Long-Dormant Alaskan Volcano May Erupt Soon - Agency
Date: 28-Sep-06
Country: USA
Scientists last week spotted a cloud streaming near the Fourpeaked Volcano, a 6,903-foot (2,104-metre) mountain about 200 miles (322 kilometres) southwest of Anchorage, but area residents thought the activity was coming from another active volcano in the area.
Once the weather cleared, information gleaned from overflights and sensors placed on Fourpeaked Volcano indicated the mountain was active, said Peter Cervelli, a geophysicist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
"We see a fairly healthy amount of gas coming of this thing, which makes us think that there is magma that has moved," said Cervelli. "It's a bit of a surprise that this volcano would wake up."
The closest major community to the volcano is Kodiak, a fishing center about 80 miles (130 km) to the southeast.
Although scientists believe Fourpeaked Volcano has been quiet for the past 10,000 years, there is no way to be sure since the mountain is covered by ice and geologic studies have been limited, Cervelli said.
