Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 17 May 2013

Pavlof continues to erupt amid near continuous seismicity

PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-)
Location: 55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W,
Summit Elevation: 8261 ft (2,518 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Lava is fountaining at Pavlof summit, as the volcano continues to erupt, spewing continuous ash, steam, and gas cloudd to an altitude of about 20,000 ft above sea level, AVO reported.

This morning the cloud was carried to the southeast. Satellite images show persistent elevated surface temperatures at the summit and on the northwest flank, commensurate with the summit lava fountaining and resulting lava flow.

Seismic activity remains elevated with nearly continuous tremor recorded on the seismic network.

Pavlof in eruption, May 16, 2013 at 04:00 PM AKDT. Photograph courtesy of pilot Theo Chesley/ via AVO

Pavlof Volcano erupting on May 16, 2013. Photo taken from about 6,000 ft, at 10:20 am, by pilot Theo Chesley. This view is looking at the north side of Pavlof; the peak in the foreground is Pavlof Sister. Image courtesy of the photographer via AVO.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – May 17, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,030 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,030 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

Second Alaska Volcano Erupts

Pavlof ejects ash and steam, as lava flows down its NW flank

Pavlof Volcano, the second Volcano in the Aleutians to become active, began erupting on Monday and was still spewing clouds of ash and steam on Wednesday, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said.

The volcano has been emitting intermittent dark clouds of ash and steam rising up to 20,000 feet a.s.l. and drifting in a northeasterly direction, the observatory said.

• Mt Cleveland, the other currently active Alaskan volcano, has been erupting intermittently since 2011.

• Volcanic ash from Pavlof and other Alaska volcanoes could pose a threat to air traffic in the region.

Pavlof Activity: Color Code ORANGE  – Alert Level WATCH

• PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-) 55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W
• Summit Elevation:  2,518 m (8261 ft)

Pavlof Volcano in eruption. View is from the southwest in Cold Bay. Lava fountaining is visible near the summit, and steam and ash clouds rise from the northwest flank where a lava flow advances down the slope. May 14, 2013 11:26 AM AKDT. Credit: Rachel Kremer/AVO

Index map showing location of Pavlof volcano and other Alaska Peninsula volcanoes.  Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO

Location of Cleveland volcano and other Aleutian volcanoes with respect to nearby cities and towns.  Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO

The following report is mirrored from AVO

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 12:40 PM AKDT (May 15, 2013 20:40UTC)

PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-)
55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W, Summit Elevation 8261 ft (2518 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

The eruption of Pavlof Volcano continues. Elevated seismic activity persists and a steam and ash cloud are visible in web camera images rising occasionally up to about 20,000 ft. above sea level. A diffuse ash plume was reported late last night at an altitude of 15,000 above sea level and extending downwind to the northeast for up to 100 miles before dissipating. A recent pilot report today indicated a dark ash cloud extending east-northeast at an altitude of 20,000 above sea level. National Weather Service issued a Sigmet yesterday that remains active today.

Residents of Cold Bay, located 37 miles southwest of the volcano, observed incandescent glow at the summit during the night. Pilot reports and photographs from yesterday afternoon indicate that the lava flow extending down the northwest flank is still active and has generated debris-laden flow deposits, presumably from interaction of hot lava with the snow and ice on the flank.

CLEVELAND VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-24-)
52°49’20” N 169°56’42” W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Elevated surface temperatures continued at Cleveland Volcano over the past 24 hours. No explosions have been detected by regional infrasound data. There has been no further information about the lava flow.

Sudden explosions of blocks and ash are possible with little or no warning. Ash clouds, if produced, could exceed 20,000 feet above sea level. If a large ash-producing event occurs, nearby seismic, infrasound, or volcanic lightning networks should alert AVO staff quickly. However, for some events, a delay of several hours is possible. Cleveland Volcano does not have a local seismic network and is monitored using only distant seismic and infrasound instruments and satellite data.

AVO will continue to monitor these volcanoes and issue additional information as available.

Code Definitions
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].

WATCH: Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.

VOLCANO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: http://www.avo.alaska.edu
RECORDING ON THE STATUS OF ALASKA’S VOLCANOES (907) 786-7478

CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Jeff Freymueller, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
jeff.freymueller@gi.alaska.edu (907) 378-7556

Alaska Airlines Defers to Volcanic Ash

Where Alaska Airlines Daren’t Fly!

Alaska Airlines canceled dozens of flights starting Sunday evening as a towering plume of ash created by the eruption of a Kasatochi volcano last week made the flights hazardous. The cancellations affected flights from Alaska and Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Vancouver, Canada.

Kasatochi is the third Aleutian volcano erupting since late July. Okmok began erupting July 12 and Mount Cleveland erupted July 21. (FEWW)

Kasatochi Activity – Color Code ORANGE : Alert Level WATCH

AVHRR image showing split window signal for ash plume from Kasatochi. August 08, 2008 (Credit: AVO)

Kasatochi Volcano Latest Observations (AVO)
2008-08-10 23:23:14
Seismic activity detected on stations near Kasatochi continues to be low. This does not imply that seismic activity at the volcano has ceased, only that we detect very little activity at our existing stations, some 25 miles away. The helicorder plots on our web page appears to show increasing seismic activity over the past few hours, however much of this signal is background noise such as wind. The larger signals (e.g. 19:13 AKDT) are regional earthquakes not associated with the volcano.

A large drifting ash cloud from previous ash emissions on August 7 continue to be observed in satellite data. This ash cloud is drifting over the Gulf of Alaska and parts of SE Alaska, which is possibly the reason for a number of flight cancellations. (AVO)

ORANGE/WATCH
2008-08-10 14:11:14 – Status Report
The intense seismic activity associated with the Kasatochi eruption has declined but low level activity can be detected on the AVO seismic network on nearby Great Sitkin Island (about 40 km (25 mi) to the east). Vigorous ash emissions (up to 35,000 feet) have not been observed in satellite data for over two days and AVO has received no pilot reports of ash clouds. (AVO)

Location map showing Kasatochi volcano. Picture Date: August 06, 2008 – Image Creator: Snedigar, Seth – Image courtesy of the AVO/ADGGS.

Coast Guard press release:
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has reported Kasatochi Volcano has erupted just east of Adak Island, an island in the Aleutian Islands chain, causing an ash cloud in the area at an approximate elevation of 45,000 feet.

Due to possible sub-surface eruption , numerous large pumice rafts, volcanic gases, or ash fallout may cause hazards to navigation . All mariners are urged to stay outside of seven nautical miles of Kasatochi Island and to use extreme caution while transiting that area.

Any vessel coming in contact with ash or spotting floating debris is requested to contact the Alaska Volcano Observatory at (907) 786-7497. (USCG)