Aerial photograph of Cleveland's August 2011 lava and summit crater. The formation of the lava dome is observed in satellite imagery since July 19, 2011. The dome is reportedly growing. PHOTO: Kym Yano/NOAA

A close shot of Cleveland's lava dome and summit crater taken in August 2011. PHOTO: Dave Withrow/NOAA

Worldview satellite image collected on August 9, 2011 of the summit crater of Cleveland Volcano shows an irregularly shaped dark object, which is the newly erupted lava dome. It is surrounded by brightly colored mineral deposits produced by volcanic gas emissions. PHOTO: Dave Schneider/USGS/DigitalGlobe/Alaska Volcano Observatory

Satellite radar image from the TerraSAR-X sensor of the summit of Cleveland Volcano showing the summit crater and growth of the lava dome. PHOTO: Dave Schneider, Zhong Lu/USGS/Alaska Volcano Observatory