Geologists keep close watch on Mount Augustine (Webcam of volcano now online)

KTUU-TV Anchorage ^ | Decembe 1, 2005 | Dan Fiorucci

[Strategerist]

Homer, Alaska - Scientists from the Alaska Volcano Observatory are keeping a close eye on a sleeping giant tonight. That's because the Augustine volcano 60 miles outside of Homer appears to be re-awakening. In Homer, geologists set out a new instrument to monitor the volcano.

That instrument is a television camera which is now providing live images you can see on the webcam, images of Augustine. KTUU recorded this image a few hours ago while it was still light out. As you can see, the volcano looks quiet. There is no steam emanating from the summit. But tonight no one is sure whether that's about to change.

“There’s a number of earthquakes located each day at Augustine volcano,” said John Power, geophysicist, Alaska Volcano Observatory.

Ten days ago seismic instruments at the Alaska Volcano Observatory recorded a dramatic change at Mount Augustine. Earthquakes there jumped tenfold, from three a day to about 30.

“The last time we saw rates of seismicity at this height was 1986, when the volcano erupted,” said Power.

But does that mean Augustine is getting ready to erupt again? No one is sure, so today scientists mounted a live television camera within sight of the volcano. The camera will augment what the seismic stations are already providing.

“This is one of our analogue seismic stations that’s on Augustine,” said Tom Plucinski, Alaska Volcano Observatory.

Combine earthquake readings with pictures, and scientists say they'll have a better understanding of what's going on.

“It'll be good for seeing ash plumes or if there's steaming or anything coming from the volcano,” said Cyrus Reed, Alaska Volcano Observatory (right).

If Augustine does erupt, it wouldn't be the first time. Back in 1986, the mountain blew its top, pouring ash down on Homer and disrupting airline schedules in Anchorage. If Augustine erupts again, aviation would likely be the first to suffer.

“Any time you have volcanic ash in the Cook Inlet Basin, you’re going to be disrupting air travel,” said Power.

No one knows if Augustine will erupt and if it does, whether it would simply be a nuisance or something worse. But the worst volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred right here in Alaska 95 years ago when Katmai Volcano erupted. Scientists at the volcano observatory know that when an Alaskan mountain gets restless, it's best to keep a close eye on it.

Next week the close observation phase of this volcano continues. Weather permitting, scientists plan to over-fly Augustine in a helicopter and photograph it using a heat-sensitive camera. They also plan to collect gas samples to better determine whether it may be building toward an eruption.

Two other Alaskan volcanoes are also at code yellow tonight. But Augustine has changed the most in the past 10 days. Also, GPS instruments on Augustine have measured a one-inch inflation of the mountain, a sign magma may be rising. So right now scientists feel Augustine warrants close attention.

[Strategerist]

Video of the above report

AVO link to Augustine Webcam, Seismic Webicorder, and updates

Webcame photo of Augustine earlier today:

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If you're bored with Mt. St. Helens you can stare at this till it erupts; for the last eruption of Augustine in 1986 there were 8 months of elevated seismicity, I believe, till it erupted. However, it's neighbor, Redoubt Volcano, erupted in 1989 after only 24 hours of increase earthquakes, so you never know.

You also have the very slim chance of seeing a tsunami on the webcam; the volcano is a small island in Cook Inlet, and it periodically has the summit collapse into the water; this apparently happened in the late 1800s and caused a local tsunami in Cook Inlet of still-debated height, fortunately it happened at low tide (and tides are extreme there.) There's no danger of an ocean-crossing tsunami however. But it is speculated that the lava domes at the summit are unstable and in a similar state prior to the last collapse.

[Paladin2]

Thanks for the capture. Looks good.

[meanie monster]

Awesome,,bookmarking thx!

[Mike Darancette]

There goes our yearly allowance of greenhouse gasses should this thing blow.

[Robert A Cook PE]

So, who's gonna turn on the (big) spotlights when it's DARK, and the volcano decides to erupt?

[Strategerist]

Yeah, I don't know how many hours a day there's any sunlight there in the winter...it's not much.

However, I believe it may be self-lighting during an eruption :-)

[Robert A Cook PE]

Well, iffen it's erupting and throwing tens of thousands of tons of rock and ash in the air (does a volcano need an EPA permit to disrupt the wildlife in ANWAR?) ...

I'd sure say it's lightening itself.

I can tell how much sunlight hours from the naval observatory website, but don't see latitude of the volcano.

[chickenlips]

Looks like they could use the heat.

[Strategerist]

I looked up Anchorage (which is a bit north of Augustine) and it's about 6 hours from sunrise to sunset there in December.

[countrydummy]

Thanks!

[ASOC]

Nice pic, I take mom and the RV to Homer at least once a year (stopping by the DQ in Soldotna)because the view is just so


breathtaking.

And I live here year-round.

[geopharm]

The webcam is a treat together with the ones from Spurr and Veniaminof. One little correction: Katmai did not erupt. It collapsed as Novarupta erupted. It is a common misconception that Katmai erupted.

[dan_s]

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
CURRENT STATUS REPORT
Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:55 PM AKST (2355 UTC)

AUGUSTINE VOLCANO (CAVW#1103-01-)
59.3633°N 153.4333°W, Summit Elevation 4134 ft (1260 m)
Current Level of Concern Color Code: YELLOW

On Friday evening about 3:21 UTC (6:21 PM AST), a sharp increase in seismicity lasting for about 15 minutes occurred and was detected by all of the seismic instruments on the volcano. A lower level of seismicity continued for about one hour, but was detected only at the two seismic stations closest to the summit. It is likely that this event was a small steam explosion. A similar but smaller event occurred at about 6:30 UTC (9:30 PM AST), but no additional events have occurred since then. AVO received a report of steaming at the summit of Augustine from people aboard a fishing boat who first observed the activity at about 19:00 UTC (10:00 AM AST) on Saturday, December 10. Although clear views of the lower half of the volcano were possible by web camera today, clouds obscured the summit from the vantage point of the web camera. AVO has received no additional reports of activity since the report of steaming this morning. There are no indications that an eruption is imminent

[Sally'sConcerns]

Thanks! I've got the videocam at Mt. St. Helens bookmarked and now I have this one. If anything does happen maybe I'll be able to watch it as it happens.

[mewzilla]

BTTT.