Mount Spurr volcano: Alaska braces for massive eruption as global supply chain threatened

It’s no longer a matter of if, but a case of when will a massive Alaskan volcano erupt, with fears it could have serious ramifications for the icebound nation, international travel and the global supply chain.

The Mount Spurr volcanic mountain range rises over 3300 metres above sea level and its surface is currently bubbling away about 130km from Alaska’s biggest city, Anchorage, which is home to nearly 300,000 residents.

Alaskan authorities are advising the nation to prepare for the imminent eruption, but the worldwide impact of the ash stream that could rise for kilometres into the air is an even greater concern.

The Daily Mail is reporting that a massive cloud of ash billowing 50,000 feet into the air may force international hubs such as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and potentially Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down.

Halting all incoming and departing flights at these airports could have a ripple effect across the country, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations and even disrupting the global supply chain.

Hundreds of planes fly over Anchorage and Fairbanks every day, and it’s not just passenger flights that would be impacted. ANC is the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world, with more than 8000 cargo flights passing through each month.

The latest update from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said that “frequent small volcanic earthquakes” have been detected beneath the volcano this week.

“Most of the earthquakes that are occurring under the volcano are too small to be located. Nothing unusual was observed in cloudy to partly cloudy webcam and satellite views,” the statement read.

Volcano eruptions regularly halt air traffic around the world and all airports in areas affected by the ash cloud will likely be shut down.

ANC is perfectly positioned to transit freight between Asia and North America, which is why it is a major cargo hub.

Flights between North America and Asia, or the US and Europe, sometimes rely on Alaskan airports for diversion, refueling or emergency landings.

The last time this volcano erupted was in 1992, when it saw three back-to-back explosive events in July, August and September.

During the August eruption, ANC shut down for about 20 hours, impacting commerce and transportation.

The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2 million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption.

“If Mount Spurr’s activity continues to ramp up, the next sign of an eruption will be a volcanic tremor, said Matt Haney, Scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory Haney.

A volcanic tremor is a longer stretch of ongoing shaking that can persist for minutes or days.