Alaska Pavlof Volcano eruption threat news 2016: Alert level upgraded to yellow

Pavlof Volcano, also considered one of the most consistently active volcanoes in Alaska, threatens to erupt as alert level upgraded to yellow.

"What that means is the volcano has moved from its normal non-eruptive activity to a level unrest, where it could erupt," said research geologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), Robert McGimsey, as quoted by Alaska Dispatch News (ADN).

AVO heightened the volcano's alert level from green to yellow Friday, July 1 as it observed increased seismicity in the last 24 hours. It also captured web camera images of minor steam emissions Friday morning. AVO noted that Pavlof Volcano has a history of interruptions that could last for weeks to months to its eruptive episodes but that it could also erupt with little or no warning.

Tech Times quoted AVO's report the next day:

"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."

Pavlof Volcano is a stratovolcano covered in snow and ice and can be found on the southwest of Alaska Peninsula about 953 km (592 mi) southwest of Anchorage. Its diameter reaches 7 km (4.4 mi) with ash plumes that could reach as high as 49,000 feet just like it did during its most recent eruption in March.

At least 41 passenger flights cancelled March 28 when AVO raised aviation warning to "red" as the eruption sent up ash to an altitude of 37,000 feet. The eruption blanketed the village of Nelson Lagoon, where about 40 people live, with black grit and triggered high levels of quakes.

Pavlof Volcano erupted more than 40 times on record.