Smithsonian Institution
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, v. 20, no. 11/12, November-December 1995
Shishaldin (Aleutian Islands)  Eruption sends ash plume above 10 km
     altitude

Shishaldin
Aleutian Islands, USA
54.75 N, 163.97 W; summit elev. 2,857 m
All times are local (=3D GMT - 9 hours)

Based on satellite imagery and pilot reports received by the U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration, an eruption began at 1830 on 23
December. Between 1830 and 2000 on 23 December, pilots reported an
ash plume as high as 10.5 km altitude (35,000 feet); prevailing
winds carried the plume primarily N and NW. Analysis of a satellite
image from 1912 showed a possible small ash plume extending ~50 km
NW. Possible very light ashfall was reported at approximately 0130
on 24 December in Cold Bay, 90 km NE; this ash would have been
carried by westerly low-altitude winds.

Shishaldin is a symmetric cone with a small summit crater that
produces a steady cloud of steam (see Bulletin v. 20, no. 5) with
occasional ash. It has erupted at least 27 times since 1775, most
recently for several months in 1986-87.

Information Contact: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a
cooperative program of (a) U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 University
Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4667 USA (Email:
tkeith@tardaddy.wr.usgs.gov), (b) Geophysical Institute, Univ. of
Alaska, P.O. Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320 USA (Email:
eich@dino.gi.alaska.edu), and (c) Alaska Division of Geological &
Geophysical Surveys, 794 University Ave., Suite 200, Fairbanks, AK
99709 USA.