The Volcanism Blog is a redOrbit Blog of the Day 31 January 2009
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The redOrbit Knowledge Network ‘is an online community specifically for those with an interest in science, space, health and technology’. The folks at redOrbit got in touch to say that they have selected The Volcanism Blog as one of their Blogs of the Day for 31 January 2009, which is a clearly a recognition worth having.
My thanks to redOrbit – please pay them a visit, and take some time to explore their site.
Redoubt shows a plume 31 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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A low steam plume is now clearly visible on the Redoubt Hut webcam. The two images below show the webcam view at 10:51 (top) and 11:19 (bottom).
The latest observations from the Alaska Volcano Observatory website are as follows:
2009-01-31 11:13:21
Seismicity remains relatively unchanged since 3:30 PM AKST yesterday afternoon. it is still well above background.
AVO continues to observe potential activity with seismic, satellite and radar data. The volcano has not erupted.
An AVO gas-measurement and observation flight is headed for the volcano this afternoon.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.
[End of AVO statement.]
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Dawn over Redoubt 31 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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The sun is up over Cook Inlet, and the Hut webcam gives this view of Mount Redoubt in the dawn light:
There is no sign of any plume on this view this morning (but see below), and it’s too dark at the moment to see whether there are any signs of significant ashfall from last night’s activity on the volcano’s flanks. Is that ash on the camera, or ice/snow? Here’s a view from late yesterday morning, when the camera was clean and a steam plume was clearly visible:
A plume does seem to be visible in the view from the other AVO webcam, which is on an oil platform out in Cook Inlet [EDIT, maybe this was just a cloud after all?]:
The image above is reduced to fit into the space available. Below is a detail view at full resolution [EDIT, plume or cloud? You decide.]:
The latest observations from the Alaska Volcano Observatory are as follows:
2009-01-31 09:05:16
Seismicity remains relatively unchanged since 3:30 PM AKST yesterday afternoon. it is still well above background.
AVO continues to observe potential activity with seismic, satellite and radar data. The volcano has not erupted.
An AVO observation flight yesterday afternoon reported no sign of ash emission, but observed significant steaming from a new melt depression at the mouth of the summit crater near the vent area of the 1989-90 eruption.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.
[End of AVO statement.]
The seismic records show no sign of tremor to equal yesterday’s, just occasional quakes associated with magma/gas movement within the volcano, but it is important to note the AVO’s statement that seismicity ‘is still well above background’. Redoubt remains in a state of unrest.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Redoubt podcast from the USGS 31 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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The United States Geological Service has put together a podcast in their ‘CoreCast’ series devoted to the current restlessness at Redoubt. The podcast consists of an interview with USGS Volcano Hazards Program Coordinator John Eichelberger, who talks about what is currently happening at Redoubt, how the volcano is monitored and understood, and how people can inform and prepare themselves for a potential eruption.
The Redoubt CoreCast can be accessed via this page: USGS CoreCast: Mount Redoubt in Alaska Likely to Erupt. The complete list of USGS CoreCasts is available here.
The information about this podcast came from this USGS news release of 29 January 2009. The Alaska Volcano Observatory will also be hosting daily news briefings from 31 January 2009 at the USGS Alaska Science Center, which unfortunately will not be accessible via the web.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Redoubt update, 31 January 2009 31 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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‘The volcano has not erupted’ says the Alaska Volcano Observatory this morning. Yesterday’s burst of intense seismicity eased off not long after midnight (see the REF seismogram here) and things are a lot quieter, seismically speaking, although still above background levels. Here are the latest observations from the AVO website, posted in the early hours of the Alaskan morning:
2009-01-31 01:39:43
Seismic unrest continues at Redoubt. Though seismic activity has diminished since Friday afternoon, it is still above normal background levels.
AVO continues to observe potential activity with seismic, satellite and radar data. The volcano has not erupted.
An AVO observation flight this afternoon reported no sign of ash emission, but observed significant steaming from a new melt depression at the mouth of the summit crater near the vent area of the 1989-90 eruption.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.
[End of AVO statement.]
Some of the latest news stories about Redoubt are listed below. If the watching and waiting period goes on into next week we can expect to see media interest diminish. There are only so many stories you can write about Anchorage shops running out of dust masks.
Oh, and if you feel like a dose of dumb try this, from a site called AppScout.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
News
Volcano eruption ‘imminent’ – Press Association, 30 January 2009
Oil terminal sits in harm’s way of Redoubt – Anchorage Daily News, 30 January 2009
Redoubt volcano, ready for eruption – eFlux Media, 31 January 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Intense seismicity continues at Redoubt 31 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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The latest update from the Alaska Volcano Observatory on developments at Redoubt reads as follows:
2009-01-30 14:35:54
Intense seismicity continues at Redoubt this afternoon. Clear webcam views, satellite, and radar data from earlier today indicate that the volcano has not yet erupted.
Clouds have moved in to obscure the webcam view over the last hour.
An AVO observation flight returned in the last hour and reports no sign of ash emission, but observed significant steaming from a new melt depression at the mouth of the summit crater near the vent area of the 1989-90 eruption.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.
The signal created by the current intense seismicity can be seen at the bottom of the REF seismogram:
There will be no more updates here for a few hours. Your best sources for information on Redoubt are the Alaska Volcano Observatory website (of course), the AVO’s Twitter thing, and Dr Erik Klemetti’s Eruptions blog. Here at The Volcanism Blog we will catch up with things tomorrow.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Strong signals at Redoubt 30 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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After a few hours’ lull, seismicity at Redoubt is on an upswing. This is the seismogram from the station listed as REF_EHZ_AV:
Strong signals can be seen at the bottom left, marking powerful sustained tremor from just before 20:30 UTC. Things may be about to happen at Redoubt … and the AVO website has just gone down again.
UPDATE. The AVO is back online with the following observations:
2009-01-30 11:47:26
Seismicity at Redoubt has increased markedly over the last 20 minutes. Clear webcam views and pilot reports indicate that the volcano has not yet erupted.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH.
Thanks to Boris Behncke for drawing my attention to the latest developments.
The latest from Redoubt 30 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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Further to our post of earlier today, the Alaska Volcano Observatory have expanded the range of information now available on the low-bandwidth version of their site and now have Redoubt’s webcams and seismic webicorders online. There are three of the latter, and they all show a marked increase in seismic activity over the last few hours. There is also a new activity report, as follows:
Alaska Volcano Observatory
Information Statement
Friday, January 30, 2009 7:16 AM AKST (1616 UTC)
Redoubt Volcano
60°29’7″ N 152°44’38″ W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues, though no eruption has yet occurred. Seismicity levels have risen within the last 8 hours. Redoubt remains at Aviation Color Code ORANGE and Volcano Alert Level WATCH.
AVO’s website has been overwhelmed with traffic this morning because of extensive national news coverage. A backup, low-bandwidth webserver is operating with limited information.
Staff are currently monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day. We will issue further information as it becomes available.
[End of AVO statement.]
UPDATE. The most recent observations posted by the AVO are as follows:
2009-01-30 10:39:22
Seismicity at Redoubt is still well above background. Over the last three hours, seismic intensity has declined somewhat. Satellite and radar data show no signs of activity.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH. As of yet, no eruption has occurred at Redoubt.
The Redoubt seismograms are indeed showing a decline in activity over the last three hours, as can be seen from this excerpt from the REF recorder (original source here), with the times in UTC/GMT marked in red for clarity:
No dramatic signs there. The most recent episode of sustained volcanic tremor ended at around 16:15; background seismicity is above normal, with occasional larger earthquakes that can be ascribed to magma movement within the volcano. So, it remains a matter of watching and waiting.
If media attention alone could make a volcano erupt, however, it will surely happen in this case.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
All eyes on Redoubt 30 January 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcano monitoring.Tags: Alaska, Redoubt, United States, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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The current rumbling at Redoubt has the media buzzing. Some of the latest news stories – most of which go with a dramatic ‘eruption imminent’ angle – are given at the end of this post.
The attention being paid to Redoubt is such that the Alaska Volcano Observatory website crashed under the weight of traffic earlier today. It is currently back online with a limited service including the Redoubt updates and emergency preparedness information. The most recent AVO statement on Redoubt currently available on the site is as follows:
Alaska Volcano Observatory
Information Statement
Thursday, January 29, 2009 1:53 PM AKST (13:53 UTC)
Redoubt Volcano
60°29’7″ N 152°44’38″ W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Currently we have no indication that an eruption of Redoubt has occurred or is occurring.
Unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues. Seismicity has remained at a relatively constant level for the past 24 hours, and is still well above background.
Staff are currently monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day. We will issue further information as it becomes available.
[End of AVO statement.]
If the AVO website becomes unavailable again, it’s worth remembering that the latest alert status of volcanoes in the United States is displayed on the front page of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program site.
For all our Redoubt coverage: Redoubt « The Volcanism Blog.
News
Alaska bracing for volcano’s blast – USA Today, 29 January 2009
USGS: eruption risk from Alaska volcano rising – Christian Science Monitor, 29 January 2009
Alaska volcano expected to erupt soon – CNN, 29 January 2009
‘Volcano could blow any minute’ – Sky News, 30 January 2009
Alaskans brace for Redoubt volcano eruption – Associated Press, 30 January 2009
Alaska Mount Redoubt volcano on verge of erupting – AHN, 30 January 2009
Alaska volcano ‘more energetic’, scientists say – CNN, 30 January 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Redoubt – summary information for Redoubt (1103-03-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Redoubt – AVO information and updates for Redoubt
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Chaitén town to be abandoned, Chilean Government confirms 29 January 2009
Posted by admin in Chaitén, Chile.Tags: Chaitén, Chile, South America, volcanic eruptions
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[Updated 30 January 2009] The town of Chaitén is to be abandoned. The Chilean Government’s decision not to attempt any rehabilitation of Chaitén, devastated by the eruption of its namesake volcano which began in May 2008, has been confirmed today [29 January 2009] by Interior Minister Edmundo Pérez Yoma and the national office for emergencies, ONEMI.
The provincial capital and all related public services will be moved from Chaitén to Futaleufú from March, and all public spending on housing and public works in the Chaitén area will cease. The displaced inhabitants of Chaitén will be relocated to a new site, yet to be determined, and will be compensated for property lost and abandoned at their former homes.
‘We will not invest public resources in a city that should not be where it is’. With these words the Interior Minister, Edmundo Pérez Yoma, categorically ruled out yesterday the reconstruction of Chaitén in the place where it is today … Pérez Yoma was initially in favour of rebuilding in the same place. On this occasion he was categorical in stating that such an option today is absolutely unviable because of the continuing volcanic danger that exists in the area, according to the conclusions of various technical reports. ‘The duty of the Government is to safeguard the people’s security and lives’, he explained. He added an assurance that the relocation will provide all the guarantees of habitability, housing, opportunities for economic development and reliable sources of work of all the chaiteninos. [Source: La Nación]
The decision has been criticized by some former Chaitén residents and their political representatives, who argue that adequate investment in reconstruction and flood defence works would make their town viable on its present site, and complain that the Government has not listened to their views.
The alcalde [mayor] of Chaitén, Pedro Vásquez, reaffirmed his rejection of the city not being reconstructed in the same place where it was … ‘We did not expect so strong a blow from the Government. We who live there have not been listened to through citizen participation, so the people are very much upset by this very radical decision’, lamented the community leader. [Source: Radio Cooperativa]
Vásquez also makes the perhaps rather surprising claim that 250 people have returned to Chaitén and are living in the less damaged northern part of the town, where the municipal authorities are working to re-establish power and water supplies. The Interior Minister has said there are about 100 people living in the town, and that while the Government has no intention of compelling them to leave (even though it does have the legal authority) it will not be doing anything to support their remaining there, given its decision to abandon Chaitén permanently.
There has also been criticism of the long time the Government has taken over reaching this decision, of the Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, for not making the announcement herself but leaving it to her Interior Minister to face the people of Chaitén, and of the complexity and expense of the planned relocation.
After hearing the details, families displaced from Chaitén were hurt and disappointed by the decision. The intendente [regional governor] of Los Lagos Region said that ‘the decision is risky and very complicated, especially if it is all going to happen overnight.’ … ‘With this all our hopes have been brought to an end. It is risky to live here, but in Chaitén we lived free’, said one woman who had to leave the town because of the eruption of the volcano. [Source: 123 Chile]
Sergio Galilea was claiming Chaitén could be re-occupied long after it was clear that any such thing was out of the question, telling Government ministers who called the place ‘uninhabitable’ that they didn’t know what they were talking about and asserting that the rebuilt town could be ‘like Venice’. If the former inhabitants of the town are bitterly disappointed by the Government’s decision the responsibility is surely partly his, and that of the present alcalde of Chaitén and his predecessor, for falsely raising their hopes.
As for the Chilean Government’s approach to deciding Chaitén’s future, it has indeed been characterized by indecisiveness and delay. Even now, the Government does not expect to announce the location of the new Chaitén for another seven or eight months, meaning another lengthy period in limbo for the former inhabitants of the town. The report from the Universidad Católica de Chile on options for the future of the town of Chaitén (upon which the decision not to rebuild is partly based) identified two possible sites, Santa Bárbara and Bahía Pumalín. The Pumalín option would appear to be the Government’s favoured choice.
For all our Chaitén coverage: Chaitén « The Volcanism Blog.
News
Gobierno reconstruirá Chaitén en otra localidad; Futaleufú será la capital de la provincia de Palena – La Segunda, 29 January 2009
Estudios Universitarios Avalan la Decisión de La Moneda – Chile.com, 29 January 2009
Onemi ratifica que ubicación actual de Chaitén no es habitable – El Mercurio, 29 January 2009
Chile to relocate volcano-destroyed town – Associated Press, 29 January 2009
Chile’s Chaitén to be relocated – Patagonia Times, 29 January 2009
Government says it will not invest resources to rebuild Chaitén in the same place – El Mercurio (English), 29 January 2009
Gobierno no reconstruirá Chaitén y prepara relocalización – La Nación, 30 January 2009
Alcalde de Chaitén: No esperábamos un golpe tan fuerte del Gobierno – Radio Cooperativa, 30 January 2009
Descontento entre chaiteninos por decisión del Gobierno – 123 Chile, 30 January 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Chaitén – summary information for Chaitén (1508-41)
ONEMI, Oficina Nacional de Emergencia – Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN – Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (Spanish)
Erupción del Volcán Chaitén – extensive coverage of the Chaitén eruption
