Alaska Volcano Mt. Redoubt a Ticking Time Bomb

Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage are warning that sensors on Alaska volcano Mount Redoubt show increased seismic activity. The volcano, located about 100 miles to the southwest of Anchorage is currently in the middle of what geologists call a long-period earthquake, where gasses escape to the surface and small seismic activity registers over a long period of time. They care calling the probability of an eruption highly likely although any eruption could occur within days, weeks, or in fact, not at all.

The geologists are observing Mt. Redoubt with sensors installed in the volcano’s cone, as well as with daily plane flights over the mountain. The plane flights help measure the level of gasses escaping from the top of the mountain, and changes in the summit glaciers that indicate that the summit is heating up. Cameras at the summit were showing on Monday a small vapor plume. The vulcanologists are fairly certain that magma is simmering beneath, and when it reaches pressure levels allowing it to escape, the volcano will blow. Although there is no way to predict exactly when the volcano will erupt, and there is also the possibility that the magma will cool this time avoiding an eruption.

Even though there are no people living within the direct zone of the volcano, an erruption could mean huge clouds of ash and gasses spread throughout the skies of Alaska. Because the ash is composed of silica in large part, ash in the air would be dangerous for Alaska residents. It can also damage cars and other machinary and be a nuisance in general.

The last time Mt Redoubt erupted in 1989, a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 747 with 231 passengers flew through the Redoubt ash cloud and was in danger of crashing into the Talkeetna Mountains. Fortunately the crew were able to restart two of the stalled engines, and the plane landed safely. The lesson is still valid: any gas and ash clouds from Mt Redoubt can be very dangerous for planes and must be monitored closely.

One modern twist to the Mt. Redoubt watch is that the Alaska Volcano Observatory has a website and Twitter feed which are some of the most popular sites on the internet this week. The Observatory’s Twitter account is called alaska_avo and their website is http://www.avo.alaska.edu/. The website proved to be so popular that is has been down for periods of time . The site even has a live streaming web cam of Mt Redoubt.

This Alaska volcano is being seen as a ticking time bomb, and is likely to erupt soon so Alaska residents should be prepared for ashfall. People in the general area of the volcano are being advised to be prepared for the effects of ashfall by having on hand a supply of drinking water, dust masks and eye protection, a battery operated radio with spare batteries, and other typical supplies for an emergency.