An enormous plume of steam has actually been launched from Alaska’s Mount Spurr volcano, images reveal.

In an upgrade on March 28the Alaska Volcano Observatory(AVO)shared a picture of the agitated volcano handled March 26, exposing steam and gas putting from both the top and a vent on the northern flank.

“Robust steaming was observed from the summit yesterday due to favorable atmospheric and viewing conditions,” AVO agents composed in the upgrade. “No detectable change in earthquake activity or gas emissions accompanied the steam emissions.”

The volcano has actually been revealing indications of discontent over the in 2015, with earthquakes increase substantially in current months. Researchers monitoring it now believe an explosive eruption is most likely

“The increase in gas emissions confirms that new magma has intruded into the Earth’s crust beneath the volcano and indicates that an eruption is likely, but not certain, to occur within the next few weeks or months,” AVO agents composed in a declaration on March 11.

Related: Earthquakes at huge Alaska volcano Mount Spurr increase once again– and there’s now a 50-50 opportunity of an eruption

Mount Spurr, situated around 80 miles (128 kilometers) west of Anchorage, is the greatest volcano in the Aleutian Range, standing at 11,070 feet (3,374 meters) high. The volcano includes a main top and a popular side vent called Crater Peak, situated 2 miles (3.5 km) south of the top, which has actually been the website of the majority of its historic eruptions, especially in 1953 and 1992.

AVO agents stated that the alert level for the volcano might be raised to an orange/watch or perhaps a red/warning in the coming weeks if additional indications of an eruption appear. “This would include a change in the rate and character of earthquakes, onset of sustained seismic tremor, further increased gas emissions, changes in surface deformation, and melting of snow and ice,” agents composed in a declaration following a flight over the volcano on March 11.

In case of an eruption, the greatest threats would be ash clouds that might impact air travel, ashfall, pyroclastic circulations, and lahars, which are fast-moving, damaging mudflows that take place on the slopes of volcanoes.

In a Facebook post on March 19, the AVO recommended Alaskan locals on how to remain safe in case of an eruption. “The major hazards to Alaska residents from Spurr would be from ash risk to aviation and possible ashfall. The location, duration, and timing of the impacts would depend on the size and duration of the eruption as well as weather conditions during and afterwards,” agents composed.

Those worried about breathing in the air-borne ash are encouraged to remain inside your home, or use a mask when venturing outdoors.

“The other hazards from a Mount Spurr eruption would only affect the areas immediately surrounding the volcano. While there are no residents in the identified hazard areas for pyroclastic flows and lahars, people do visit the area for recreational or subsistence purposes,” agents composed.

Mount Spurr explosively emerged 3 times in 1992, the very first of which happened on June 27, and led to an ash cloud increasing 9 miles (14.5 km) into the air, impacting flight and covering parts of Anchorage in ash. The volcano appeared once again on Aug. 18, and after that once again on Sept. 16 and 17both of which likewise triggered ash to drizzle down throughout the area.

Jess Thomson is an independent reporter. She formerly worked as a science press reporter for Newsweek, and has actually likewise composed for publications consisting of VICE, The Guardian, The Cut, and Inverse. Jess holds a Biological Sciences degree from the University of Oxford, where she specialised in animal habits and ecology.