Scientists continue to monitor Mount Spurr, a volcano to the west of Anchorage and a huge chunk of the state’s population, after signs of unrest this spring, and again in the fall.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory raised its color code for Spurr to yellow, or “advisory” status, Oct. 16.
The observatory’s Scientist in Charge, Matt Haney, says that was after seismometers picked up an increased number of small earthquakes at the volcano and GPS sensors showed it was swelling up.
Haney says that’s all likely due to magma moving beneath Spurr’s surface.
This story was originally published by Alaska Public Media reporter Casey Grove.