March 26, 2009
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Redoubt Volcano On-Again-Off-Again
UPDATE (10:44 AM) National Weather Service says this ash cloud will fall between noon and 2 PM, on the Western Kenai Peninsula, from Ninilchik southward to the southern tip of the peninsula, including Kenai, Soldotna, Homer and Cooper Landing.
Yesterday, AVO downgraded Redoubt’s alert level to orange. At 8:34 this morning, there was an eruption that sent an ash cloud to about 33,000 feet above sea level. The alert level was raised to red. At 9:25 a “major explosive event” sent a cloud to 65,000 feet above sea level, the highest of any explosions during the current eruptive cycle.Images below are all from AVO/USGS, dated 3/23/09:
A muddy waterfall at the toe of Drift Glacier, captured by Cyrus Read of AVO.
Ashfall sampling at Healy, captured by Pavel Izbekov.
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge under snow and ash. Photo by Lel Tone.
Ashfall closeup at Tordrillo Mtn. Lodge, by Lel Tone.In my neighborhood, there has not been any significant ashfall from this month’s eruptions, but it has come down at locations all around us. The cloud from today’s big eruption would take at least an hour or two to get here, if it is headed this way. I have not yet found any projections of its course online, and the radio just says they will get back to us with details when they become available.
…and now for something completely different.
Your rainbow is slightly shaded gray and indigo.What it says about you: You are a spirited person of high self-esteem. You appreciate the wisdom that comes with age. Friends count on you for being honest and insightful. You value modern technology but can live without it.
Comments (3)
Interestingly, we are having a swarm of small earthquakes in the Salton Sea area northeast of San Diego — more than 100 since Saturday, mostly below 3.0 intensity, but one at 4.8 and one at 3.9. It’s common to have small quakes in that area and of that intensity, but not so many. These are centered just off the San Andreas fault, so there is some concern that they may be increasing pressure on the San Andreas and could cause a larger quake. I live northwest of San Diego — have not felt any of these quakes, but wouldn’t necessarily. I would feel a larger one, though (I was down there during the Northridge Quake and was wakened by a strong tremor). Thanks for your updates on Mt. Redout — interesting to watch, though I imagine it’s a little scary at this point.
@slmret - The Salton Sea is not far from Palmdale, is it? I have been reading about the “Palmdale Bulge” for years… or read a lot about it years ago, but haven’t seen much lately. I wonder if it is still growing.
My main worry about Redoubt is that my husband might be caught out in ashfall. His car is in the shop this week and he walks or hitchhikes wherever he needs to go. He doesn’t have a particle mask, either… just doesn’t seem to realize it’s a serious risk.
@SuSu - Probably a couple hundred miles — they both sit on the San Andreas Fault, but a quake in one area wouldn’t necessarily affect the other (unless it was a cataclysmic, earth-building quake — they say that in millions of years the Gulf of CA could spread north into California’s Central Valley). I’ve not heard any news about the Palmdale Bulge for quite a while — but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a quake. The seismologists are pretty excited right now, and said last night that they are watching the Salton Sea area really closely.
I understand about your concern for your husband — hope he remains safe! Take care of yourselves!