A volcano near Alaska's largest city could erupt in the coming weeks or months, scientists say

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A volcano adjacent Alaska’s largest metropolis is showing caller signs of unrest, with experts saying the likelihood of an eruption astatine Mount Spurr successful the adjacent fewer weeks oregon months has increased.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory said Wednesday that it had measured during caller overflights “significantly elevated volcanic state emissions,” and said signs indicated an eruption was likely, though not certain, successful the weeks oregon months ahead.

“We expect to spot further increases successful seismic activity, state emissions and aboveground heating anterior to an eruption, if 1 were to occur,” the observatory said successful a statement. “Such stronger unrest whitethorn supply days to weeks of further warning.”

What is Mount Spurr?

It is an 11,070-foot (3,374-meter) tall, ice- and snow-covered volcano astir 80 miles (129 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage.

Mount Spurr is 1 of 53 volcanoes successful Alaska that person been progressive wrong the past 250 years. It has 2 main vents.

When did Mount Spurr past erupt?

The past known eruption from the acme vent was much than 5,000 years ago. The Crater Peak vent, meanwhile, erupted erstwhile successful 1953 and 3 times successful 1992, according to the observatory. The Crater Peak vent is astir 2 miles (3 kilometers) southbound of the summit.

There person been periods of accrued earthquake oregon different enactment since then, including betwixt 2004 and 2006, but nary different eruptions. Last October, the observatory raised its alert presumption for Mount Spurr from greenish to yellowish erstwhile an summation successful seismic enactment became pronounced and a crushed deformation was spotted successful outer data.

The astir apt result of the existent unrest would beryllium an eruption oregon eruptions akin to those successful 1953 and 1992, the observatory said.

However, “It is besides imaginable that nary eruption occurs and the contiguous enactment dilatory dies distant oregon that a smaller eruption takes place,” John Power, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey astatine the observatory, wrote successful an email.

What impacts could an eruption have?

The eruptions during the past period lasted betwixt 3 and 7 hours, produced ash columns that roseate much than 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) supra oversea level and deposited ashfall successful south-central Alaska communities, according to the observatory.

In 1992, ashfall of astir a quarter-inch successful Anchorage prompted residents to enactment wrong oregon to deterioration masks if going extracurricular to debar breathing ash. The unreality drifted arsenic acold arsenic Greenland.

Volcanic ash is angular and crisp and has been utilized arsenic an concern abrasive. The powdered stone tin origin a pitchy motor to unopen down.

The 1992 eruptions prompted the impermanent closures of airports successful Anchorage and different communities.

Closing airports tin beryllium much than an inconvenience successful a authorities wherever astir communities aren't connected to Alaska's main roadworthy system. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport besides is among the world’s busiest cargo hubs.