Alaska - Mt Redoubt Volcano could erupt within days

reply to post by nixie_nox


You're probably right, but I don't think these days are colder than those in the past two months. Also, steaming is now clearly visible from multiple vents, if you've seen the webcams.

[edit on 2009/3/21 by Shirakawa]

Today's Status Report from AVO:

2009-03-21 13:23:38 - Status Report
Shallow earthquake activity under the volcano that began yesterday continues. Activity is primarily seen on the stations nearest the summit, though some events are also recorded at farther-out stations. A steam plume rising as high as approximately a thousand feet above the volcano is visible on the web cameras, but no explosive or ash activity such as occurred last Sunday has been identified. AVO is watching the activity closely but remaining at Yellow/Advisory at this time.

It is still possible for unrest at the volcano to change rapidly, and seismic activity or other signs of unrest could escalate over time periods as short as 24 hours or less. Minor explosive activity such as was seen March 15 could occur with little or no warning.

A field crew at the volcano today installed one non-telemetered seismometer and will try for a second later this afternoon.

[edit on 2009/3/21 by Shirakawa]

Aviation color code raised to ORANGE!

2009-03-21 22:09:44 - VAN/VONA
AVO is raising the aviation color code to Orange and the alert level to Watch. Seismic activity has continued to increase and conditions may evolve rapidly culminating in an eruption within days to weeks.

Short timelapse video I made from yesterday's footage from the Hut webcam installed by AVO. Speed is 800x of realtime. No sound this time.

Redoubt Volcano Latest Observations
2009-03-22 04:53:43
Seismicity remains elevated with several small events occurring each minute. We are watching closely. There are numerous small events and size of the events has increased a bit.
www.avo.alaska.edu...

Looks like she is acting up again.

AVO Redoubt volcano latest observation:

2009-03-22 08:45:06
Seismicity rates have increased dramatically over the last 48 hours. Currently, the earthquake rate is about 40 to 50 events per hour. Many of these events are large enough to be recorded at the more distal stations of the Redoubt network, including NCT and DFR.

The first webcam images of the morning are cloudy and the lens show some snow and ice build up.

Today's status report:

2009-03-22 12:49:06 - Status Report
AVO raised the aviation color code to Orange and the alert level to Watch last night at 10:09PM AKDT (March 21) based on an increase in the rate of discrete seismic events. Shallow earthquake activity under the volcano has been as high as 26 events per 10-minute period. Activity is primarily seen on the stations nearest the summit, though some events are also recorded at farther-out stations. This activity likely represents either the upward movement of magma or pressurization of the system. No eruption has occurred.

It is possible for unrest at the volcano to change rapidly, and seismic activity or other signs of unrest could escalate culminating in an eruption within days to weeks.

So, any guesses as to when she'll finally blow? If this is upward movement of the magma or pressure building, that means that she's getting ready to blow before long doesn't it?

reply to post by YS Watcher


Nobody really knows at the moment. Redoubt could erupt in as little as 24 hours or slowly return back to background activity over a few weeks.

On the local news we were just told hours to days as opposed to the days to weeks we have been getting previously.

The AVO representative said the last time this pattern was seen was hours before the last eruption. As always they are hesitant to say any more than that. They have started alerting pilots to be on the lookout. They are sounding far more serious than in the past.

The constant and numerous earthquakes continue. They say it means the magma is moving.

reply to post by Blaine91555


That is new information to me.

Anyway, it looks like discrete small earthquakes are decreasing slowly in frequency and average amplitude over time (the RSAM chart shows this well). This decrease of activity could still reverse and escalate to something hotter, though (as AVO usally say).

[edit on 2009/3/22 by Shirakawa]

reply to post by Shirakawa


I typed that as an AVO rep was speaking on camera on the evening news. He said hours to days and every other time they have said days to weeks. Of course they always qualify it with anything can happen.

It will erupt, when it erupts, if it ever erupts. I have masks and goggles for me and air filters for my car. I have a generator and always have a few weeks food on hand. Not much more a person can do.

If it goes however it would be less of a problem for me if it went this week. I start a new contract next week and it would be far more costly. Anyone know a volcano dance

2009-03-22 21:32:08 Over the last two hours, seismicity at Redoubt has increased significantly. No eruption has yet occurred, however at these heightened levels of seismicity, there could be a quick escalation to eruptive activity.

Also, for those of you into C.C. Jung's Synchronicity and numerical theory:

27 March 1964 - The Good Friday Earthquake
25 years later
24 March 1989 - Exxon Valdez
20 years later
...
Coincidences are fascinating sometimes.

All of the webicorders are starting to max out, just solid bars almost. Seems like this could be it?

reply to post by SpadeofAces


Looks like it is happening according to the Webicorders.

Be interesting to see the Magma on the webcams at night.

-Kdial1

reply to post by kdial1


For some reason - I can't get anything on the webcam or webicorder...
Are you? I got it fine earlier today.

Nevermind - webicorder is working for me.

[edit on 23-3-2009 by spinkyboo]

reply to post by spinkyboo


Here is the direct link.

Webicorder RSO EHZ AV

-Kdial1

reply to post by kdial1


Thanks so much... Your link is actually a better/different
read than the one that I'm on.
Looking rather serious?

An eruption is occuring at Redoubt...AVO Eruption cloud is currently less than 20,000 ft.

ERUPTION!

2009-03-22 23:05:18 An eruption is occurring. We will post more information as we interpret the data.

RSAM amplitude appears to be just over 1700, slightly above the last three peaks in that same range.

The highest rate of acceleration on the RSAM was over a three hour period.

Both webcams are black still.



[edit on 23-3-2009 by Trexter Ziam]