Mount Spurr, Alaska’s slumbering volcanic giant, is stirring with increasing intensity. The mountain has recorded an astonishing 3,400 earthquakes in just twelve months, with weekly tremors exceeding 100 during peak activity this spring. This dramatic uptick has volcanologists and Anchorage residents alike preparing for what might come next.
The memories of Spurr’s 1992 triple eruption remain fresh for many Alaskans, when ash clouds reached 12 miles high and created health hazards across the region. Today, scientists employ advanced monitoring tools – from satellite imagery to gas detectors – watching for the slightest changes that might signal an imminent eruption. Local emergency managers are distributing safety information, emphasizing the importance of N95 masks and home air filtration systems to protect against the fine, sharp ash particles that characterize volcanic emissions.
