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Ash plume reaches 34,000 feet
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Posted on Jul 31 2005
Ash emissions from Anatahan’s erupting volcano reached an altitude of up to 34,000 feet Saturday, as seismicity continued to fluctuate.
A pilot reported ash to 34,000 feet moving northwest at about 7:20pm Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Emergency Management Office said in a joint report yesterday.
Before noon Saturday, another pilot at 34,000 feet, 70 miles southwest of Anatahan estimated ash plume at 20,000 feet.
The agencies reported no ash advisory yesterday, saying that ash plume was obscured by extensive cloud on the Air Force Weather Agency’s satellite monitoring. They added that tremor levels ranged from 30- to 60-percent of the peak level from June 17 to 26.
The agencies said two of its seismometers are currently functioning. In early July, all seismic stations malfunctioned due to heavy ash fall.
As the volcano remains in a state of continuous eruption, 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. (John Ravelo)
