Volcanic Activity – Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

Unrest at Redoubt continues at elevated seismicity. The seismicity is dominated by nearly continuous volcanic tremors. FAA continues to restrict air travel in a 10 mile radius around Redoubt to 60,000 MSL. (Anticipated concern) if an eruption occurs creating an ash event that will cause respiratory concerns for local populations and interruption of international air traffic.

Staff at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is currently monitoring the volcano 24 hours a day.
The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH

Earthquake Activity

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake occurred Sunday, February 8 at 5:28 p.m. EST in the North Pacific Ocean 35 miles north east of Kiska Volcano, Alaska (1,330 miles west southwest of Anchorage) at a depth of 62 miles. There have been no reports of damage or injury and no Tsunami was generated.

# The FEMA Alaska Area Office (AAO) has AVO/USGS as of Feb 7, 2009 established communications with federal and state agencies to mobilize within Alaska to handle the first 12 to 48 hours of federal coordination and situational awareness
# The exclusive purpose of this team is to establish a FEMA presence at the Alaska State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) and maintain situational awareness with the RRCC located in Bothell, WA
# If the situation dictates, follow-on resources will be mobilized from the lower 48 and deployed to Alaska

As of February 11th, unrest at Mount Redoubt continues with little change over the past 24 hours. Volcanic tremors with variable amplitudes are ongoing and the FAA continues to restrict air travel in a 10 mile radius around Redoubt to 60,000 MSL. Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) collected water samples and an infrared camera recorded temperature data. Current observations reveal that exposed rock in the active fumaroles was warm (approximately 80 fahrenheit) and the outflow stream on the west side of the Drift Glacier is still frozen.

2009-02-13 10:12:10 - Information Statement

It is not currently possible to determine exactly when such an eruption might occur. Based on observations of past eruptions of Redoubt, ongoing analysis of the current activity, and studies of similar volcanoes worldwide, the current period of elevated unrest could persist for some time, possibly many months. However, as long as substantial volcanic-gas emission, prolonged periods of tremor, and intermittent discrete, shallow earthquakes occur, notable escalation of activity immediately prior to an eruption might only be on the order of hours or less.

Analysis of Current Unrest

Analysis of monitoring data suggests that the current episode of unrest results from the intrusion of new magma beneath the volcano. The main evidence for the presence of this magma is: (1) measurement of substantial amounts of magmatic gas (thousands of tons per day of carbon dioxide) being emitted from the volcano’s summit area; (2) visual observations of high heat flux such as intermittent steam plumes, melting of the upper Drift Glacier (as much as 5-6 million cubic meters through February 10), and increased water discharge from the lower Drift Glacier, (3) elevated seismicity since 23 January 2009, including continuous shallow tremor that is consistent with the movement of fluids (including heated ground water) and gases within the volcano, and (4) deep earthquakes in December 2008 and January 2009 that may have marked magma movement.

2009-02-16 11:04:38
Redoubt Volcano has not erupted. Elevated seismicity is continuing and is dominated by ongoing volcanic tremor and occasional small earthquakes.

Starting around 9:00 AM AKST, the amplitude of tremor increased and has remained somewhat elevated. A regional earthquake at 10:50 AKST, located 45 miles NW of Anchorage, can be clearly seen on Redoubt webicorders. This earthquake has a preliminary magnitude of 3.6.

Web camera images are currently obscured by ice and clouds.

AVO continues to monitor Redoubt 24 hours a day.