Okmok Volcano

Alaska - Aleutian Islands - Umnak Island


SUMMARY:

Type: shield volcano with caldera
Activity: active
Last Eruption: April 1997
Rock Type: basalt to andesite, some dacite and rare rhyolite
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 53.42 N
Longitude: 168.13 W


Geologic Background:

Okmok is a 10-km-wide caldera that occupies most of the E end of Umnak Island, located 120 km SW of Dutch Harbor in the eastern Aleutian Islands.

Historic Activity:

  • Eruptions have occurred in 1805, 1817, 1824, 1830, 1878, 1899, 1931, 1936, 1938, 1943, 1945, and 1958.
  • Okmok has had several eruptions in historical time typically consisting of ash emissions, occasionally to heights over 10 km but generally to much lower altitudes, sometimes accompanied by lava flows.
  • Lava flows crossed the caldera floor in 1945 and 1958.

Recent Activity:

  • In July 1983, a large ash plume extending 100 kilometers from volcano was observed.
  • From November 1986 to December 1987 there were been intermittent reports of steam and ash emissions from a cinder cone within caldera.
  • In February 1988 dark ash emissions began from new vent at SW base of cone. 
  • Small earthquake swarm during May 11-15, 2001

Data Sources:

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 8, No. 8; V. 11, No. 12 to V. 13, No. 2).
  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 22, No. 1 to V. 62, No. 8)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Last Update: 1/2/02