Ash emission detected at Alaska’s volatile Cleveland volcano

November 12, 2012 – ALASKA – Earth-orbiting satellites detected a small ash cloud from Mount Cleveland – otherwise known as Cleveland Volcano – which makes up a large part of a remote and uninhabited island in the east-central Aleutian Island chain. The satellites took note of the small eruption at 11:47 a.m. local time in Alaska (20:47 UTC). The ash was drifting slowly toward the east-northeast from the volcano’s summit. Scientists keep an eye on this volcano, because it can be hazardous to aircraft. The aviation code color for Cleveland Volcano currently has been raised from yellow to orange. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said in a release: Sudden explosions of blocks and ash remain possible with little or no warning. The previous confirmed explosion occurred on August 20 [2012]. Ash clouds, if produced, could exceed 20,000 feet above sea level. his volcano – located about 75 kilometers (45 miles) west of the community of Nikolski, and 1,500 kilometers (940 miles) southwest of Anchorage – is one of the most active in this region. It has erupted at least 21 times in the last 230 years, with its only known direct fatality occurring in 1944. Most recently, Mount Cleveland has erupted three times in 2009, twice in 2010, and once in 2011. Scientists observed the most recent minor ash emission in August 2012, prior to the November 10 event. –Earth Sky