Alaska Volcano Observatory | Augustine Alaska Volcano Observatory Volcanoes Webcams Webcams Ashcam GUI News Explore Data Explore Data References Webicorder Hazard Alert System Eruptions Geochem Locations Glossary Images Get Involved About AVO About AVO Staff Study Areas Alert Levels FAQ Augustine Description Current Activity Past Activity Images Maps Bibliography Prepare Ash Forecasting Facts Official Name: Augustine Volcano Seismically Monitored: Yes Color Code: GREEN Alert Level: NORMAL Elevation: 1260m (4133ft) Latitude: 59.3626 Longitude: -153.435 Smithsonian VNum: 313010 Pronunciation: Your browser does not support the audio element. Nearby Towns: Pedro Bay 38 mi (60 km) NW Pope-Vannoy Landing 39 mi (64 km) NW Kokhanok 47 mi (75 km) NW Nanwalek 53 mi (86 km) SE Port Graham 57 mi (91 km) SE Distance from Anchorage: 176 mi (284 km) Description From Miller and others (1998) [1] : "Augustine Island, an 8 by 11 km island in lower Cook Inlet, is composed almost entirely of the deposits of Augustine Volcano. Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary strata form a bench on the south side of the island and are overlain by granitoid glacial erratics and volcanic hyaloclastites. The volcano consists of a central dome and lava flow complex, surrounded by pyroclastic debris. The irregular coastline of Augustine Island is due to the repeated catastrophic collapse of the summit dome, forming debris avalanches down the flanks and into Cook Inlet. At least 11 avalanches have occurred in the past 2000 years with an average recurrence interval of about 150-200 years [2] [3] "Augustine lies within the area of uplift resulting from the 1964 Alaska earthquake; 30-33 cm of uplift was measured on the northwest side of the island [4] . A 25-meter-high, south-facing submarine scarp 3 km south of the island, of similar orientation to joint sets in sedimentary rocks of the Kamishak River area (on the Alaska Peninsula), is almost certainly of tectonic origin." Name Origin The volcanic peak on Augustine Island was named "Mount San Augustine" in an 1867 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey report, and "Mount Chinabora" on a 1928 U.S. Post Route map. Captain James Cook named the island "Saint Augustine Island" in 1778 because it was sighted on St. Augustine's Day (Orth, 1971). In recent years, the "Saint" has been dropped from the name of both the island and the volcano; the volcano's formal name is "Augustine Volcano." Tebenkov (1852) called the island "O[strov] Chernoburoy", meaning "black brown" (Orth, 1971). References Cited [1] Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska , 1998 Miller, T. P., McGimsey, R. G., Richter, D. H., Riehle, J. R., Nye, C. J., Yount, M. E., and Dumoulin, J. A., 1998, Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-0582, 104 p. title page PDF 52 intro and TOC PDF 268 KB eastern part - Wrangell to Ukinrek Maars PDF 972 KB central part - Chiginagak to Cleveland PDF 2,463 KB western part - Carlisle to Kiska PDF 956 KB references PDF 43 KB [2] Cyclic formation of debris avalanches at Mount St Augustine volcano , 1992 Beget, J. E., and Kienle, J., 1992, Cyclic formation of debris avalanches at Mount St Augustine volcano: Nature, v. 356, n. 6371, p. 701-704. [3] Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Iliamna Volcano, Alaska , 1999 Waythomas, C. F., and Miller, T. P., 1999, Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Iliamna Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-0373, 31 p., 1 sheet, scale unknown. full-text PDF 2.84 MB map sheet plate 1.0 MB [4] Recent volcanic activity on Augustine Island, Alaska , 1968 Detterman, R. L., 1968, Recent volcanic activity on Augustine Island, Alaska: in Geological Survey research 1968, Chapter C, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper PP 0600-C, p. C126-C129. full-text PDF 185 KB Current Activity No new updates for Augustine volcano since September 6, 2019, 10:29 am. Recent Updates Three stations upgraded from analog to digital Sep 6th, 2019 10:29:39 AM This morning's earthquake was tectonic, not volcanic, in origin. No changes detected at Augustine or Iliamna volcanoes. Jan 24th, 2016 09:29:30 AM Typical background steaming at volcano recently more apparent due to atmospheric conditions. Aug 28th, 2009 03:25:33 PM Webcams Augustine Lagoon [AULG, 59 ft] Augustine [Homer, 709 ft] Augustine Mound [AU22, 344 ft] Webicorder Color Code Timeline An explanation of color codes and alert levels can be found here Loading Past Activity... Loading Images... Loading Maps... Loading Bibliography... Before an eruption Sign up for volcanic activty alerts from the Volcano Notification System (US Geological Survey) Augustine Preliminary Volcano Hazard Assessment Ashfall & Preparedness Information Ashfall impacts & preparedness (US Geological Survey) Volcanic health hazards & impacts (International Volcanic Health Hazards Network) Ash Alert! Pamphlet (AK Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management) Volcanic Ashfall (AK Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Air Quality) During and After an Eruption National Weather Service Ashfall Warnings are posted here when in effect Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Ted Stevens Airport Flight Status (Anchorage) Fairbanks Airport Flight Status Other Useful Links Citizen Science: Ashfall collection instructions Citizen Science: IS ASH FALLING? Report your observations (yes or no!) Ash Forecasting Mathematical models developed by the USGS forecast various aspects of how a volcanic ash plume will interact with wind—where, how high, and how fast ash particles will be transported in the atmosphere, as well as where ash will fall out and accumulate on the ground. AVO runs these models when a volcano is restless by assuming a reasonable hypothetical eruption, to provide a pre-eruptive forecast of areas likely to be affected. During an ongoing eruption, AVO will update the forecast with actual observations (eruption start time and duration, plume height) as they become available. View the current airborne ash cloud models for Augustine Ashfall thickness forecast The Ash3d model was developed by the USGS to forecast how a volcanic ash plume will interact with wind and where ash will fall out and accumulate on the ground. AVO runs these models twice daily when a volcano is restless by assuming a reasonable hypothetical eruption altitude and duration. The map shows the model results of ashfall thickness for areas that are likely to be affected, if one were to occur. During an ongoing eruption, AVO will update the forecast with actual observations (eruption start time and duration, plume height) as they become available, and these plots will be automatically updated. The National Weather Service Anchorage Forecast Office will issue the official ashfall warning product and post them at weather.gov/afc THESE PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE CURRENT. During an actual eruption, see National Weather Service forecasts of ashfall: Ashfall Forecast Click on the X on the graphic (upper right) to expand the map to show the map legend. Ashfall Start Time This map shows the modeled estimate of the time it would take for ashfall to begin following an eruption. It corresponds to the ashfall thickness forecast map shown above. This map uses the start time of either the twice-daily hypothetical model runs (time shown in the legend) or the actual eruption start time (if one were to occur). In the case of an actual eruption, the National Weather Service Anchorage Forecast Office will issue the official ashfall warning product that includes the ashfall start time and post them at weather.gov/afc THESE PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE CURRENT. During an actual eruption, see National Weather Service forecasts of ashfall: Ashfall Start Times Forecast Click on the X on the graphic (upper right) to expand the map to show the map legend. USGS Volcano Notification Service Contact AVO Information Quality FOIA This website is supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Cooperative Agreement Grant G22AC00137 and G23AC00070. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.