Alaska's volcano, Mount Spurr 'likely' to erupt warns scientists

Mount Spurr, an active volcano near Alaska's largest city Anchorage is showing heighted sings of activity increasing the possibility of an eruption as per latest research.

On March 7 and March 11, scientists with the Alaska Volcano Observatory said that monitoring flights over the volcano, “measured significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions.”

These signs show that new magma has formed under the volcano and are indicative an eruption is likely however it is uncertain if it will occur in the weeks or months to come.

“We expect to see further increases in seismic activity, gas emissions and surface heating prior to an eruption, if one were to occur,” the observatory said in a statement. “Such stronger unrest may provide days to weeks of additional warning.”

Mount Spurr is 3,374 meter tall, snow covered volcano situated roughly 129 kilometers northwest of Anchorage, the state’s most populous city and is clearly visible from the city.

It is one of the 53 volcanoes in Alaska that have been active in the last 250 years. Over 5,000 years the main vent of the volcano has remained dormant. However, the Crater Peak has erupted on a number of occasions.

According to the observatory, the Carter Peak erupted one in 1953 and three times in 1992.

Previous eruptions lasted several hours and ejected plumes of volcanic ash as high as 45,000 feet into the atmosphere. This led to ashfall in Anchorage and airports were shut temporarily. It also impacted water supplies and southcentral Alaska was covered in a quarter-inch of ashfall.

Increased seismic activity has been recorded since, especially between 2004 and 2006, but there were no eruptions.

In October last year a spike in seismic activity led the observatory to change its alert status from green to yellow.

According to the scientists at the observatory the current unrest can result in an eruption similar to those in 1953 and 1992.

"While we expect additional changes to monitoring data prior to an eruption, it is also possible that an eruption could occur with little or no additional warning. This would be extremely hazardous for recreators on Mount Spurr or near its drainages as well as those overflying the volcano," the statement by the observatory said.

They also warned that carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide levels are elevated which maybe hazard to anyone in low-lying areas around or downwind of the gas vents.

The situation is closely being monitored by Alaska Volcano Observatory.