Famous Alaskan volcano sees seismic disturbance after more than 30 years of dormancy

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Alaskan The volcano, which hasn’t erupted in more than 30 years, is showing some signs of increasing seismic life, although volcanologists still say that doesn’t mean an eruption is imminent.

A few small ones EARTHQUAKES were detected around Mount Spurr last week, determining the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) to raise volcanoits alert level to “yellow” from the base green.

But so far, there are no immediate signs of an eruption.

“AVO continues to closely monitor activity at Mount Spurr for signals that would indicate the volcano is nearing an eruption,” AVO wrote in its Thursday update.

Scientists say previous eruptions were preceded by increased earthquake activity, ground deformation and around the summit lake as magma moved closer to the surface.

A lava dome steams on the north side of Redoubt Mountain in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Thursday, June 21, 2012.

“Therefore, it is highly likely that, should an eruption occur, it would be preceded by additional signals that would allow advance warning,” AVO said.

Mt. Spurr is just over 75 miles west of Anchoring and last erupted in summer since 1992, according to the AVO – an eruption that ended the previous 39 years of dormancy. That eruption came with many caveats.

Volcanologists use several tools, including seismometers, web cameras, lightning networks and satellite data to closely monitor the volcano.