Cleveland Volcano in Alaska Shows Signs of Eruption (PHOTOS)

Mount Cleveland, also called Cleveland Volcano, located at the Aleutian Islands in Alaska has been reportedly oozing lava, highlighting a possibility of eruption.

Satellite images showed a 165 m (541 ft) in diameter lava dome in the summit crater on Sept. 20, which increased from 150 m (490 ft) as of Sept. 9, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).

As of Sept. 22, it could not be verified if the eruption of lava at Cleveland was still continuing because of obstruction in satellite views due to clouds, but an increasing lava dome in the crater increases the possibility of an explosive eruption, AVO said on Thursday.

Though the growing lava dome remains entirely contained within the summit crater, it is now approximately 20 meters below the eastern rim of the Cleveland Volcano.

“If lava dome growth continues, lava may overflow the crater rim to produce a lava flow. Sudden collapse of the effusing lava could result in the generation of a volcanic ash cloud.”

AVO, which has issued a “Watch” alert for Mount Cleveland, said there was no necessary indication that the Cleveland Volcano will erupt, but volcanic events can occur without warning and may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours.

Explosions from the summit crater vent could spew ash plume as high as 20,000 ft above sea level that could easily get in the paths of aircrafts and threaten air travel.

It is a joint program of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAFGI) and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS). The Alaska Volcano Observatory has issued notifications about volcanic-ash hazards from Mount Cleveland to the aviation sector.

AVO is unable to forecast a confirmed eruption, but Cleveland Volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased potential of eruption, it said.