Skip to main content
Log in

A summary of volcanic and seismic activity in Katmai National Monument, Alaska

  • Published:
Bulletin Volcanologique Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A compilation of observations of volcanic eruptions since 1870 and ash stratigraphy shows that Katmai National Monument on the Alaska Peninsula has had a long history of volcanic activity. Six of the recently active vents lie in a gently curved arc, but two lie to the north of this arc and show no obvious structural relationship to it. Recent volcanic events have consisted of fumarolic activity, steaming from main vents, ash eruptions, extrusion of viscous lava flows, and pyroclastic eruptions. The observed activity shows no obvious correlation with a compilation of seismic events recorded teleseismically since 1912 and relocated by the authors using a digital computer. The eruption attributed to Mt. Katmai in 1912 has left many unanswered questions including the thickness of the ash flow tuff in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Seismic refraction results show that this tuff has a compressional velocity of about 0.6 km/sec and that considerable morainal debris may underlie it at the northern end of the Valley.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, E. T. andE. G. Zies, 1923 —A chemical study of the fumaroles of the Katmai Region. National Geograph. Soc., Contributed Technical Papers, Katmai Series 2, 75–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordet, P., G. Marinelli, M. Mittempergher, andH. Tazieff, 1963 —Contribution a l’étude volcanologique du Katmai et de la Vallée des Dix Mille Fumées (Alaska). Soc. Belge de Geol. Mem., IN-8 (7), 70 p.

  • Burk, C. A., 1965 —Geology of the Alaska Peninsula — Island Arc and Continental Margin. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 99, 250 p.

  • Coats, R. R., 1950 —Volcanic activity in the Aleutian arc. Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey, 974-B, 35–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, G. H., 1955 —Importance of Novarupta during eruption of Mt. Katmai, Alaska, in 1912. Bull. Geol. Soc. Arn. (abstract), 66, 1547.

    Google Scholar 

  • -----, 1956 —Landscapes of Alaska (H. Williams, ed.). Univ. Calif. Press, 69–71.

  • Davis, T. N. andC. Echols, 1962 —A table of Alaskan earthquakes, 1788–1961. Geophys. Res., Rept. 8, Univ. of Alaska.

  • Decker, R. W., 1963 —Proposed volcano observatory at Katmai National Nomunent, A preliminary study. Unpublished report, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 54 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1964 —Geophysical investigations in Katmai National Monument Alaska. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 45, 124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eicher, G. J., Jr., andG. A. Rounsefell, 1957 —Effects of lake fertilization by volcanic activity on abundance of salmon. Limn. and Oceanography, 2, 70–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenner, C. N., 1920 —The Katmai Region, Alaska, and the great eruption of 1912. J. Geol., 28, 596–606.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1922 —Evidences of assimilation during the Katmai eruption of 1912. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 33, 129.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1923 —The origin and mode of emplacement of the great tuff deposit of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. National Geograph. Soc., Contributed Technical Papers, Katmai Series 1, 1–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1925 —Earth movements accompanying the Katmai eruption. J. Geol., 33, 116–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1926 —The Katmai magmatic province. J. Geol., 35, 673–772.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1930 —Mount Katmai and Mount Mageik. Z. Vulkanologie, 13, 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1950 —The chemical kinetics of the Katmai eruption. Am. J. Sci., 248, 593–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griggs, R. F., 1920 —Scientific results of the Katmai expedition of National Geographic Society. Ohio State University, compilation of other papers, 492 p.

  • -----, 1922 —The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. National Geograph. Soc., Washington, D.C., 340 p.

  • Heck, N. H., 1958 —Earthquake history of the United States, part 1, revised byR.A. Eppley, 41–1. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, 74 and 76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaggar, T. A., 1927 —Eruption of Mageik in Alaska. Volcano Letter 147.

  • -----, 1929 —Aleutian notes. Volcano Letter 246.

  • —————, 1945 —Volcanoes Declare War, Logistics and Strategy of Pacific Volcano Science. Paradise of the Pacific Limited, Honolulu, 85–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, A. S. andH. N. Reiser, 1959 —Geology of the Mount Katmai area, Alaska. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey, 1058-G, 261–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovering, T. S., 1957 —Halogen-acid alteration of ash at Fumarole No. 1, Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Alaska. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 68, 1585–1604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luntey, R. S., et al., 1954 —Katmai Project Interim Report. National Park Service, Washington, D.C., 173 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mather, K. F., 1925 —Mineral resources of the Kamishak Bay Region. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey, 773-D, 159–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matumoto, T. andP. L. Ward, 1967 —A microearthquake investigation of Mt. Katmai and vicinity, Alaska. J. Geophys. Res., 72, No. 10, (in press).

  • Muller, E. H., W. Juhle, andH. W. Coulter, 1954 —Current volcanic activity in Katmai National Monument. Science, 119, 319–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —————, andH. W. Coulter, 1957 —Incipient glacier development within Katmai caldera, Alaska. J. Glaciol., 3, 13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • -----, andP. L. Ward, 1966 —Savonoski Crater, Katmai National Monument, Alaska, 1964. Final report to the Nat. Sci. Foundation on Grant GP-2821, 1966.

  • Nayudu, Y. R., 1964 —Volcanic ash deposits in the Galf of Alaska and problems of correlation of deep sea ash deposits. Marine Geol., 1, 194–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plafker, G., 1965 —Tectonic deformation associated with the 1964 Alaska Earthquake. Science, 148, 1675–1687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, H. A., 1958 —Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands. «Landscapes of Alaska»,H. Williams, ed., Univ. of Calif. Press, 61–75.

  • Shipley, J. W., 1920 —Some chemical observations on the volcanic emanations and incrustations in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Am. J. Sci., 50, 141–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, W. R., 1925 —The Cold Bay Katmai District. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey, 773, 183–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, G. L., 1954 —Eruption of Trident Volcano, Katmai National Monument, Alaska, February-June, 1953. U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 318, 7 p.

  • Spurr, J. E., 1900 —A reconnaissance in southwestern Alaska in 1898. U.S. Geol. Survey 20th Ann. Rept. (7), 43–263.

  • Sykes, L. R. andM. Landisman, 1964 —The seismicity of East Africa, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian and Red Seas. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 54, 1927–1940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tams, E., 1924 —Erdbeben und Ausbruch des Katmai im Jahre 1912. Z. fur Vulkanologie, 7, 137–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thanos, S. N., 1964 —A low-noise transistorized seismic amplifier. Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 54, 347–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobin, D. G., andL. R. Sykes, 1966 —Relationship of hypocenters of earthquakes to the geology of Alaska. J. Geophys. Res., 71, 1659–1667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, P. L. andS. N. Ward, 1966 — «Volcanic» activity in Katmai National Monument in early August, 1965. Earthquake Notes, 37, 3, 19–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, R. E., 1959 —Some effects of recent volcanic ash falls, with special reference to Alaska. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey, 1028-N, 409–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, H., G. H. Curtis, andR. W. Juhle, 1956 —Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Alaska (a new interpretation of the great eruption of 1912). Proc. 8th Pacific Sci. Cong., Univ of Philippines, 2, 129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zies, E. G., 1921 —Hot springs of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. J. Geol., 32, 303–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ————— 1924, —The fumarolic incrustations in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. National Geograph. Soc., Contributed Technical Papers, Katmai Series 3, 159–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————, 1929 —The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, I. The fumarolic incrustations and their bearing on ore deposition. II. The acid gases contributed to the sea during volcanic activity. National Geograph. Soc., Contributed Technical Papers, Katmai Series 4, 1–79.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Contribution No. 1046.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ward, P.L., Matumoto, T. A summary of volcanic and seismic activity in Katmai National Monument, Alaska. Bull Volcanol 31, 107–129 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597009

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597009

Keywords

Navigation