Mount Redoubt is erupting!

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

28 Mar 09 - 24:00 - To summarize the last 24 hours:

There were 4 eruptions today:

01:20 - 50,000 feet ash height
13:40 - 25,000 feet
15:29 - 35,000 feet - a long eruption
19:23 - 45,000 feet

The international airport was officially closed ?indefinitely? to all flights at 6:45 PM, due to ash on the runways. The check-in kiosks and other passenger electronic devices were covered with protective plastic! It will be tricky to clean the ash off the runways to prevent it being sucked into jet engines.

There is snow and rain in the weather forecast, which will help wash down any ash!

There is an excellent 21-hour time-lapse video of the mountain erupting, taken by Brentwood Higman (photographer of night lightening photos) from his yurt on the water?s edge across the inlet from Redoubt.

See the video (be patient when loading) at: http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/blog/

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[Shiloh]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Source: http://www.necn.com/Boston/SciTech/2009/03/29/Eruptions-continue-as-ash/1238341460.html

1 hour 3 min 16 sec ago
Eruptions continue as ash falls on Anchorage

(NECN/APTV) - Alaska's Mount Redoubt continued to erupt on Saturday, sending plumes of ash tens of thousands of feet into the air that rained down on at least one Alaska town.

Also, for the first time, the volcano spewed a thin layer of ash on Anchorage, enough to force the shutdown of the state's largest airport.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage said the volcano had a significant eruption early on Saturday and two less powerful eruptions in the afternoon.

Ash was reported falling in Nikiski, a community across Cook Inlet about 50 miles from the volcano.

A thinner layer fell on Anchorage, Alaska's largest city about 100 miles northeast of the volcano.

Some Anchorage residents wore protective masks when walking outside.

Ash from Alaska's volcanoes is like a rock fragment with jagged edges and has been used as an industrial abrasive.

It can injure skin, eyes and breathing passages.

The young, the elderly and people with respiratory problems are especially susceptible to ash-related health problems.

Ash can also cause damage engines in planes, cars and other vehicles.

Alaska Airlines, the state's largest carrier, canceled all flights in and out of Anchorage on Saturday afternoon because of the ash.

Since the series of eruptions began last Sunday night, the volcano has had about a dozen bursts.

The last time the volcano erupted was during a four-month period in 1989-90.
The following video and story is from APTV.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Southcentral dusts off as Redoubt enjoys relatively quiet Sunday

Posted: March 29, 2009 04:38 PM

by Andrew Hinkelman, Leyla Santiago and Jennifer Castro
Sunday, March 29, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Mount Redoubt has been relatively quiet so far Sunday, allowing crews at the airport to clear out Saturday's ash fall and resume operations.

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was closed for about 20 hours, from 6:15 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday. One runway is currently open, and the other is expected to reopen before the end of the day, according to Linda Bustamante, communications manager for the airport.

It is now up to individual airlines to determine if and when to fly. Travelers should check their flight status or contact airlines for more information.

Alaska Airlines says flights out of Anchorage resumed at 4 p.m., and the first flight from Seattle to Anchorage was scheduled to depart at 7 p.m. PDT. Alaska canceled 45 flights Saturday and Sunday because of the airport closure.

Since Redoubt's initial eruption March 22, Alaska Airlines has canceled about 230 flights affecting more than 10,000 passengers, the company said in a press release.

There have been no additional eruptions at Redoubt since 7:23 p.m. Saturday, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

The volcano did emit "a steam-rich/ash-poor plume" around 11:20 a.m. Sunday to a height of 25,000 feet, but AVO is not calling it an eruption.

Seismicity has fluctuated since the last eruption Saturday evening, and has elevated somewhat Sunday afternoon.

There are no ash fall advisories in effect, but the National Weather Service did extend its flood warning for the Drift River near Mount Redoubt until 4 p.m. Monday.

The Anchorage School District issued a statement that all schools will be open as normal on Monday. People Mover is operating normally as well.

http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=10091453&ClientType=Printable

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

The airport arrival information shows all out-of-state flights still cancelled, except ONE flight from Seattle.

Other in-state flights shown as being "on time" are NOT jets, so they are safer to fly through light ash.

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[Sally Furniss]

Re: Redoubt volcano alert at Orange - constant seismic activity

Re: Redoubt volcano alert at Orange - constant seismic activity

NEW VERB: There's a new verb in Alaska: "to ash." It's like "to snow," only grayer and more sulfurous. Residents downwind of Mt. Redoubt are using it like this: "We don't run our ski lifts when it ashes because it damages the electric motors," says Michelle Cosper of the Alyeska Resort near Girdwood. It's been ashing a lot lately as Mt. Redoubt has erupted more than 19 times since March 22nd. "The ash has created a moonscape with all the highlights of gray," she says.

​

The resemblance to moondust is more than superficial. Consider the following: Volcanic ash is gray, abrasive, can be dangerous to breathe and easily electrified. Moondust is gray, abrasive, can be dangerous to breathe and easily electrified. Indeed, Alaskans are getting a taste of life on the Moon.​

"The ski area may or may not be open tomorrow, depending on ash fall," adds Cosper. "My throat is sore and stingy, and it smells vaguely like sulfur. They say not to walk your dogs or go outside unnecessarily. Even local newscasters are wearing face masks."​

To ash or not to ash? According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, another eruption is imminent.​

VOLCANIC CLOUD TRACKING: The GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment) sensor onboard Europe's MetOp-A satellite is tracking Mt. Redoubt's sulfur dioxide clouds. Follow the red pixels in this 7-day animation and be alert for fantastic sunsets when the clouds pass over your area.
http://spaceweather.com/
​

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Despite the fact there are now few reported "eruptions", the volcano is constantly emitting steam and ash. Flights are still erratic. Most out-of-state and out-of-country flights are being cancelled. I'm putting off a trip to California - not that I couldn't get out on a timely basis, but because I couldn't get home reliably - some Alaskans are getting "stuck" in seattle for a week or more.

Photo of daily ongoing 'non-eruption' :

View to the east of the summit crater of Redoubt volcano, heavily covered with deposits from recent eruptions. The near ridge, right of the notch, is the upper reach of the Crescent Glacier on the southwest flank.
Picture Date: March 31, 2009
Image Creator: McGimsey, Game;
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/image.php?id=17630

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Air cargo disruptions due to Redoubt leading to layoffs


ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Mount Redoubt's eruptions have largely been a mere inconvenience for many Alaskans.

But now it's become a serious economic problem for some families who rely on the air cargo business.

For the world's third largest air cargo hub the calm runways brought about by closures and cancellations is a concern.

"Typically this time of day we'd have a lot more aircraft," said John Parrott, a manager at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. "For the month of March we would expect to have about 68 airplanes, wide-body cargo airplanes a day come through here."

Early afternoon is kind of like rush hour for a lot of the cargo traffic. At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday all that can be seen is two FedEx planes, one belonging to UPS and a couple from Northwest.

A handful of UPS and FedEx planes are able to fly in and out on a limited basis to keep packages moving into the state, but the long-haul Asian routes are absent.

As a result, hundreds of air cargo employees have been sent home -- there's no cargo to sort.

UPS has implemented temporary layoffs without pay.

"It's my understanding that we are calling employees in to work as we have packages to sort," said Mike Mangeot with UPS. "We're flying in there when it's safe to fly, we're trying to keep operations going as smoothly as we can, but obviously Mother Nature has presented us with a big challenge."

The same slowdown is happening over at FedEx, except some workers are guaranteed a weekly salary.

"Airlines are not happy -- I mean this is costing them money as far as the air cargo industry," said Bill Popp, president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp.

Popp expects airlines will return as soon as they can -- after all, they're losing money by diverting to airports with much higher landing fees in Oakland and Seattle.

"The dollars and cents are here -- this is a temporary interruption," Popp said.

"They have to take some payload off, which hurts their bottom line and I'm confident from talking with them that they're all very anxious to get back to business as normal at Anchorage," Parrott said.

So the question now is when to expect a return, and we'll have to leave that one up to Redoubt -- this is simply beyond anyone's control.

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10107718

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

The cargo situation above may be resolved, given that passenger flights are all flying this morning. A current check of arrivals shows Minneapolis, LA, Seattle, Taipei flights all either arrived on time or in the air. There are NO current "Cancelled" flights showing.

There are many stories of people stuck in Seattle, including a high school student group from the Island of Kodiak - actually an extended "city" experience for them will be part of their education! It will take a few days to get everyone home.

.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

VOLCANIC CLOUD TRACKING: The GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment) sensor onboard Europe's MetOp-A satellite is tracking Mt. Redoubt's sulfur dioxide clouds. Follow the red pixels in this 7-day animation and be alert for fantastic sunsets when the clouds pass over your area.
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animation of SO2 cloud here.

http://spaceweather.com/

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

There was an eruption at 5:55 AM today that was one of the biggest yet with ash to over 50,000 feet high.

There is an interesting satellite image of the SO 2 cloud again here.

When this cloud passes into an area with water vapor (aka cloud), it can produce acid rain.

below is from: http://www.wunderground.com/health/so2.asp

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is a colorless, reactive gas. It is produced when sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil are burned, during the smelting of metal, and by other industrial processes. It can also enter the atmosphere naturally when volcanos erupt, and as sulfate particles from ocean spray. Generally, the highest concentrations of SO2 are found near large industrial sources. High concentrations of this pollutant are not usually found in the United States. SO2 causes rain to become acidic, and it reduces visibility by creating haze (smog).

If the colors on the satellite image reflect the health hazard levels shown on the above wunderground.com page, that cloud heading toward the western US is very unhealthy.

The Environmental Protection Agency uses its Air Quality Index to provide general information to the public about air quality and associated health effects. An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 100 for any pollutant corresponds to the level needed to violate the federal health standard for that pollutant. For sulfur dioxide, an AQI of 100 corresponds to 0.14 parts per million (ppm) over a 24-hour period -- the current federal standard.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

For more information about the impact of volcanic-produced sulfur compounds see: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/gas/s02aerosols.php

Reading about past eruptions of Alaskan volcanoes, during the 1912 eruption of Novarupta (sometimes mistakenly thought to be Katmai), known as the most powerful eruption of the 20th century, "Acid rain caused clothes to disintegrate on clotheslines in distant Vancouver, Canada." ( http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Alaska/description_1912_eruption_novarupta.html)

Good Novarupta info here.

Novarupta is about 200 miles SW of Redoubt. The initial eruption lasted for 60 hours.

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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

The oil companies created a "safe house" for workers at the Drift River oil terminal, after the 89-90 eruption. It's being used in the oil-removal effort.
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Redoubt spits ash on Kenai Peninsula

(snipped)

The eruption delayed at least until Monday efforts to unload some of the oil at Drift River and from Trading Bay and Granite Point, where oil storage is reaching capacity and threatens to shut down production from offshore platforms on the west side of Cook Inlet.

At a news conference Saturday afternoon, Rod Ficken, vice president of Cook Inlet Pipeline Co., the owner of the Drift River facility, said none of the workers at the terminal was injured, no oil was spilled and no water entered the tank farm area. He said there were several ways the company could communicate with workers on scene, but wouldn't describe them.

He said workers were not allowed to talk to the news media.

Speaking for the Alaska Volcano Observatory, Mangan said a slurry of hot ash, rocks and other debris came down the Drift River after the eruption. The terminal, built in the floodplain of the Drift River 42 years ago, was protected once again by a concrete-clad dike designed to hold back the waters from the tank farm.

But late Saturday, Coast Guard officials said they learned the water got into an industrial building at the terminal, damaging a generator necessary to transfer the oil. The repairs will push the project back until Monday at the earliest, said spokeswoman Sara Francis.

Ficken said the emergency shelter was near the flooded airstrip, which is outside the dike. The shelter was built at the same time as the dike, in 1990, to withstand severe flooding. He described the haven as a tall gravel pad -- almost like a tower -- with hardened shields that extend below the surface to prevent erosion in a flood. At the top of the pad are emergency living quarters with an independent supply of water, power and food.

The shelter has a bathroom with several stalls, a kitchen and entertainment room, a pool table, exercise equipment and DVDs, wrote Santana Gonzalez, a Cook Inlet Pipeline Co. spokesman.

Workers over-nighting at the site since the eruption began two weeks ago are required to sleep in the shelter, Ficken said.

The oil terminal is about 22 air miles from the volcano -- a journey that can be covered in two to three hours by a flash flood.

Gary Folley of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the state's on-scene coordinator, said the flood waters were already receding.

A tanker had moved into the area to offload millions of gallons of oil from the Drift River tanks today, Folley said, but fled the area when the eruption occurred. He said the vessel is now to the south, near Mount Augustine, another active -- though quiet -- Cook Inlet volcano.

Capt. Mark Hamilton of the Coast Guard said the ship, which he identified as the Seabulk Arctic, passed through the ash cloud but was not damaged.

Meantime, two spill response barges were heading as a precaution from Seldovia to the Nikiski area, where they'd be closer to the oil terminal, according to the Coast Guard.

http://www.adn.com/volcano/story/748134.html

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Re: Mount Redoubt is erupting! + CDC Info on Volcano Preparation & Recovery

Below is a new animation of the sulfur dioxide cloud from the biggest erution yet - April 4. Based on Mt. Pinatubo tracking, about half the SO2 was converted to sulfuric acid after 21-28 days, with the average being 33 days. These aerosols can persist in the stratosphere for years.

SULFUR DIOXIDE LOOP: A loop of sulfur dioxide gas approximately 600 miles in diameter is swirling off the coast of California. It came from Alaska where Mt. Redoubt unleashed its biggest eruption yet on April 4th. Click on the image to launch a 4-day animation of the volcano's SO2 emissions:

(link to loop)

Data source: The GOME-2 sensor onboard Europe's MetOp-A satellite

The April 4th eruption produced a long plume of stratospheric SO2 which has since split. Half is drifting across the northern reaches of Canada; the other half is having a close encounter with the Pacific coast of North America.

Sulfur dioxide and associated aerosols have been known to produce sunsets of exceptional beauty. Examples from the 2008 eruption of Kasatochi may be found here and here. Readers in the path of Redoubt's clouds should be alert for rare colors and rays in the evening sky.

http://spaceweather.com/

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