Anchorage (ECN) - Mount Redoubt located in Lake National Park, which is about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska has erupted. The last eruption was recorded in December 1989. That chain of eruptions lasted approximately five months. The most recent activity began about two mounts ago culminating in the eruption occurring around 11:30 pm Sunday night. At that time, Mount Redoubt began to spew its ash and lava.
The volcano sent its plume upwards 50,000 feet. Area emergency agencies warned of ash clouds, mud flowing and melting glacier flooding. The volcano has been signaling eruption since about January 25.
Area residents were warned to protect their homes by covering all electrical items, water sources, and anything, which could be harmed or damaged by falling ash. They were told to seal doors and windows, turn fans off and cover ventilation areas.
The volcano has erupted four times since the beginning. Prior to the erupion, volcanic activity was warning of the final event. The area was experiencing tremors and small discrete earthquakes. This minor activity was occurring every thirty seconds as reported by the Alaska Observatory.
Around noon Sunday, the clouds began to part as webcams revealed the plume of steam and gas rising close to the summit. This was the second weekend the Volcano has been rumbling. However, scientist state activity increases still prevent an exact as to when an eruption will occur. The activity can change rapidly. The unrest can stir for days or weeks, there is no exact science.
When the activity increased on Monday, the color code alert went from an orange, watch level, to a red, eruption is underway. In US Geological terms, the color-coding is a signal of escalated alert levels. Orange means the activity has increased: The volcano is now exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption or eruption is underway with no or minor volcanic ash emission. Red means an eruption is imminent or underway.
Seismologists with seismometers located near the summit were recording minor earthquakes. According to geophysicist Rick Wessel. “It’s definitely a different kind of signal that we haven’t seen yet “he said. “One that typically precedes an eruption but it still could be days. It’s hard to put a timeline on it.”
One blogger has reported that Sarah Palin states she can see the eruption from her house.
Since the volcano is located 100 miles from Anchorage, this is highly possible.
Sources:
http://www.adn.com/volcano/story/732762.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/03/22/alaska.volcano/
http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/23/1223245
