Last week, the Alaska Volcano Observatory observed increased seismic activity and steam emissions from Pavlof Volcano. The movement has raised the volcano’s alert level. Located on the southwestern end of the Alaska Peninsula, the volcano is among the most active in Alaska, with over 40 recorded eruptions, as per the observatory.

Most recently, the volcano erupted in May. In March, an eruption sent ash plumes nearly 40,000 feet over sea level.

The observatory noted that eruptive activity may occur with slight or no warning, and scientists are looking forward to closely monitor the volcano continuously. However, geophysicist David Schneider told Alaskan radio station KUCB that the current activity of Pavlof is normal.

He said, “Pavlof is among those volcanoes that can erupt without very much in way of precursory activities. It’s very easy for magma to arise in volcano and make it out. So even subtle signs of unrest we think it’s prudent to increase our alert level”.

The Alaska Dispatch News reported that the volcano’s eruption in May marked the first time in two decades when notable ash-fall was recorded on the ground. The Dispatch News reported that one-eighth to two-thirds of an inch of ash had hit Nelson Lagoon, a village consisting of 39 people 55 miles northwest of the volcano.

While speaking to the Dispatch News, Barrett Taylor, a village public safety officer in Nelson Lagoon, said that it turned everything, including the rooftops, the fuel tanks, homes black.

“The Alaska Volcano Observatory has noted increased seismic activity and steam emissions last week from Pavlof Volcano, raising the volcano’s alert level,” according to a news report published by CS Monitor.

Eruptive activity could occur with little or no warning, the observatory notes, and scientists are planning on continuing to closely monitor the volcano. Pavlof’s current activity, however, is normal, geophysicist David Schneider told Alaskan radio station KUCB.

“Pavlof is one of those volcanoes that can erupt without very much in the way of precursory activities,” he said. “It’s very easy for the magma to arise in the volcano and make it out. So even subtle signs of unrest we think it is prudent to increase our alert level.”

“It turned everything black, the rooftops, the fuel tanks, homes,” Barrett Taylor, a village public safety officer in Nelson Lagoon, told the Dispatch News.

According to a report in Tech Times by Melissa Taylor, “Pavlof Volcano in Alaska may be in danger of erupting, as seismic activity has recently increased in the region. A steady plume of steam was seen emanating from the mountain, causing state authorities to raise the alert level for the area from normal to advisory status, or yellow alert.”

“The level of seismic activity at Pavlof Volcano remains slightly elevated but lower than that recorded yesterday. Nothing significant was observed in satellite views of the volcano over the past day. Web camera views of the volcano have been largely obscured by clouds with one view showing a possible small steam emission. An AVO field crew working near the volcano yesterday reported observing minor gas emissions from the summit vent,” the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported on July 2.

Pavlof is not the only volcano in the Aleutians showing signs of unrest. Cleveland Volcano, which forms the western portion of Chuginadak Island, has also recently exhibited evidence of movement of magma beneath its frozen exterior. This volcano last erupted in 2001, spewing forth a trio of clouds which rose to an altitude of 39,000 feet above sea level. Since that time, assorted debris from the mountain has occasionally reached the shoreline.