A swarm of over 100 shallow earthquakes at Mount Spurr in Alaska has led scientists to believe that the volcano may be moving closer to an eruption. The volcano, which last experienced explosive eruptions in 1953 and 1992, could pose a threat to air traffic and potentially disrupt travel between the US and Asia. Mount Spurr is known for ejecting volcanic ash rather than lava, with plumes reaching heights of up to 45,000 feet in the atmosphere. The Alaska Volcano Observatory is closely monitoring the volcano for any signs of impending eruption, using seismic data, cameras, satellite data, and infrasound sensors. While the volcano has been showing signs of unrest for about 11 months, an eruption is not certain. Previous eruptions have been accompanied by warning signals such as changes in earthquake activity, ground deformation, or the appearance of volcanic gas and steam. The last significant eruption in 1992 caused ash to fall over Anchorage, damaging cars, surfaces, and yards. Mount Spurr is part of the Ring of Fire, a region of frequent volcanic activity along the Aleutian Islands. Previous eruptions in its long history have shut down airports and sent ash plumes tens of thousands of feet into the sky. Scientists are closely monitoring the volcano for any changes that could indicate an imminent eruption.
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