January 11, 2006

• Augustine blew.

  

  Photos above and at left, Augustine, January 4, 2006 courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory

  Last month, the Augustine Volcano near the mouth of Cook Inlet was upgraded to the “orange” level of concern, meaning that it was rumbling, shaking and venting steam. 

  Over the following weeks, local media presented the usual public
  service messages advising us on volcano safety precautions and
  responses.  I made sure I knew where the particle masks are, and
  thought briefly about buying a tarp to cover the car in case of
  ashfall.  Then I realized that the same roll of poly sheeting I
  used for winterizing the windows has enough left on it to protect our
  car’s paint and glass from the corrosive effects of ash.  I’m as
  ready as I’ll ever be for ashfall.

  Today, Mount Augustine erupted, earning a new upgrade to red. 
  The ash cloud is blowing away from us at this time, and they say that
  no populated areas are endangered.  Unless the wind shifts our
  way, we are in no danger from this eruption.
  
  Photo at right, Augustine, March 27, 1986 courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory.
  
  
  Almost twenty years ago, Augustine erupted and sent a cloud of ash over
  us several times off and on throughout the tail end of that
  winter.  If you’ve experienced a solar eclipse, you have some idea
  what it looks like when an ash cloud blows over you.

  The ash fell along with snow sometimes, and sometimes between
  snowfalls.  Between ashfalls, there were clean white
  snowfalls.  As we shoveled the snow from our driveway, the sides
  of the cut looked like a layer cake, with strips ranging from light
  gray to dark brown between the white layers.

  Ash is heavier than snow, so it’s more important to get it shoveled off
  the roof quickly.  It is harmful to lungs if we breathe it, so
  wearing particle masks is important when outdoors, for example while
  shoveling it off the roof.  Keeping the corrosive stuff off skin
  and clothing, and out of our eyes is also important.  We’ve got
  goggles and a Tyvek coverall for that.

  I know people who take no ash precautions at all.  But I also know
  people who run around in shorts and sandals in subzero
  temperatures.  Every winter, I hear news stories of people who die
  of hypothermia or lose body parts to frostbite.  Every time
  there’s ashfall, there are stories about people getting in trouble with
  it.  I won’t drive the car while there’s ash in the air, because
  it destroys the engine if it gets sucked into it.  At the very
  least it will clog the air filter and choke off the engine.

  The state volcanologists expect this series of eruptions to continue
  indefinitely.  If the wind shifts and sends some ash our way, you
  will surely hear about it from me.  We are still living with the
  ash that fell in ’86 and that we got when Mount Spurr erupted in 1992,
  and from many historic and prehistoric eruptions.  The ash mixes
  with the fine glacial silt on the ground and gets kicked into the air
  whenever the winds blow in dry weather.  It gives me a hearty
  appreciation for plain old mud that stays on the ground.

  They are overflying the volcano today.  When I have current pics
  of the eruption, I’ll post some choice ones, or you can get updates at:
  Alaska Volcano Observatory

  • 6:34 pm
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