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Seismicity on Anatahan drops significantly
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Posted on Jul 03 2005
Tremor levels on Anatahan significantly dropped in the past days, which may indicate that the volcanic eruption is waning.
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Emergency Management Office said yesterday that seismicity dropped gradually by 50 percent compared to the high tremor levels from June 17 to 26.
On June 19, the volcano displayed a series of strong eruptions, which sent ash to 50,000 feet. That activity matched the intensity of Anatahan’s strongest historical eruption on last April 6, which also sent ashes to 50,000 feet.
But the agencies maintained that Anatahan remains to be in a state of constant eruption, advising aircraft to take extra precaution within 10 nautical miles of island. The agencies advised aircraft to pass upwind of the island or beyond 10 nautical miles downwind, pointing out that conditions could change rapidly and that volcanic activity could just suddenly escalate.
Citing the Air Force Weather Agency’s satellite imagery, the agencies said that the volcano still emitted a “moderately dense” cloud of ash and steam that rose to 15,000 feet in the air. The plume extended about 250 nautical miles west of the island.
“Beyond that, thin ash and volcanic smog extend 1,200 nautical miles to the west of the island, then double back toward the northeast, reaching about 980 nautical miles to the north of Anatahan,” the agencies said in a report. (John Ravelo)
