The Bezymianny volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula erupted in late July, blasting ash 40,000 feet into the atmosphere. The National Weather Service monitored the eruption and the ash cloud in the unlikely event of it disrupting life in Western Alaska.
Geologists believed the volcano to be extinct until it violently erupted in 1956, in a scene similar to Mount St Helens’ more famous eruption 24 years later. Bezymianny has been erupting since 2017, in what the National Weather Service’s Rick Thoman describes as “a somewhat regular occurrence.”
Volcanoes along the Aleutian Island chain and in Russia’s far east can impact life in Western Alaska, depending on wind patterns.
Alaskans must always be prepared for volcanic eruptions, as ash clouds can damage car and airplane engines, and even cause respiratory issues.
Communities across the region can stay informed and prepare themselves for such events by tuning in to KNOM.
