Okmok update 22 July 08

Okmok eruption 20 July 08

OKMOK VOLCANO
53°23′49″ N 168°9′58″ W, Summit Elevation 3520 ft (1073 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

The eruption of Okmok Volcano continues. Seismicity increased overnight from around midnight to 03:00 AKDT (08:00 – 11:00 UTC), but has declined somewhat since then. Currently, seismicity consists of episodic pulses occasionally grading into continuous volcanic tremor.

Recent satellite data show plumes of steam and/or ash drifting E/SE within 50 km of Okmok at between 20,000 and 30,000 feet above sea level.

Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Okmok.php for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov, (907)786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907)978-5458

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

Quote of the Day: 22 July 08

Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.  - Cicero

Cleveland Volcano active?

Cleveland Eruption 2006

Image provided by NASA Earth Observatory

Cleveland Volcano is also located in Aleutian Islands of Alaska and has been under watch status for sometime. Appearantly there was a small eruption today. More as it develops….

CLEVELAND VOLCANO
52°49′20″ N 169°56′42″ W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Reports from fishing boats indicate an eruption of Cleveland volcano occurred at approximately 12:00 AKDT (20:00 UTC). These reports also indicate that at sea level the ash may be moving to the northwest. Reports from pilots indicate a plume of ash and steam reaching roughly 15,000 – 17,000 feet above sea level in the vicinity of Cleveland and moving to the southeast. Pilots also report surface ash extending up to 50 miles southeast of the event.

Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Cleveland.php for more information.

Okmok update 21 July 08

OKMOK VOLCANO
53°23′49″ N 168°9′58″ W, Summit Elevation 3520 ft (1073 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

The eruption of Okmok Volcano continues. Seismicity remains episodic in character and well above background levels. Reports from pilots indicate a plume of ash and steam is reaching roughly 24,000 feet above sea level and moving to the southeast.

Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Okmok.php for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov, (907)786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907)978-5458

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

Okmok downgraded to Orange

AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Okmok (CAVW #1101-29-)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Sunday, July 20, 2008, 10:02 PM AKDT (20080721/0602Z)
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2008/A14
Location: N 53 deg 23 min W 168 deg 9 min
Elevation: 3520 ft (1073 m)
Area: Aleutians Alaska

Volcanic Activity Summary: The aviation color code for Okmok Volcano has been lowered from RED to ORANGE. The volcano alert level has been lowered from WARNING to WATCH. The eruption of Okmok Volcano continues. Seismicity has changed from nearly continuous volcanic tremor to a more episodic character, and the overall seismic intensity has declined over the past 14 hours. The most recent satellite imagery indicates an intermittent ash plume is rising to 15,000 to 20,000 ft above sea level. Reports from pilots indicate a plume of ash and steam is reaching roughly 15,000 ft. above sea level.

Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

Recent Observations:
[Monitoring report] Over the last 14 hours seismic activity at Okmok has transitioned from continuous tremor to episodic events that occur every 10 to 15 minutes. Satellite data suggest an intermittent ash plume is rising to 15,000 ft above sea level.

Hazard Analysis:
[General hazards] All areas in the immediate vicinity of of the volcano on Umnak Island should be avoided. Ash fall may continue downwind of the volcano. Stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

Remarks: Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Okmok.php for more information.

Contacts: John Power, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov, (907)786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907)978-5458

Quote of the day: 21 July 08

Be not ashamed of thy virtues; honor’s a good brooch to wear in a man’s hat at all times. – Ben Jonson

Okmok update: 20 July 08

Seismic activity at Okmok has slowed somewhat. Status remains at red.

Alaska Volcano Observatory

Current Status Report

Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:25 AM AKDT (19:25 UTC)

OKMOK VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-29-)
53°23′49″ N 168°9′58″ W, Summit Elevation 3520 ft (1073 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: RED
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING

The eruption of Okmok Volcano continues. Seismicity has declined somewhat over the last 5 hours. Instead of nearly continuous volcanic tremor, we are now observing discrete seismic events occurring every 10 to 15 minutes. Satellite data from 06:30 AKDT (14:30 UTC) revealed a plume about 20 km from Okmok, drifting SE at about 12,000 feet above sea level.

Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Okmok.php for more information.

You’re my mass spec girl I’m you’re mass spec boy…

I found this video on a blog called Nerd Rock http://nerdrock.wordpress.com Funny stuff!

Volcanic Hazards: Ashfall

 

As Okmok caldera in Alaska continues to erupt I thought it would be appropriate to outline some of the potential hazards faced by those who occupy that area and any area around an active volcano. Today’s portion is about volcanic ash.

While seemingly annoying and non-threatning volcanic ash is one of the biggest hazards from an erupting volcano. The photo above shows a piece of volcanic ash from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State.

One of the most common misconceptions about volcanic ash is that it is the same material found in your fireplace or charcoal grill. Unfortunately that could not be further from the truth. While normal ashes found around the house or normally organic based remains of whatever was burned volcanic ash is actually tiny pieces of rock. This particular sample is only 30 microns across and can only be seen well under 200x magnification.

When this ash falls over an area it is devestating in many ways. For instance if a jet airliner were to fly through an ash cloud it would be like flying into a giant sandblaster. The ash ingested into the engines melts over fuel nozzles and other critical engine parts causing the engines to shut down. However aircraft that have entered an ash cloud can usually re-start they’re engines when they reach clear air. By now the damage has been done. The engines are badly damaged and now the pilot must make an emergency landing. However the cockpit windows would be scratched so badly that you could not see out of them forcing the pilots to land blind. To help pilots avoid these clouds Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (or VAAC) ws established. To learn more about their mission please visit: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/washington.html

Not all of the trouble is in the air. On the ground underneath the cloud day quickly turns to night. And after the cloud dissapates the area is left with a surreal “moon” type of landscape.

in this photo a helicopter attempts to land in the area around Mt. St. Helens after it’s eruption in 1980. Note the barren grey landscape.

Another danger from ash is accumulation. Being composed of rock ash is extremely dense and when accumulated in large ammounts will quickly collapse the roofs of buildings. There are many occasions in which rain follows a volcanic event and the moisture added to ash only increase its weight.

Rain also triggers another volcanic hazard called a Lahar which is a volcanic mudflow. We will discuss this more at length in the next segment.

Finally, the greatest hazard put forth by the ash is the fact it can be breathed in. Ash is much like powdered concrete and upon inhalation the ash mixes with moisture in the lungs. The victim essentially drowns in “liqiud concrete”.

This posting does not cover all of the hazards associated by ashfall and is meant for information purposes only. To learn more about ashfall please visit: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash/

For additional information on eruptions taking place around the globe see the blog by Volcanologist Dr. Erik Klemetti at http://eruptions.wordpress.com

Quote of the Day 20 July 08

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” – Saint Augustine