Pavlof is a stratovolcano located in the United States at coordinates 55.417, -161.894, standing at an elevation of 2,493.0 meters. Situated in a subduction zone and continental crust setting greater than 25 kilometers deep, the volcano has a documented history of repeated activity spanning multiple centuries.
According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, Pavlof features 44 confirmed eruptions. The earliest recorded eruption in this structured dataset began in 1762 CE, while the latest recorded eruption in the collection started on August 5, 2021 CE, and ended on December 7, 2022 CE. In the overarching profile data, the last known eruption year is recorded as 2022 CE.
Eruption History by Century
Historical records of Pavlof's activity span from the 18th century CE through the 21st century CE. The distribution of confirmed eruptions across centuries demonstrates varying levels of documented activity over time:
- 18th century CE: 2 confirmed eruptions
- 19th century CE: 10 confirmed eruptions
- 20th century CE: 26 confirmed eruptions
- 21st century CE: 6 confirmed eruptions
Notable Characteristics and Scale
The confirmed eruptions at Pavlof vary in size and explosivity, as measured by the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). Across the 44 recorded VEI observations, the largest recorded VEI is 4.0. Individual eruptions have manifested through various observational methods and vent locations, ranging from general reported observations to specific flank activity, such as the upper northeast or north-northeast flanks.
For example, early documentation includes an eruption spanning 1762 CE to 1786 CE with a VEI of 4.0. Later events include a reported eruption on July 2, 1894 CE, with a VEI of 2.0; an upper northeast or north-northeast flank eruption lasting from November 25, 1953 CE, to August 16, 1954 CE, with a VEI of 1.0; and an eruption on the upper north-northeast flank occurring between September 25, 1981 CE, and September 27, 1981 CE, with a VEI of 3.0.
Frequently asked questions
How many confirmed eruptions does Pavlof have?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 44 confirmed eruptions for Pavlof.
When did Pavlof's earliest recorded eruption take place?
The earliest recorded eruption in the structured dataset began in 1762 CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Pavlof?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Pavlof is 4.0.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.