【Karen Foster Archives】

Alaska,Karen Foster Archives largely unspoiled wilderness, looks like something out of The Lord of the Rings.

Researchers with the Alaska Volcano Observatory — which monitors the state's dynamic volcanoes — recently flew over Mount Spurr, a steep-sided volcano that has shown signs of unrest as quakes shake the mountain. The agency posted a video of its February swoop above towering Mount Spurr, showing vigorous plumes of vapor coming from the summit's fumaroles, or vents.

"Enjoy this spectacular video of the summit crater of Mt. Spurr, taken by AVO staff during fieldwork Feb 7," AVO posted on X, formerly Twitter. "The lake, which formed [in] summer 2024, is mostly covered in ice w/ some turquoise water visible. The fumaroles (steam/gas vents) are the source of the white vapor plumes."

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

---

You May Also Like

---

---

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

As the plane approaches Spurr, you can spy the extensive snow-blanketed mountains in this geologically vibrant part of the world, an area on Earth's "Ring of Fire," where some of the colossal tectonic plates of our planet's crust meet and stoke volcanism. Then, you can look down into the cavernous, streaming summit crater.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

An eruption, however, is far from certain. Previous Mount Spurr eruptions have been accompanied by more quaking activity, ground deformation, and beyond as magma (molten rock) oozed up closer to the surface and amassed great pressure beneath the volcano.

---

Related Stories

---

• NASA ventured into the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, a forbidding land
• The first images of Earth are chilling
• The best telescopes for gazing at stars and solar eclipses in 2024
• Scientists discover a super-Earth. Something about it is strange.
• If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll know

Earth's "Ring of Fire," a region home to expansive volcanic arcs and ocean trenches. Credit: USGS

"Therefore, it is very likely that if an eruption were to occur it would be preceded by additional signals that would allow advance warning," the Alaska Volcano Observatory — an association of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys — explained on its website.

Mount Spurr, located about 80 miles from Anchorage, Alaska, is currently labeled at an "Advisory" level, just one notch above "Normal," and below "Watch" and "Warning." A significant eruption could blow a considerable amount of ash into the atmosphere, impacting and altering air travel in transpacific commercial routes; it's dangerous for jet engines to ingest volcanic ash, which is actually comprised of tiny volcanic rock.

• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Games
• Science
• Life
• Deals
• Digital Culture
• Social Good

• Best Amazon Fire TV Cube deal: Save $30 at Amazon
• The Mannequin Challenge will actually make you miss planking
• This is what waiting 108 years for a Cubs championship looks like
• 7 things you'll never take for granted after working for a horrible boss
• 44 GPU Fortnite Benchmark: The Best Graphics Cards for Playing Battle Royale
• Uber's India rival Ola looking to raise $600 million in fresh funding
• Experience the awesome power of a rocket launch in this 360 degree video
• Mammoth but gentle huntsman spider looks too big to even be real
• Draper vs. Arnaldi 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
• Freaky asteroids flew by Earth, and NASA captured footage

• 50 Years Later: The Revolutionary 8008 Microprocessor
• A PC Gaming Music Journey: From Doom to Terraria, System Shock, and More Memorable Soundtracks
• Best Amazon Echo deal: Save $20 on the Echo Spot
• 3D Game Rendering 101
• Google Veo 3 AI video is dangerously lifelike, and we're not ready.
• TechSpot PC Buying Guide: 2H 2024
• Raycon Everyday Earbuds deal: 20% off at Amazon
• Webb telescope captures image of the hottest and most massive known stars
• How to watch 'The Last Showgirl': Now streaming
• Scientists discover ancient Greenland shark in a really strange place

• Then and Now: 6 Generations of GeForce Graphics Compared
• Anne Hathaway sings 'Happy Birthday' to an adorably emotional fan
• A 'Pen Pineapple Apple Pen' cafe has opened in Tokyo
• The new Wonder Woman trailer: Peak 'nasty woman'
• Mastering Gmail Search
• Google is changing search in a big way
• Google is changing search in a big way
• The new Wonder Woman trailer: Peak 'nasty woman'
• Bargaining For the Common Good
• Forget about hailing an Uber on your next visit to China

• Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake 2025 livestream: Watch Concacaf Champions Cup for free
• The FBI doesn't know what's happening with its own Twitter account
• Napflix will help you sleep with the internet's dullest videos
• Magician Collins Key searches for mystery girl in new digital series
• Every MCU movie villain ranked, from "Iron Man" to "Thunderbolts*"
• Experience the awesome power of a rocket launch in this 360 degree video
• 6 short phrases you'll hear good leaders say (a lot)
• Bill Simmons' 'Any Given Wednesday' is over after four months
• Trump tells '60 Minutes' that climate change will 'change back again'
• The FBI doesn't know what's happening with its own Twitter account