High stand and catastrophic draining of intracaldera Surprise Lake, Aniakchak volcano, Alaska: A section in Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1993

Bulletin 2107
By: , and 

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Abstract

Wave-cut terraces and multiple exposures of lacustrine sediment indicate a former, more extensive stand of intracaldera Surprise Lake in the crater of Aniakchak volcano. The lake once covered nearly half of the caldera floor and had an estimated volume of about 3.7x109 m3. A terrace that marks the high stand of the lake is traceable along the north caldera wall to a break in slope near the top of a v-shaped notch (The Gates) in the caldera rim. Downstream from The Gates, the Aniakchak River flows through a broad, terraced, and boulder-strewn valley. Results from our preliminary investigations suggest that Surprise Lake may have been at its high stand during the explosive destruction of an intracaldera stratocone sometime after 464 yr B.P. Stratigraphic relations suggest that the lake may have drained during this eruptive episode. We speculate that the eruptive activity caused water in the lake to overtop the caldera rim at The Gates, initiating failure of the caldera-rim dam and subsequent catastrophic drainage of Surprise Lake.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title High stand and catastrophic draining of intracaldera Surprise Lake, Aniakchak volcano, Alaska: A section in Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1993
Series title Bulletin
Series number 2107
DOI 10.3133/70180217
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher U.S. Government Printing Office
Publisher location Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center, Volcano Science Center
Description 13 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1993 (Bulletin 2107)
First page 59
Last page 71
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Aniakchak volcano, Surprise Lake
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