|
| |
| | Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 | Volcano update November 19, see pg 32
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 317795
5/14/2008 12:10 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Geogal, we're in a major period of escalation. Expect them to start going off like champagne corks on New Year's Eve... |
| geogal
User ID: 373387 (OP)
5/14/2008 7:23 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
To quote an old phrase
"I'll believe that when I see it"
But, it is an ominous thought. we do "live in interesting times" don't we?
Geogal, we're in a major period of escalation. Expect them to start going off like champagne corks on New Year's Eve... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 317795 |
| angelpbj
User ID: 179704
5/15/2008 8:30 AM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
To quote an old phrase
"I'll believe that when I see it"
But, it is an ominous thought. we do "live in interesting times" don't we?
Geogal, we're in a major period of escalation. Expect them to start going off like champagne corks on New Year's Eve... Quoting: geogal 373387
talking about interesting times, have you checked this?
Earthquake Acceleration: Updated
[link to www.godlikeproductions.com] |
| Geogal 
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 10:22 AM
 | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Yes. I have seen that thread.
To quote an old phrase
"I'll believe that when I see it"
But, it is an ominous thought. we do "live in interesting times" don't we?
Geogal, we're in a major period of escalation. Expect them to start going off like champagne corks on New Year's Eve...
talking about interesting times, have you checked this?
Earthquake Acceleration: Updated
[ link to www.godlikeproductions.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 10:24 AM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Mt Etna Volcano, Italy -
Eruptions have increased at Mt Etna volcano in Italy. A series of about twelve earthquakes have occurred at the summit of the volcano, the largest being magnitude 3.9. On Tuesday a fracture opened at the base of southeast crater between 2500 m and 2900 m above sea level. Strombolian activity has begun at southeast crater and lava flowed to the Valle del Bove and descended to an altitude of 1300 m.
[link to volcanolive.blogspot.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 10:26 AM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Chaitén town ‘90% flooded’ - ONEMI 15 May 2008
According to the Chilean Oficina Nacional de Emergencia (bulletin, 14 May 2008) the town of Chaitén is currently severely flooded because of a combination of the overflowing of the Chaitén river and the recent rains: ‘According to reports from an overflight of the Chaitén area conducted by the Air Force, the town is 90% flooded due to increased flows of the Río Blanco or Río Chaitén and the occurrence of precipitation’. The river was reported on 13 May to be choked with volcanic ash and pumice, causing flooding.
Terra España today has a full report on the situation at Chaitén:
The suffering city, stricken by the tragedy of the violent eruption of the volcano which forced the evacuation of its more than 4,000 people on 2 May, now faces relentless rain. According to reports from the area, the accumulation of water ranges from 50 centimeters to one meter, and in some cases is mixed with mud of the sediments which the volcano has deposited in the Río Blanco and Río Rayas.
The Chilean Government has ordered that the 50-kilometre exclusion zone around the town of Chaitén will remain in place for the next three months because of the dangerous conditions in and around the town: ‘Many of the evacuated families asked the government for permission to return home to collect their belongings, but this was not permitted because of the deteriorating situation’.
Meanwhile fumarolic activity at the volcano Peteroa, situated on the Chile-Argentina border some 800 kilometres north of Chaitén, has provoked concern among the authorities, who are clearly determined not to be taken by surprise again. ONEMI notes today that the reports of increased activity may be due to changed atmospheric conditions making the fumaroles more visible, rather than any actual alteration in the volcano’s behaviour. The regional ONEMI director will be visiting the area to assess the situation tomorrow.
[link to volcanism.wordpress.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Dread Pirate Roberts
User ID: 432679
5/15/2008 10:28 AM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
I just posted this on the other volcano thread, chilean volcano obliterated:
here is a good link to volcano information in general, with info on Chaiten and Peteroa on the front page
[link to volcanism.wordpress.com]
they have a report about the new one waking up, Peteroa/Planchon
May 15, 2008: "Meanwhile fumarolic activity at the volcano Peteroa, situated on the Chile-Argentina border some 800 kilometres north of Chaitén, has provoked concern among the authorities, who are clearly determined not to be taken by surprise again. ONEMI notes today that the reports of increased activity may be due to changed atmospheric conditions making the fumaroles more visible, rather than any actual alteration in the volcano’s behaviour. The regional ONEMI director will be visiting the area to assess the situation tomorrow."
They report 90% of Chaiten is flooded:
"According to the Chilean Oficina Nacional de Emergencia (bulletin, 14 May 2008) the town of Chaitén is currently severely flooded because of a combination of the overflowing of the Chaitén river and the recent rains: ‘According to reports from an overflight of the Chaitén area conducted by the Air Force, the town is 90% flooded due to increased flows of the Río Blanco or Río Chaitén and the occurrence of precipitation’. The river was reported on 13 May to be choked with volcanic ash and pumice, causing flooding."
Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready?
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28 (KJV) |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 10:29 AM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Ruapehu: warning of ‘elevated unrest’ 14 May 2008
Posted by volcanism in New Zealand, Ruapehu, activity reports.
In a bulletin issued, 13 May 2008, New Zealand’s geohazards monitoring organization GeoNet warns that ‘Elevated gas output, high lake temperatures and volcanic tremor continue to indicate elevated unrest at Ruapehu’.
CO2 and SO2 levels in Ruapehu’s gas plume are both significantly above normal background levels, and a slight increase in the levels of volcanic tremor has continued, with some periods of stronger tremor. The temperature of Crater Lake remains elevated, fluctuating between 34°C and 36.8°C:
Sustained heat from depth is required to keep the temperature this high for this length of time. It is believed that the source of this heat is magma within the volcano conduit. This magma is also producing the higher than normal gas flow and chemical changes. … These observations are consistent with the volcano-hydrothermal system responding to recent eruptions and ongoing interaction with magma in the volcano conduit. The volcano remains in a status of unrest and the possibility of further activity remains at the volcano. If further eruptions occur, they may occur without warning.
The New Zealand Herald quotes GNS Science volcanologist Dr Tony Hurst as saying that on the basis of these signs Ruapehu ’was not likely to erupt this year, but the signs did point to an increased risk of volcanic activity. That could mean steam plumes, gas bubbles and fountains from Crater Lake, he said’. The Herald’s report on Ruapehu is cheerfully categorized as a ’natural disasters story’.
The alert level for Ruapehu remains at level 1 (departure from typical background activity, signs of unrest).
[link to volcanism.wordpress.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 10:38 AM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
I was just talking with a geo friend of mine yesterday about Chaiten. She was also wondering if it's possibly connected with other volcanoes in the area... we were both discussing the possibility of others going off as an effect. It's part of the same system, in that the same type of subduction is happening in both areas, similar plate boundaries, as well as would have the same thing happening with the source (meaning what's happening in the mantel). Chile has about 2000 volcanoes, about 500 are considered currently "active"... it's the 2nd most active volcanic region in the world next to Indonesia. I'm still looking for any in depth info coming out of the area.
Thanks Dr. Pir Roberts for this info! This could be telling.
May 15, 2008: "Meanwhile fumarolic activity at the volcano Peteroa, situated on the Chile-Argentina border some 800 kilometres north of Chaitén, has provoked concern among the authorities, who are clearly determined not to be taken by surprise again. ONEMI notes today that the reports of increased activity may be due to changed atmospheric conditions making the fumaroles more visible, rather than any actual alteration in the volcano’s behaviour. The regional ONEMI director will be visiting the area to assess the situation tomorrow." Quoting: Dread Pirate Roberts
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| dofzion
User ID: 328162
5/15/2008 11:19 AM
 | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
well today is your day 
Who so boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 11:40 AM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
??? ahhhh... thanks???
well today is your day
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Jungle Jim
User ID: 432031
5/15/2008 12:07 PM | | Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 12:13 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Yeah... I'd heard the veterinarians in the area are trying to feed and gather the animals before it gets too much worse. Very sad. Thanks.
Quoting: Jungle Jim 432031
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| canislatrans
Coyote
User ID: 429722
5/15/2008 12:18 PM
 | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Things are happening! Thanks for keeping track of this for everyone. :)
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 2:13 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
No Prob. I enjoy looking at anything about geology.
Things are happening! Thanks for keeping track of this for everyone. :) Quoting: canislatrans
Kileaua, Hawaii
May 15, 2008
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at [link to www.nps.gov]
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, small amounts of ash and elevated amounts of sulfur dioxide continued to erupt from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava continued to erupt from the TEB vent area and flow through tubes to the ocean.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava probably exists at shallow depth within the new vent, but cannot yet be seen from the surface.
This morning, a white (gray or brownish if not directly illuminated) plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was lofting approximately 600 m (2,000 ft); as of 7 am, the plume sometimes bent toward the southwest direction but remained high in the sky. Small amounts of ash continued to be carried in the plume. Overnight, the vent glowed brightly when clear.
The SO2 emission rate remained high; the most recent average measurement (May 12) was 810 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day. Emission rate measurements are not possible without moderate trade winds so new values must await the resumption of those wind conditions.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded no significant signal above measurement error. Seismic tremor levels remained at elevated values; the number of small earthquakes near Halema`uma`u continued to increase slightly. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error since April 26. Two earthquakes were located on south flank faults.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,860 tonnes/day when last measured on May 11. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded oscillations but no other significant change. GPS receivers recorded continued contraction across the crater at a rate of 2 cm (0.8 in)/month. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts; the levels are increasing slightly this morning.
Incandescence was seen from a small skylight in the TEB vent area again last night. No other incandescence was seen from the rootless shields or the flow field above Royal Gardens subdivision. This morning, the gas plumes from all TEB, rootless shields, and Pu`u `O`o are blowing to the north.
[link to volcano.wr.usgs.gov]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 12576
5/15/2008 2:51 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Increase in activity at Planchón and Peteroa volcanoes in Curicó
Jueves 15 de Mayo de 2008
An Argentine expert has raised alarm after indicating that the two volcanoes have registered intense activity, presenting numerous smoke columns.
CURICÓ.- Argentine vulcanologists have warned of major smoke column activity in the Planchón-Peteroa volcanic area located in the municipality of Romeral in Curicó. The increased activity has prompted monitors to be installed near the zone, located on the Argentine border.
Argentine expert Darío Trombotto has caused alarm after being quoted in a printed media source in his country saying that the Planchón-Peteroa volcanoes have registered “intense volcanic activity, exhibiting numerous smoke columns”.
Immediately, emergency offices in Curicó proceeded to verify the information by various means.
According to the newspaper El Centro, it was confirmed that activity has indeed seen an increase over the last few days concerning the amount of smoke columns being emitted by two, practically unformed cones, such as those of the Planchón and Peteroa volcanoes. According to Romeral´s municipal emergency chief, José Luis Piña, only one of the volcanoes is currently active.
[link to www.lasegunda.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 12576
5/15/2008 2:53 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Geologists visit eruption site at Maharashtra village
Pune (PTI): Indian geologists have begun study on the mysterious "lava-like" eruption from the earth that triggered a scare in a village near Baramati.
Experts from Geological Survey of India (GSI) visited the site at Murti village in Baramati taluka here Wednesday.
U S Rawat, Director GSI, Pune, told PTI that his team had carried out field tests on the molten substances that sprung out in the form of a "hot jet" near an electric poll and continued to ooz for two days over the weekend.
The GSI director clarified that the incident did not warrant any panic and the phenomenon was unlikely to recur.
[link to www.hindu.com] |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 3:01 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Oh jeezzz... you gotta be kidding me! They're gona blow THIS off? If it's in the category I think it is, this is in their water table, and basements (if they have any)... oh gods... industrial waste is NOT pretty.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Geologists visit eruption site at Maharashtra village
Pune (PTI): Indian geologists have begun study on the mysterious "lava-like" eruption from the earth that triggered a scare in a village near Baramati.
Experts from Geological Survey of India (GSI) visited the site at Murti village in Baramati taluka here Wednesday.
U S Rawat, Director GSI, Pune, told PTI that his team had carried out field tests on the molten substances that sprung out in the form of a "hot jet" near an electric poll and continued to ooz for two days over the weekend.
The GSI director clarified that the incident did not warrant any panic and the phenomenon was unlikely to recur.
[ link to www.hindu.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| angelpbj
User ID: 179704
5/15/2008 3:02 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Do you think there is a relationship between the increase in EQs reported in that thread and the recent eruptions of new volcanoes around the world?
Do you think the volcano activity is increasing too?
Thanks. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 98008
5/15/2008 3:02 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
There are huge things going on here, IMO.. And the fact that the MSM doesnt even touch these topics really pisses me off.. But hey, at least we can all visit GLP for REAL news |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 7:11 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
When you have a swarm going on, like Reno a few weeks back and Juan de Fuca in April, or when you have a really large event like China on the 12th or Dec 26, 2004 Indonesia, you get an excessively high number, total earthquakes. When an earthquake happens, it does 2 major things to the fault system and local faults. It relieves stresses and adds stresses. It relieves a stress placed upon rock when it breaks (the major event), but also places smaller stresses on other points (aftershocks or secondary events). You get a drastic increase in smaller events that relieve the additional stresses, or a swarm of aftershocks. Most of these won't be felt and don't see any translation to the surface. Also, in part some of the increases seen is due to additional monitoring stations being installed which helps catch more and more smaller events. I believe that one of the geological federal reports in the early part of 2000/2001/2002 recommended installation of additional station, so post 2002/2003 we see an increase in the total number in part due to this. That increase is seen mostly in the lower numbers. Otherwise, it tends to fall into a general average that has more active periods and less active ones. Does that help explain the increases seen? I can pull some totals per year if you'd like, worldwide or/and US.
I'm assuming you mean new activity, because I can only think of proof of one new volcano that's growing, of the top of my head. And that's hawaii. ;}
On average, with our level of technology and media coverage, we are seeing more and more globally than ever before in history and it's getting more hyped. Since about 1990, the average for active erupting volcanoes is about 50/year. This doesn't include volcanoes that are talked about as being "active" via the geological definition. Nor does it include the potential for the same volcano to be actively erupting and calming multiple times in one year. There does seem to be cycles in the earth, and volcanic activity is included in this. there are times in history when certain areas are more active than others. For example, in an eight month period in 1974, 5 of the 7 historically active volcanoes in the western Bismarck arc erupted. There's actually been a few studies that attempted to answer the question of "are we seeing more volcanic activity?" The reports include info for the past 10,000years. You can find links to them and some pretty good general info [link to www.volcano.si.edu]
Do I think volcanic activity is on the increase?... maybe slightly. A few of the sites that I haunt have more posts for this year so far than previous, BUT some of those posts have other info than new volcanic eruptions... such as the earthquakes (both M7+) in China and some posts that just discuss the current activity. So, increased posts doesn't absolutely count. But, from what I've seen, there seems to be new activity (ex.Russia and Chaiten) that we've not seen for a bit. Why? Could be a ton of reasons... I figure that the earth really does have cycles and some of those are internal and we can't see. The mantel can't be uniform. There's GOT to be areas that are more liquid and more likely to bubble up once they get below a place in the crust that have the openings already (volcanoes chamber roots). The movement of the mantel under the crust and remelting of subducted plates could also add to earthquake activity (ex. New Madrid)
OK a bit long winded but I hope it answered... BTW... Thanks. That was a really interesting question!
Do you think there is a relationship between the increase in EQs reported in that thread and the recent eruptions of new volcanoes around the world?
Do you think the volcano activity is increasing too?
Thanks. Quoting: angelpbj 179704
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/15/2008 7:25 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
This is COOL!
New deep seismic recorder will improve Auckland volcano readiness 11 May 2008
Posted by volcanism in Auckland, New Zealand, natural hazards, volcano monitoring, volcanology.
GNS Science in New Zealand is improving its seismic network around the city of Auckland with the installation of the first of a network of deep seismic recorders in a 250m-deep disused borehole at Riverhead, about 20km north-west of the city of Auckland. At the moment a seismic network of five surface instruments is dedicated to picking up signs of volcanic unrest around the city.
[GeoNet Volcano Network Coordinator Craig Miller] said while the earthquake hazard in Auckland is not high by New Zealand standards, the focus of the recording instruments in Auckland was on small earthquakes that might precede a volcanic eruption. ‘By getting away from human ground noise, a borehole recorder will enable better data to be collected that can be used to give timely warning of a possible future volcanic eruption in Auckland.’
The new deep instrument, shielded from surface noise and more sensitive to small tremors, brings the network to six, and GNS Science plans to install more deep instruments in boreholes around Auckland in the near future.
[link to volcanism.wordpress.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 433930
5/16/2008 9:24 AM | | Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/16/2008 9:59 AM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 433930
yep... and here's more. a little worry some, but at least the people are evacuated. Anyone hear if the animals are out also?
Chaitén update, 16 May 2008 16 May 2008
Chaitén volcano is maintaining its eruptive activity, reports Chile’s Oficina Nacional de Emergencia today, and a change in wind direction has brought ashfall to areas west of the volcano that have hitherto been spared:
The eruptive process continues at Chaitén volcano. The volcano itself could not be observed today because of the cloud cover in the area.
Since late yesterday a light ashfall has been occurring in some sectors of Chiloé Island, principally affecting the islands of Butacheque, Metaluf, Quenac and Tac and the communes of Quemchi, Achao, Castro, Chonchi and Queilen. Municipal teams are distributing masks in the sectors concerned.
According to information from the Meteorological Directorate of Chile this situation will continue until the early hours of tomorrow morning, Friday 16 May. The orientation of the wind to the north-east and later to the east has been partly responsible for the carrying of ash into these areas. During the morning the Chaitén area will experience cloud cover and rain.
The areas of Chiloé being affected by the ashfall are all towns, villages and small islands on Chiloé’s east coast. The Dirección Meteorológica de Chile, to judge from their forecast for the Los Lagos region (PDF) expects predominantly northerly winds to continue today, along with yet more rain, which does not bode well for the already lahar-engulfed town of Chaitén.
[link to volcanism.wordpress.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/16/2008 6:13 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
See article link for pictures and map discussed in article.
FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008
Volcano monitoring: last night's PGS meeting
Last night I attended my first meeting of the Potomac Geophysical Society (PGS). The PGS meets on Thursday nights, and I usually can't make it because I teach on Thursday nights. (I do however attend meetings of the Geological Society of Washington quite regularly, but those are on Wednesday nights.) Now that the semester is over, I was able to make it to the final PGS meeting of the spring.
The meeting was held at Fort Meyer Officer's Club. It's on a military base adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, and before entering, my Prius had to be searched for bombs (as did all other civilian vehicles). The Officer's Club was about what you would expect, I guess -- kind of 1950's decor, elegant once. I noticed they had compact fluorescent light bulbs in all the sockets, which pleased me. PGS meetings consist of: (1) beer downstairs in the lounge, (2) dinner upstairs in the "Campaign Room," (3) business details, and (4) a talk by a guest speaker.
Last night's speaker was Bill Burton, from the USGS's volcano hazards and monitoring program. Bill's office will be launching a comprehensive new volcano website later this year, and he gave us a brief preview of its features in last night's talk. If you'd like a look for yourself, they have a beta version of the site online now.
Bill reviewed the efforts of his office to monitor a whole lot of volcanoes in U.S. territory (including the protectorate of the Mariana Islands). The map above shows how they've got their work cut out for them.
I was struck by two things about Bill's talk. First, that the volcanoes that the USGS has fully equipped with monitoring instruments (high-precision GPS, seismographs, etc.) provide a wealth of information which makes it relatively easy (relative to say, earthquakes) to predict eruptions. We've learned enough that we can use subtle signals to issue eruption watches and warnings, for both people on the ground and planes in the air.
But the second thing I noted is that they don't have every volcano in their area of responsibility fully instrumented. In fact, they don't even have every "dangerous" volcano in their areas fully instrumented. A striking example of this was a story Bill told while showing us this image:
That's Cleveland Volcano, one of the Aleutians. The photograph was taken by an astronaut, who then called the duty officer in the Alaska Volcano Observatory and told them "Cleveland's erupting." The AVO doesn't have instrumentation on Cleveland, so this phone call (from space!) was the first they knew about the eruption! That's a pretty big gaping hole in the program, it seems to me. We should know at the very least when our volcanoes are already erupting. Even better would be to fully instrument all our potentially-dangerous volcanoes to the fullest possible extent, so we can predict in advance when they will erupt.
At the end of the talk, I asked Bill about this: "How much more money would your office need to outfit the under-instrumented volcanoes to the level you think they need?" Bill estimated $80 million, both for installation and the constant upkeep these instruments require. This morning on the drive into work, I heard that the new farm bill has $450 million set aside for Chesapeake Bay environmental work, so while $80 million seems like a lot to me, I guess it's not all that much in the grand scheme of things. In a post this morning, Nicholas at The Critical Zone examined this issue of huge numbers, and all the science that could get done with that money.
In the wake of the recent tragedies in Myanmar and China, it seems like the US would be wise to invest some money in outfitting our volcanoes with the full suite of monitoring equipment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Who knows how many human lives an ounce of seismograph is worth? When a destructive eruption does happen, we're going to wish we had spent that $80 million when we had the chance.
[link to nvcc.edu]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 433930
5/16/2008 6:36 PM | | Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/16/2008 6:43 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
EXCELLENT find!
Yes. As long as it's staying as active as it is, and has the potential for more explosions/eruptions, you'll likely see ash.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 433930
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| gsbltd
User ID: 345086
5/16/2008 8:25 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Geogal:
Just a very BIG thank you for your efforts on this thread and others that have touched upon good old Terra-Firma! Your analysis is excellent and based upon reality and not emotion and is very welcome indeed, as we watch the continued changes on -and in- the planet upon which we live. |
| Geogal
User ID: 373387 (OP)
5/16/2008 9:54 PM | | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Thank you. I'm flattered.
Geogal:
Just a very BIG thank you for your efforts on this thread and others that have touched upon good old Terra-Firma! Your analysis is excellent and based upon reality and not emotion and is very welcome indeed, as we watch the continued changes on -and in- the planet upon which we live. Quoting: gsbltd
 |
| Geogal
Hu ka pele, lava pour forth
User ID: 373387
5/17/2008 11:47 PM
| | Re: Volcano update November 19, see pg 32 | Quote |
Chaitén: SERNAGEOMIN bulletin, 16 May 2008 16 May 2008
Eruption of Chaitén continues without interruption: eruption column 4-5km in altitude
Town of Chaitén seriously affected by flooding and lahars: more of the same to come
Ashfall has taken place to the west of the volcano, volcanic material deposited in the sea is being carried northward by the coastal current
Changes in seismic activity indicate fragmentation and instability around the volcano’s central conduit and beneath the lava dome
An explosive destruction of the lava dome and collapse of the eruption column, producing pyroclastic flows, remains a possibility
USGS scientists are arriving shortly to collaborate with SERNAGEOMIN in monitoring the volcano: SERNAGEOMIN is enhancing its seismic network
The Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) of Chile issued a new bulletin on the situation at Chaitén on 16 May 2008. There’s a lot of information in this latest bulletin so I have summarized the key points as I understand them above, and provided a complete translation of the text below, as follows:
The plinian eruptive activity of the volcano Chaitén is continuing, and over the last two days the column of gases and ashes has been maintained at an altitude not exceeding five kilometres above sea level.
At 07:30 yesterday, 15 May, the upper section of the volcano’s eruption column was observed, reaching an altitude of four kilometres above sea level. The plume was directed towards the north-east due to strong south-westerly winds of up to 140 km/h.
During the day a Bolkow 44 helicopter of the Chilean Navy was able to make a reconnaissance flight over the town of Chaitén and the surrounding area to observe the situation of the Amarillo and Michinmahuida rivers.
Mudflows or lahars were observed which have affected the town of Chaitén, still covering the areas around the channel of the Chaitén river and the southern area of the town, without so far affecting the central plaza, the administrative centre and the areas surrounding the harbour and maritime offices. The airfield, for its part, is covered by water and ash, so entry by both land and air to the town is impeded.
The same helicopter was used to collect data from the seismological stations at Chumildén, Auchemó and Chaitén Norte. In addition, the overflight permitted various observations to be made as follows:
a) Ash has fallen throughout the valley and delta of the rivers Blanco and Rayas and the forests are covered by a mantle of white ash.
b) The marine litoral current, which moves in a northerly direction along the coast of Chile, is carrying a great deal of ash and islands of pumice northwards along the coast. The volcanic material (water coloured light green - milky) is principally from the bay of Chaitén and the Blanco-Rayas river delta. The progress of this ash-bearing body of water was clearly visible as far as Pumalín bay, and it continues to advance northward.
c) Between 12:00 and 13:00 a very cold ‘viento puelche’ [i.e. a cold and dry easterly wind] dispersed fine ash to the west, which even fell on the ship Aquiles and on the island of Talcán. On some parts of the ship the covering of ash reached between 0.5-1.0mm in thickness. During this period ashfall affected the area from the Blanco-Rayas river mouth as far as the mouth of Chaitén fjord.
Mudflows (lahars) and the runoff of large quantities of sediment have continued to fill the channels of the Chaitén and Blanco-Rayas rivers, which can no longer accommodate the normal flow of water. Consequently, the Chaitén river will continue to flood, affecting new areas of the town of Chaitén.
Areas most susceptible to the occurrence of flows of mud and rocks (lahars) and landslips have been identified along the road connecting Chaitén and Futaleufú, in the vicinity of the latter-named town and the other populated areas south-east of the volcano these may be caused by heavy rainfall and occur over a prolonged period.
Seismic activity
Over the past two days marked changes have been witnessed in the seismic activity [of the volcano]. A swarm of earthquakes, mainly of the HB [hybrid] type, has occurred, which is interpreted as related to a fracturing of the main conduit with subsequent ascent of magmatic fluids by the conduit and also through the dome. The later predominance of LP type earthquakes confirms the seismic instability of the system, the origin of which is related to the evident movement of magmatic fluids. In consequence there remains a certain possibility of future major explosions causing the destruction, in whole or in part, of the dome and the generation of pyroclastic flows through the collapse of the column. Nor can the possibility of new lateral explosions be disregarded.
SERNAGEOMIN has reinforced its team on the ground with three additional scientists and technicians and has begun preparations to move its centre of operations to the city of Queilen. In addition, all necessary preparations have been made for the arrival next Saturday of specialists from the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program of the United States Geological Survey, who will collaborate on volcano monitoring with SERNAGEOMIN and will bring additional monitoring equipment.
From next Monday the installation of four new stations with telemetric data transmission and helicopter support will bring about, as soon as possible, the reception of real-time seismic data in Queilen.
In this situation, SERNAGEOMIN maintains Volcanic Red Alert for the area of Chaitén.
[link to volcanism.wordpress.com]
Woman of white garment, foreign woman, earth-eating woman, taking and giving life, she is Pele
"ONCE IN HIS LIFE, EVERY MAN IS ENTITLED TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH A GORGEOUS REDHEAD" - LUCILLE BALL |
| | Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 | |
|
