Decreased Activity from Alaska's Pavlof Volcano Lowers Warning Levels

After three days of decreased activity, the Alaska Volcano Observatory lowered the warnings for Pavlof Volcano.

The observatory stated there is no longer any evidence of ash, gas or elevated surface temperatures at Pavlof's summit and seismic tremors and minor explosions normally associated with volcanic activity are no longer detected by observatory instruments. Consequently, the aviation color code for Pavlof was lowered from orange to yellow and the volcano alert status was reduced from "watch" to "advisory"

But the AVO indicated Pavlof is known to fluctuate from high to low periods of volcanic activity.

"This pause in eruptive activity does not necessarily indicate that the eruption has ended," the AVO said, adding that it will continue to monitor Pavlof closely because renewed volcanic activity is possible and my not always be preceded by significant seismic activity.

Pavlof, an 8,262-foot (2,518m) stratovolcano about 625 miles (1,000km) southwest of Anchorage, began erupting May 13, at times sending plumes of volcanic ash and gas beyond the 20,000-foot threshold considered a threat to transcontinental aircraft.

When Pavlof last erupted in 2007, the event lasted 29 days. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the region, having erupted 40 times since record keeping began.

"The 2007 eruption was, perhaps, short compared to past eruption in historical times. It's most common that eruptions at Pavlof go on for months," said the AVO's Kristi Wallace.

Farther away, isolated in western Aleutian Island chain, Cleveland Volcano is reportedly rumbling again after a brief period of no eruptive activity. The latest reports on Cleveland indicated a cooling lava flow and slightly elevated surface temperatures, but no ash emissions. The 5676-foot (1,730m) stratovolcano remains on "watch" status and has an aviation code of orange.