Redoubt volcano rumbles; eruption potential forecast

[Blue_In_AK]

I think the volcano may blow this time. They're sounding kind of serious about this.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/669692.html

The ground at Mount Redoubt rumbled intermittently Tuesday, and the Alaska Volcano Observatory continued to forecast a potential eruption there "within days."

The 10,197-foot peak 100 miles southwest of Anchorage now appears ready to explode for the second time in 20 years, the observatory noted in a mid-day status report.

"A further increase in seismicity is expected to accompany an eruption," the agency said. Observatory staff continue to monitor the volcano 24 hours a day.

If history is a guide, Redoubt should erupt in style, geologists say. Unlike volcanoes in Hawaii, which tend to ooze out slow-rolling lava, volcanoes in Alaska -- Redoubt included -- usually erupt explosively, shooting ash nearly eight miles high.


<snip>

The last time Redoubt erupted -- over a five month period that lasted from December 1989 through April 1990 -- the ash plume disrupted international air traffic and coated Anchorage in a thin layer of volcanic dust.

It also sent "pyroclastic flows" of hot gas and rock rushing down the Drift River drainage, turning ice and snow into a fast moving river of mud, which partially flooded the Drift River Oil Terminal on the western shore of Cook Inlet. The state said Tuesday afternoon that the terminal's volcano readiness plan is now in effect.

[NMDemDist2]

1. will they be able to see that from Russia???

:hide:

seriously, that's not good news, is that down on the Kenai?

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Yes, it is.

If you're on the Sterling Highway by Clam Gulch, you can see the three volcanos, Iliamna, Redoubt and Spurr (IRS, haha), across Cook Inlet to the north. We can see Redoubt from Anchorage.

If the eruption happens soon and the wind stays as it is now, Anchorage will get a good ashfall. It's pretty nasty stuff, but it's better to have it fall in the winter than in the summer. It gets trapped in the snow and then just kind of melts into the soil in the spring. I was here for the previous Redoubt eruptions, the Augustine eruptions, and Mt. Spurr in 1992, which was really spectacular, coming like the darkest storm cloud on a beautiful sunny day. It's kind of humbling to live here.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. I wasn't sure where it was, so I asked Wikip*dia ...

... can it be seen from Wasilla?

Also, does anyone know if witch-repellent works for volcanoes, too?

[Blue_In_AK]

6. So technically they're not on the Kenai Peninsula

but next to the Kenai Peninsula. They're an impressive sight and I have some nice photos of them, but it's too late at night to dig them out.

[Garbo 2004]

2. Wondering how you folks were doing up there.

When I checked the AK volcano site saw this recent update:

2009-01-27 19:09:34
Over the past hour, AVO has received numerous phone calls wondering whether Redoubt has erupted. All indications (seismic, radar, and satellite) are that it has not. Seismic unrest continues and the possibility of an eruption exists. AVO continues to monitor the situation 24/7. http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

Wow.

[begin_within]

4. So God voted.

[radfringe]

7. Alaska Volcano Observatory

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/index.php

monitors all alaskan volcanos, some webcams, updates etc

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. This could be very serious.

It won't be real good anyway. I just hope the explosiveness is not way high. That could have devastating effects. I'm not sure people realize what could happen.
I've got my fingers crossed for you.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. As long as it's not any stronger than last time

it will probably be more of an inconvenience than anything else, at least here in Anchorage. A lot depends on the prevailing winds. As seismically active as Alaska is, it's fortunate that it's so sparsely populated.

[alfredo]

10. I've been monitoring earthquake activity from a station on Kodiak.

I hope it isn't too bad an eruption.

Here's an image from the last big blow