Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Fisher.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Fisher.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Fisher.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Metrogoon Lake

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Eastern Mound

Stratovolcano

Eickelberg Peak

Stratovolcano

1094 m

Finch, Mount

Stratovolcano

477 m

54° 40' 0" N

164° 22' 0" W

Neptune Cone

Stratovolcano

Nick's Cone

Cone

Turquoise Cone

Stratovolcano

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Pyro Hill

Maar

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

311350

1830 CE

1,112 m / 3,648 ft

54.65°N
164.43°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Lava dome(s)

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Dacite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Trachyte / Trachydacite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

0
0
0
25

Geological Summary

The 11 x 18 km Fisher caldera on western Unimak Island NE of Westdahl volcano is one of the largest calderas in the Aleutian arc. The caldera, which is elongated in a NE direction, formed around 9400 years ago, accompanied by emission of large-volume, mobile pyroclastic flows that reached the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Two satellitic cones are located below the north rim, NE of its 1112-m high point at Eickelberg Peak, which rises more than 900 m above three lakes on the caldera floor, one of which drains through a notch in the southern caldera rim. A large composite cone, Mount Finch, is found at the center of the caldera, which also contains a small breached cinder cone. Historical eruptions have occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries. Low-temperature fumaroles are located at the western flank of Mount Finch, and Turquoise Lake, at the base of the cone, emits hydrogen sulfide gas.

This volcano is located within the Aleutian Islands, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve property.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Bindeman I A, Fournelle J H, Valley J W, 2001. Low-delta 18O tephra from a compositionally zoned magma body: Fisher caldera, Unimak Island, Aleutians. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 111: 35-53.

Coats R R, 1950. Volcanic activity in the Aleutian Arc. U S Geol Surv Bull, 974-B: 35-47.

Fournelle J H, 1988. The geology and petrology of Shishaldin volcano, Unimak Island, Aleutian arc, Alaska. Unpublished PhD thesis, John Hopkins Univ, 507 p.

Gardner J E, Burgisser A, Stelling P, 2007. Eruption and deposition of the Fisher Tuff (Alaska): evidence for the evolution of pyroclastic flows. J Geol, 115: 417-435.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior.

Miller T P, McGimsey R G, Richter D H, Riehle J R, Nye C J, Yount M E, Dumoulin J A, 1998. Catalogue of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska. U S Geol Surv Open-File Rpt, 98-582: 1-104.

Miller T P, Smith R L, 1977. Spectacular mobility of ash flows around Aniakchak and Fisher Calderas, Alaska. Geology, 5: 173-176.

Motyka R J, Liss S A, Nye C J, Moorman M A, 1993. Geothermal resources of the Aleutian arc. Alaska Div Geol Geophys Surv, Prof Rpt, no 114, 17 p and 4 map sheets.

Myers J D, 1994. The Geology, Geochemistry and Petrology of the recent Magmatic Phase of the Central and Western Aleutian Arc. Unpublished manuscript, unpaginated.

Smith R L, Shaw H R, 1975. Igneous-related geothermal systems. U S Geol Surv Circ, 726: 58-83.

Smith R L, Shaw H R, Luedke R G, Russell S L, 1978. Comprehensive tables giving physical data and thermal energy estimates for young igneous systems of the United States. U S Geol Surv Open-File Rpt, 78-925: 1-25.

Stelling P, Gardner J E, Beget J, 2005. Eruptive history of Fisher caldera, Alaska, USA. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 139: 163-183.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 6 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1830 Aug Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Mount Finch

1830 Aug - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Mount Finch

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1830 Aug	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1826 Oct 11 - 1827 Jan (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Mount Finch

1826 Oct 11 - 1827 Jan (?)

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Mount Finch

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	violent, strong, or large
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
1826 Oct 11	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1795 (in or before) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1795 (in or before) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

0400 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Turquoise cone

0400 ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Turquoise cone

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
- - - -	- - - -	Tsunami

3170 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption

Turquoise cone

3170 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Turquoise cone

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Avalanche
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice
3170 BCE ± 75 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

7420 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 6 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

NE and SW parts of Fisher caldera

7420 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 8 Events for Episode 1 at NE and SW parts of Fisher caldera

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	extremely violent or catastrophic
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice
- - - -	- - - -	Caldera	Explosion
7420 BCE ± 200 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Deformation History

There is data available for 1 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.

Deformation during 1992 - 2010 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1992

Stop Date: 2010

Direction: Subsidence

Method: InSAR

Magnitude: Unknown

Spatial Extent: Unknown

Latitude: Unknown

Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Fisher Caldera has been subsiding persistently.

Velocity maps from (a) PSI and (b) SBAS processing, respectively.

From: Gong et al. 2015.

Reference List: Lu and Dzurisin 2014; Mann and Freymueller 2003; Gong et al. 2015.

Full References:

Gong, W., Meyer, F. J., Lee, C. W., Lu, Z., & Freymueller, J., 2015. Measurement and interpretation of subtle deformation signals at Unimak Island from 2003 to 2010 using weather model- assisted time series InSAR. J. Geophys. Res., 120(2), 1175-1194.

Lu Z, Dzurisin D, 2014. InSAR imaging of Aleutian volcanoes: monitoring a volcanic arc from space. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00348-6

Mann D, Freymueller J, 2003. Volcanic and tectonic deformation on Unimak Island in the Aleutian Arc, Alaska. J. Geophys. Res., 108(B2), 2108. https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JB001925

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Fisher.

Photo Gallery

An almost constant steam plumes pours down the north flank of Shishaldin volcano, the highest in the Aleutian Islands. The symmetrical volcano is the most prominent landmark on Unimak Island and is referred to by the Aleut Indians as Sisquk, meaning "mountain which points the way when I am lost." A large monogenetic cinder cone field is found on the NW flank of the basaltic volcano. The two large lakes in the distance are within Fisher caldera, a low-lying volcanic structure to the SW.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.

This 1974 view shows part of the interior of Fisher caldera on Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutian Islands. Fisher is an 11 x 18 km caldera that formed about 9,100 years ago during the eruption of pyroclastic flows that overtopped topographic barriers more than 500 m high. The caldera contains several lakes, maars, and other vents.

Photo by Tom Miller, 1974 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 11 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number	Sample Description	Lava Source	Collection Date
NMNH 117233-174	Pumice	--	--
NMNH 117233-175	Pumice	--	--
NMNH 117233-176	Pumice	--	--
NMNH 117233-177	Volcanic Bomb	--	--
NMNH 117233-178	Tuff	--	--
NMNH 117233-179	Pumice	--	--
NMNH 117233-181	Pumice	--	--
NMNH 117233-182	Glass	--	--
NMNH 117233-185	Pumice	--	--
NMNH 117233-186	Obsidian	--	--
NMNH 117233-187	Obsidian	--	--

External Sites

Alaska Volcano Observatory (Link to Fisher)

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is a joint program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAFGI), and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS). AVO was formed in 1988, and uses federal, state, and university resources to monitor and study Alaska's hazardous volcanoes, to predict and record eruptive activity, and to mitigate volcanic hazards to life and property.

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Fisher. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Fisher. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Fisher

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).