Today looks to be a doubleheader of volcano news:
Redoubt
Image courtesy of AVO/USGS, taken by Rick Wessels. An infrared image of the north slope of Redoubt showing the hot, new dome material and hot block & ash flows confined to the valley.
At 11:30 AM yesterday, AVO put Redoubt back to Orange/Watch alert status after the volcano seem to settle down to small steam/ash plumes. Less than 12 hours later (at ~6:30 AM Alaska time), the volcano produced another large explosive eruption, sending an ash column up ~50,000 feet / 15 km and producing what seems to be a significant lahar that traveled down the Drift River valley. This new ash cloud headed to the SE of the volcano and apparently produced some lightning as well but no word on how it effected any air traffic. As some readers have mentioned, this large eruptive event likely rules out any chance of moving oil from the Drift River Oil Terminal - hopefully the terminal remains undamaged from the new flood/lahar that came down the river valley to the Inlet. You can see some of the effect of the eruptions (along with a healthy steam plume on the Hut webcam today, where the once white flank of the volcano is now dark grey with lahar deposits or ash. Redoubt, obviously, has been returned to Red/Warning status and this type of behavior from Redoubt should be expected as the new dome - the first bits imaged on Thursday using IR (see above) - grows over the coming weeks to months.
Llaima
Volcan Llaima
Down in southern Chile, Volcan Llaima has erupted a new >1,000 meter / 3,300 foot lava flow down its flanks. Chile's Natonal Emergency Office reported explosions that sent volcanic debris 600 meters / 200 feet from the main vent and this new flow. At least 17 people are to be evacuated from the volcano. Llaima has been erupting intermittently producing explosive and effusive eruptions since January 2008.
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I wonder how this Redoubt hazard assessment will hold up, when all is said and done:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/pdfs/redoubt.hazards.ofr.pdf http://www.avo.alaska.edu/pdfs/redoubt.hazards.plate.pdf
I have to ask, what is the big picture with the Alaska volcanoes? I check the world earthquakes, so the thought has occurred: is Redoubt linked to recent earthquake activity that has been showing up not too far away along the Alaskan coast? Is there a pattern of events in the past involving Redoubt, with other volcanoes soon to follow?
Easter is coming, so perhaps I have that Big One of 1964 on my mind!
Can't wait for the helicopter and airplane from the AVO to post their latest photos today. In the meantime, this will have to do:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/image.php?id=17797
Can anyone explain where that fairly active fumarole about half way down the mountain suddenly came from? (seen at 11:30 AKDT on Apr 5). It's not in the valley but on a ridge so a pyroclastic flow as the cause looks unlikely. It also looks like its emitting some ash judging by the color.
Bruce - Looks like AVO noticed that as well and have this to say about it:
A smaller, intermittent plume of steam has been sighted coming from the north base of the volcano; this is to be expected as hot debris from yesterday's explosion interacts with snow, ice, and water.
Wow, thanks! (that was quick!!)