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Anatahan ash cloud over RP sea and Japan
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Posted on Jul 12 2005
Ash emissions from Anatahan’s erupting volcano continue, with plumes covering the skies over portions of the Philippine Sea and Japan.
The Emergency Management Office and the U.S. Geological Survey said yesterday that ash and steam emissions rose to varying altitudes ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 feet, and extended a few hundred miles west of Anatahan.
“Low-level volcanic smog continues to cover much of the Philippine Sea, although the western extent has dropped to about 1,075 nautical miles. A northerly flow from this point is sending vog (volcanic smog) over Okinawa and several of the other Ryukyu Islands,” the agencies said.
Tremor levels on Anatahan remains high, with magnitudes ranging from 40 to 60 percent of peak levels recorded on June 17-26.
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 for about an hour. Recently, strong eruptions sent ash clouds to 40,000 feet.
The agencies said they have yet to restore Anatahan’s seismic stations that have malfunctioned due to heavy ashfall. Last Sunday, they said signals were restored from one of the seismic stations on Anatahan and another one on Sarigan.
The agencies said the volcano remains in a state of continuous eruption. They 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.
