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Volcano emits dense ash
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Posted on Jun 14 2005
Anatahan’s rumbling volcano emitted huge amounts of ash and steam yesterday, while tremor levels on the island remained high, days after its second strongest eruption in recorded history over the weekend.
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Emergency Management Office said dense ash rose to 20,000 feet in the air and moved westerly.
In a joint report released yesterday, the agencies said the ash plume extended about 435 nautical miles west of Anatahan. Beyond that, thin ash and volcanic smog spread northeast and southeast, reaching 850 nautical miles south-southwest and 915 nautical miles north of the island.
The agencies said seismicity on Anatahan remained “moderately high,” citing the occurrence of small long-period earthquakes.
The volcano vented its fury over the weekend, spewing out thick clouds of ash to 45,000 feet, its second strongest eruption in recorded history. The volume of ash emitted by the volcano in that eruption has yet to be estimated.
During its strongest eruption last April 6, the agencies said the volcano expelled about 50 million cubic meters of ash, which it spewed out to 50,000 feet.
The agencies maintained that aircraft should take extra precaution within 10 nautical miles of Anatahan, advising them to pass upwind of the island or beyond 10 nautical miles downwind. They pointed out that conditions could change rapidly, and volcanic activity could just suddenly escalate.
