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Volcanic ash emission continues
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Posted on Jun 24 2005
Anatahan’s volcano continued emitting ash yesterday, with ash clouds extending out to several hundred miles.
In a joint report, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Emergency Management Office said the ash plume rose to about 10,000 feet in the air.
Based on the report, the plume extended about 400 nautical miles west of Anatahan. Beyond that, the volcanic smog extended out to 1,050 nautical miles west, 950 nautical miles north, and 975 nautical miles northwest.
The agencies said the volcano remained in a state of continuous eruption, adding that tremor levels on the island had remained high since the strong series of eruption last Sunday, which sent ashes to 50,000 feet.
Last Sunday’s activity matched the intensity of Anatahan’s strongest historical eruption on last April 6, which also sent ashes to 50,000 feet. Seismicity on Anatahan had been increasing in the past days before Sunday’s 2.6-minute eruptive pulse spewed out ashes to high altitudes beginning at about 3:25pm. The volcano had the highest tremor levels Saturday since early May.
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. (John Ravelo)
