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EMO loses monitoring link to Anatahan
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Posted on Jul 08 2005
The Emergency Management Office lost its seismic link to Anatahan yesterday, as the rumbling volcano emitted thick clouds of ash.
The EMO said the transmission of signals from all three seismic stations on Anatahan is currently down.
The EMO said telemetry problems began to occur from the last functional seismic station at around 12:30am yesterday. Seismic transmission totally ceased later.
“Our three seismometers on Anatahan are down, probably due to telemetry problems. Repairs will be attempted as soon as the eruptive vigor drops sufficiently and wind directions change,” the EMO said.
Satellite imagery from the Air Force Weather Agency showed a thick ash cloud rising to 14,000 feet and extending 575 nautical miles west of Anatahan, with a thinner ash plume estimated up to 10,000 feet extending some 1,050 nautical miles west of the volcano.
Ash plume rose to 20,000 feet yesterday morning and continued to move westerly, the EMO and the U.S. Geological Survey said in a joint report.
The agencies said the volcano remains in a state of continuous eruption.
As such, aircraft should take extra precaution within 10 nautical miles of Anatahan. The agencies advised aircraft to pass upwind of the island or beyond 10 nautical miles downwind, pointing out that conditions could change rapidly, and volcanic activity could just suddenly escalate.
Recently, strong eruptions sent ash clouds to 40,000 feet. On June 19, a 2.6-minute eruptive pulse sent ash to 50,000 feet, matching the intensity of Anatahan’s strongest historical eruption last April 6, which also sent ash to 50,000 feet. (John Ravelo)
