Official Word from USGS: No Volcanic Plume in Mojave Desert

The Web has been abuzz recently with speculation about a possible volcanic eruption in the Mojave Desert in southern California after a YouTube video surfaced showing a NEXRAD radar imagery display of what appeared to be a volcanic plume coming from the Pisgah Crater in the Lavic Lake Volcanic Field (LLVF). When blogger and YouTube user dutchsinse first posted the videos July 23, followers were curious and concerned.

The U.S. Geological Survey Tuesday released an official statement regarding the possible activities in the LLVF. According to that statement, scientists determined that what was seen on the NEXRAD imagery was not a volcanic plume

This determination was based upon a combination of things: satellite imagery of the area during the time frame presented by the YouTube video, detected seismic activity and observation from the area. The USGS statement reported that satellite images showed no steam or ash clouds typically seen during volcanic activity and seismic monitors showed no earthquake activity within 20 miles of the area within the last week. In addition, no ground observations of eruption or volcanic activity were seen or reported in the area around the Pisgah Crater and the LLVF.

The USGS issues warnings about increased activity and unrest at volcanoes in the United States as soon as enough information is available to warrant such alerts. According to a news report from the High Desert Daily Press, officials said they didn't believe the YouTube video to be a hoax but instead was simply a "misinterpretation of the data" by the blogger who posted it.

Per his blog and YouTube channel, dutchsinse was not satisfied with the official explanation given for the radar images captured on three separate occasions.

What are the chances of a volcanic eruption from the Pisgah volcano? According to the Long Valley Observatory's weekly volcano update, the current threat level is normal and the current aviation color code is green. The last eruption of the Pisgah Crater is believed to have occurred 2,000 years ago, and while seismic activity occurs frequently in the Lavic Lake Volcano Field, those earthquakes are small and not unusual.

Whether Pisgah is preparing for an eruption or not remains to be seen. But regardless, interest in the Lavic Lake and volcanic activity in California is certain to increase, especially in light of the public's piqued interest in natural hazards worldwide.

Tammy Lee Morris is certified as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and is a trained Skywarn Stormspotter through the National Weather Service. She has received interpretive training regarding the New Madrid Seismic Zone through EarthScope--a program of the National Science Foundation. She researches and writes about earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, weather and other natural phenomena.