Volcanic Ash Helps Make Beautful Sunsets

Mt. Redoubt, our backyard volcano, has been calmer the past few days, but the cloud cover has been annoying. It has been hard to get a good look at the mountain with good light for pictures. Mt. Redoubt is in a constant state of simmering. It almost always has a gas, steam plume with some ash and when it erupts, has lots of ash. I went to the beach to try and get pictures of the volcano but no luck with the cloud cover. So when life gives you lemons make lemonade, right?
The particles of ash in the air made a fun addition to the sunset colors looking across Cook Inlet even if you can't see the mountain.

Ash Fall..........Snow Fall

This past week has been very eventful with Mt. Redoubt, lots of eruptions!! I have lost track of the total number of eruptions since the show began on March 22, 2009. Brandon got to see a lightening storm associated with one eruption on Friday night. He said it was pretty cool!! He was on his way home from a school dance and just happened to be in the right place and at the right time. We have had very little ash to worry about but we woke up to 3 new inches of snow this morning......I think Spring forgot about us, but the moose haven't!!

Volcanic Ash & Color Codes

The "Restless" mountain has shown a quiet, gentle side today which has been nice. Especially after the 6 eruptions yesterday. It is still venting steam and gas according to the latest news info. The clouds still prevent us from getting a look at what will be obvious changes to Mt. Redoubt.
The ash from yesterday went North and to the West, away from us. The photo is courtesy of the AVO/UAF-GI and it is an ash particle collected in Healy, Alaska. It is easy to see why the scientists say volcanic ash is very abrasive. Also included is an explanation to the color codes used for the volcano.
Aviation Color Codes
GREEN
Volcano is in typical background, noneruptive state or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has ceased and volcano has returned to noneruptive background state.
YELLOW
Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.
ORANGE
Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway with no or minor volcanic-ash emissions [ash-plume height specified, if possible].
RED
Eruption is imminent with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere likely OR eruption is underway or suspected with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere [ash-plume height specified, if possible].

Eruption and a new color Code....RED

Beginning last night (Sunday March 22, 2009) at approximately 22:38 AKDT, Redoubt Volcano produced a series of five explosive eruptions that each lasted from four to thirty minutes. The last one ended at 5:00 AM AKDT this morning (March 23). National Weather Service radar, pilot reports, and AVO analysis of satellite imagery suggest that these events produced ash clouds that reached 60,000 ft above sea level (asl), with the bulk of the ash volume between 25 - 30,000 ft asl. Traces of ash fall have been reported in Skwentna, Talkeetna, Wasilla, and Trapper Creek.

AVO remains at Aviation Color Code RED and Alert Level WARNING. Seismic unrest continues at Redoubt in the form of elevated volcanic tremor. NEXRAD radar data show that the last significant ash emission was concurrent with the final explosive event at 5:00 AM AKDT. Since that time, no ash has been visible in radar, suggesting that if ash emission is occurring, it is below approximately 13,000 ft asl and/or too fine to be detected. Poor weather at the volcano currently hinders visual observations.

Last night's explosive eruptions caused melting of the Drift glacier and greatly increased discharge down the Drift River. AVO plans a helicopter overflight to the area today to assess conditions at the volcano and along the Drift River. The explosions also destroyed one seismic station near the volcano's summit (RSO), and disrupted telemetry from AVO's observation hut. This telemetry outage affects the web camera, a continuous GPS station, and two broadband seismic stations. Repairs to this data link will be undertaken as conditions permit. Seven telemetered seismic stations surrounding Redoubt remain in operation.

The eruptions were preceded by approximately 60 hours of elevated seismicity in the form of discrete earthquakes under the volcano. AVO raised the Aviation Color Code/Alert Level from YELLOW/ADVISORY to ORANGE/WATCH on Saturday, March 21 at 22:09 AKDT. This increase in seismicity likely reflected the upward movement of magma towards the surface. Prior to this weekend, Redoubt had exhibited signs of volcanic unrest beginning in the Fall of 2008 which then escalated in late January, 2009. Last night's explosions were the first significant ash-producing eruptions of the unrest.

Further explosive activity could occur with little or no warning, and could occur intermittently for weeks or months. AVO remains staffed 24 hours per day will issue further information as it becomes available.

For up-to-date Ashfall Advisories and wind trajectories, please refer to the National Weather Service website: http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/volcano.php.

This posting came from the AVO website. The graph also comes from the AVO webicorder and shows the activity that lead to the eruptions. Also a cool picture(Cyrus Dean, AVO/USGS) of the top of Mt. Redoubt the day before it erupted

The events of the past day has kept the scientists busy. We just watch the winds, which for now have carried the ash cloud away from us, and wait for color changes. We are getting good at practicing our colors. We were Yellow last Fall, changed to Orange after the first of the year and in the last week went from Orange back down to Yellow, back to Orange and now we are Red.
Brandon is in school for now, if the winds were to change and we start to get ash fall then schools would get closed. We are getting excited to get a glimpse of the mountain. Clouds are preventing any view today.

Redoubt Huffed & Puffed and Yep........Erupted!!!

An eruption of Mt. Redoubt began at approximately 22:38 (10:38 p.m. AKDT, March 22, 2009 (0638 UTC). AVO is raising the aviation color code to Red and the alert level to Warning. Initial height of the eruption cloud is estimated at less than 20,000 ft above sea level at present. Further reports will be issued as more information becomes available. An eruption is occurring. We will post more information as we interpret the data. Current estimate for eruption cloud height are 50,000 ft above sea level.
This is the official notification from The Alaska Volcano Observatory's website. The cameras are dark so we have not seen the mountain yet. It was cloudy today so the mountain was not really visible at all today. We'll see what tomorrow brings. The mountain had a small eruption a week ago and I took these pictures then.

Spring Break

Spring Break in Alaska hardly resembles Spring. We still have 2 feet of snow on the ground and the temperature has been hovering around 30 degrees the past 2 days, but on a day when the wind isn't blowing and the sun is shining we stand in the doorway and remark how "warm" 30 degrees feels.
Brandon made the most of one day out of school and hit the slopes at Alyeska Ski Resort with a friend for a day of snowboarding.

Orange is a Pain

Well, Mt. Redoubt didn't like being down graded to Yellow watch status I guess and has rumbled itself back to an Orange watch code status. The level of seismic activity has increased and a pretty good steam and gas plume was visible on Sunday (that's when we first noticed it). We woke up to good ol' spring snow again today so the mountain is not visible because of the clouds, but this is what it looked like yesterday. The blue skies pic was taken by the AVO Reasearch team and the sunset pictures are mine.

Someone (something) to Watch over Me

Have you ever had the feeling that you were being watched, not sure how, but you just know? Well, for about the last week and a half I have heard the Bald Eagles more frequently and have seen more in our area than ever before. Not sure what is different this spring, but it is fun to have them around. Almost every morning for several hours and the same in the late afternoon I have seen a Bald Eagle in our back yard. It always perches in the same tree just keeping an eye on what I am assuming is it's territory. I think there must be a nest nearby, just haven't located it yet. Last week it was more common to see two Eagles together, but this week it has been solo. I think the one I have been seeing is the male and the female might be sitting on the nest with eggs. I am not for certain on when nesting begins. I'll have to do some research on that. But as you can see from the photos taken on different days the Eagle is perched in the same tree keeping a vigilant watch on the area to included our yard. Pretty cool to have such a beautiful bird on duty as "Air" Marshall.

YELLOW is Good

Good news on Mt. Redoubt. Today the watch color was lowered from Orange to Yellow. The mountain is still being monitored but has been very quiet the past few weeks. Guess we'll keep our supplies handy just in case. Life goes on.

Mt. Redoubt

Just an update on the famous and unpredictable volcano in our area. The seismic activity continues to be above normal but other than occasional bursts of increased quakes and letting off some steam it doesn't seem to be doing much. Gregg's theory is that everyone will forget about it and then BOOM it will go off. I guess we'll wait and see. Hopefully it will just quiet back down with no eruption. I don't want it messing with summer. We have to spend most of the winter indoors, don't want to be cooped up for summer because of ash and dust, if you know what I mean. The AVO is good to update pictures and info about the rumbling mountain. The photo from the AVO shows the changes from the last round of activity the end of February.

Love That Nature

I was talking with my Dad yesterday and he mentioned that he was glad my siblings and I grew up appreciating nature and loving the outdoors. I reminded him that it was easy, being that I grew up on a farm and spent my childhood summers in the Manti
La Sal mountains of Utah. I always found things to do outside. The fun came in being creative and using my imagination. There were lazy days watching the thunderheads build in the distance framed by a brilliant blue summer sky. Time was also occupied by riding bikes, building wooden boats to float in the irrigation ditch, climbing trees, jumping off the haystack, finding the new baby kittens, eating green apples, making mud pies, looking for caterpillars and that was just some of the daytime activities. Then at night there was "Kick the Can" being eaten alive by mosquitoes, catching night crawlers (worms) for Grandpa Nelson so he could go fishing. Summer nights were also good for watching amazing lightning displays out over the San Rafael Desert, listening to the coyotes howl and running for the safety of the house when my brothers, sisters and I smelled a skunk. Why do I mention all of these things.....because this was life before video games and satellite dishes and it was so much fun! Don't get me wrong I didn't just have fun as a kid. I also learned the value of work. Life on a small farm came with responsibilities and chores. There were animals to feed, weeds to be pulled in the garden, lawns to mow (nope not on riding mower) to name a few. I know I didn't appreciate having to work. It wasn't until I was older that I realized the value and life lesson my parents allowed me to enjoy.
So back to the enjoying nature part. I told my Dad that living in Alaska allows us to enjoy nature everyday. Sunday we had 2 Bald Eagles take perch in the backyard and "talk" to each other for several hours while they soaked in the warmth of some sunshine and I reminded him that one of the fun things about new snow is that it is easier to see the recent moose crossings in the yard. Now, we move on to this morning. When I woke up I could hear that the Eagles were back and our dog, Daisy, decides she needs out. I got so focused on the Eagle in the tree, making sure it wasn't going to swoop down and snatch the family pet that I didn't see the steam rising from the nostrils of a huge cow moose bedded down in Daisy's favorite spot. Daisy is trotting down her trail and hasn't seen the moose yet and I start trying to get her back to the house. Luckily she was an obedient little dog this morning and came back. The moral to the story.....Enjoy Nature but don't let it cause you to loose sight of the big picture!!