One of Alaska's many active volcanoes is releasing arcs of lava and plumes of ash this week that have provoked flight warnings for the region.

The 8,262-foot (2,518-meter) Pavlof Volcano on the Alaska Peninsula, 590 miles (950 kms) southwest of Anchorage in the remote wilderness, has been shooting lava to a height of approximately 500 meters.

A plume of ash, meanwhile, reached 24,000 feet (7,315 meters) into the air on Monday and drifted east for 50 miles (80 kilometers), prompting authorities to issue the most serious warning level for aviation, red.

By Tuesday night, the warnings were downgraded one level to orange, or "watch," thanks to diminished activity and clear weather that improves visibility.

Aircraft have so far been able to fly above