Augustine Volcano - great photos

[Blue_In_AK]

I thought you all might be interested in seeing what's going on about 180 miles southwest of us here. We had two minor eruptions yesterday morning, and are on alert for a major eruption any time. It's been puffing away for a couple of weeks now.

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/volcimage.php?volcname=Augustine

Ooopsie, I see a fleck of dust on the sensor in the second photo. :evilgrin:

Here's the latest update...

Several explosive events occurred at Augustine Volcano this morning: at approximately 3:55 AM AST (13:24 UTC); 8:47 AM AST (17:47); and 11:22 AM AST (20;22). Pilot reports and satellite imagery confirm ash clouds in excess of 30,000 ft above sea level moving eastward. Seismic data suggest that pyroclastic flows and lahars (volcanic mudflows) are occurring on the flanks of the island and possibly extending beyond.

Similar short-lived explosive activity is expected to continue over the next several days or weeks. Individual explosions are expected to produce ash plumes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lahars (volcanic mudflows) on the flanks of the volcano.

[qanda]

1. Wow!

Thanks for sharing.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. This is pretty exciting stuff for us...

I was here in 1976 and 1986 when this volcano went off previously. We also had an eruption in 1992 of Mt. Spurr, which is closer to Anchorage than Augustine. We're not really in any danger this far away other than the health hazards for people with respiratory problems, plus it's not too good for your automobile -- and smells nasty. :)

Here's the current image, taken about twenty minutes ago.

[qanda]

3. That was my first post in the Photography Group

I come by often and admire the photographs you all take. I even have my husband checking it out whenever he comes by the computer. I just have a basic digital camera and I try to take in all the knowledge you all possess and share amongst each other. I'm certainly in awe of some of the photos you guys take. I'd be too ashamed to share some of my pictures, but one day if I happen to snap something that I think looks decent I'll get up the courage to post.

I'm glad you're not in harm's way with the volcano. It is a wonder to behold.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Oh, please don't be shy about posting your photos

We're not mean here at all (most of us anyway), and many of us are still learning, too, so you would fit right in. I've seen some really great photos taken with a basic camera.

[CC]

6. Sending a warm hi and welcome to the

photo group. Also what Blue said is so true. We would love to see your photos.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. Oh, how funny...

I didn't realize this link would change. Well, you can all watch Augustine Volcano in real time right here on DU. We had another eruption this afternoon about an hour and a half ago, four today.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Mud on the web cam this morning from last night's eruptions. n/t

[CC]

5. Thanks for the link.

They have great pictures, sensor dust and all. Following the other links too. Glad you are out of harms way and far enough that you can't easily put yourself in harm's way for pictures like someone else we know.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Oh, I'd be snapping if I was close enough, to be sure...

On clear days you can see Augustine from Point Woronzof or GlenAlps where I take my sunset shots, but there's been so much activity the past few days, it just looks like clouds over there now, even when I zoom up on it. :shrug:

[CC]

8. Now why did I

figure you would be? Maybe because I would be too.:evilgrin: Though looks like Mt. Spurr is making some noise too. So remember safety first. That is a really neat site and went looking all through it. Doesn't ash, steam etc normally look like clouds from a distance? Might seem like a dumb question but I haven't been any where near an active volcano and except for Hawaii, all the volcano pics I've seen look like cloud enveloped mountains. Though dirty clouds at times.
Would the activity and extra stuff in the atmosphere give you even more colorful sunrises and sunsets?

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Yes, we've been watching Spurr for a while...

...but it's just kind of simmering, not really threatening much. When it went off in '92 it was really spectacular, because it was a sunny day here, and then this huge black cloud came up suddenly in the west like a big thunderhead, filled the whole sky, darkened the sun, and then the ash started falling like really fine snow. Volcanic ash is nasty stuff, almost impossible to keep out of your house, and it just gags you when you breathe it in. But you're right, it does make great sunsets, plus it's just kind of cool that we have volcanoes so nearby.

Here's a nice satellite picture of Spurr in '92.



And a couple more cool shots of what it looked like here afterwards...



Cleaning up at the airport

[CC]

10. Well hopefully it just

simmers. It would be neat to see but can see the mess it would make with the ash. I always thought it would be pretty hard to keep out since it can be pretty fine. I would debate on how close by I would want volcanoes. Close enough to go see safely but far enough to not have to deal with the ash etc. But you have an awful lot of volcanoes up there. I didn't even bother counting all the green triangles. But on the plus side, when you get some good weather you ought to get some beautiful sunset pics. I am enjoying not only the pics you have but learning more about AK.:)

[Blue_In_AK]

12. There was another eruption tonight...

...a total of five today. The volcano people are predicting that the eruptions could continue on now for days or even weeks because the sides of the volcano keep collapsing in and creating more pressure. Where the mountain was covered in snow yesterday, today it is covered in ash. The ash going into the atmosphere is collecting moisture and falling back to earth as snow in Homer where my brother lives. (He and his family are in Fairbanks this weekend, coincidentally -- lucky for them.) Schools on the Kenai Peninsula were closed today, and Alaska Airlines had to cancel 28 flights tonight.

This is all pretty exciting. Don't worry about me - I'm too far away to suffer any real damage.

[intheflow]

14. These are great!

Although I don't know that I'd want to get this close to an active volcano. :scared:

So because it's erupting 180 miles southwest of you, does it affect your weather? I've heard that volcanic activity, like nuclear tests, can give some spectacular sunsets, but it seems to me that prevailing winds would deny you that pleasure.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. It hasn't affected our weather up here,

but it is making snow south of us. We've been pretty buried in fog the past couple of days, so I can't speak to the sunsets yet, but the vulcanologists say that this could go on for a couple of weeks, so maybe I'll get a chance. Also the weather forecasters said the winds might shift this way by tomorrow, so we could see some of that ash yet.

We made it onto NBC Nightly News tonight, though, with our very own Dan Fiorucci reporting, and on the front page of MSNBC.com. We've hit the bigtime!

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. Am a vulcan and earthquake news junkie

Have been wondering what the Augustine eruption looked like!

Thanks!! :thumbsup: