The intensity of Alaska's Pavlof volcano, which had been showing signs of a low-level eruption since May 31, was notched up yesterday, June 2, with a large burst that sent an ash plume billowing as far up as 22,000 feet above sea level and then drifting over 50 miles east.

Images of hot magma flowing from the volcano were captured soon after midnight, June 3.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory, a cooperative program of the United States Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, says Pavlof's latest activity was first detected May 31 by a heat-sensing Landsat satellite operated by the National Aeronautical and Space Administration.

The Earth orbiter observed a spike in volcanic surface temperature and also captured an image of lava streaming from Pavlof's peak.

Pavlof, a stratovolcano located on the southwestern end of the Alaska Peninsula, rises to an elevation of about 8262 feet.

With nearly 40 historic eruptions, Pavlof is one of the most consistently active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc.

Eruptive activity a pavlof is generally characterized by sporadic strombolian fountaining continuing for periods of several months.

The AVO explains Alaska has about 130-plus volcanoes that have shown evidence of activity within the last 2 million years, 90 of which have been active within the last 10,000 years or so.

Established in 1988, the AVO is built on a volcano monitoring system comprising networks of continuously recording seismometers installed at selected volcanoes and then relaying data to the observatory labs in Fairbanks and Anchorage, where they are analyzed by computers as well as humans.

Obsevatory researchers say they've received calls from local pilots flying in the area reporting impaired visibility caused by the 8,262-foot mountain, is one of Alaska's most currently active volcanoes.

When Pavlof erupted in May 2013, ash fall forced regional airlines to cancel flights to communities such as Cold Bay, Sand Point and King Cove, the AVO reports.

No flights have yet been reported canceled this week.