2009-09-25 11:54:23 - Weekly Update
Field crews visited Redoubt twice this week, collecting new samples of dome material, repairing the web camera at the AVO observation hut, conducting airborne gas measurements, taking temperature readings of the cooling lava dome, and making extensive geologic observations of the terrain alterations from the recent eruption. These data, along with those from Redoubt's continuous geophysical monitoring network all suggest diminishing levels of unrest. Gas emissions from the volcano continue to decline, as do temperatures measured at the new lava dome. Seismicity and ground deformation rates are down and approaching background levels. All indications point toward decreased dome instability and a reduced likelihood of dome collapse.

Favorable weather conditions at the beginning of the week resulted in a widely reported, conspicuous steam plume from Redoubt's summit. Such plumes are not unusual and can arise as new precipitation evaporates while percolating down through fractures in the still-hot lava dome. Prominent steam plumes from Redoubt are to be expected over the coming months to years as the lava dome slowly cools.

Along with steam plumes, weak thermal anomalies were seen a few times in satellite data this week at Redoubt. Again, these come as no surprise and can result from sun shining off the brilliant white steam or from the radiant heat of the cooling dome.

Though increasingly unlikely, some threat of a major dome collapse remains. Such a collapse would cause significant ash production, hot block-and-ash flows, and flooding and lahars in the Drift River Valley.

Alaska Volcano Observatory

Taboos leave a big mark on societies with silly superstitions controlling people's movements long after they've come to be viewed by a people generally, as rubbish and a joke. Of course the not putting shoes on the table - which people once believed bought bad luck - might still be taboo but for the reason that no-one wants to share their eating space with a smelly old shoe. So that's not so much a superstition as good manners. And if you walk under ladders, things, people and the ladders themselves can fall on you. So that's not so much a superstition as common sense. While opening umbrellas indoors, well it's of a bit daft practice and if you catch a spoke in the eye, it could be downright dangerous.

While as a kid, my favourite superstition was not to tread on the cracks in the pavement. But that was fun, I made a game of it .. and I have to say, it was a behavioural oddity that took me a long time to outgrow.

But things like warding off evil by not walking in front of black cats, deserve to be blitzed. Go ahead, do them at will and purge these entirely nonsensical superstitions from society. But just in case, cross your fingers when you do.

If it was asked, if someone discusses GOD at a party, what would I privately think of him or her, my answer would be unequivocol.  I would say that person was, to some degree or another, bonkers when his/her thinking was being disordered by an illogical system of belief.

UFOs are not so clear cut.  In my view, a god is not possible but UFOs are not impossible, and my answer to the question asked would be an equivocol "no and yes".

I'm not quite a believer so I am sceptical but I would listen to a UFO buff without judging that person ... while I wait for some cast iron proof that there are beings - whether this be aliens or humans - who have a superior technology than 'normal' at their disposal. 

Am still keeping a "weather eye" on Mount Redoubt, and it says this: "No significant activity has been observed at Redoubt during the past 24 hours. Satellite views have been obscured by clouds over the past day. Clouds have also obscured all but the base of the dome in web camera images today. The dome remains potentially unstable, and could collapse with little or no warning, likely resulting in significant ash production, hot block-and-ash flows, and flooding in the Drift River valley."

Although the operations center is not staffed 24/7, AVO continues to monitor the volcano on a 24/7 basis using an alarm system that alerts on-call staff of potential unrest.

You can't see a bloody thing on the webcams, I don't know why they bother turning them on.

When it goes, it's going to be horrible. Or else it will just fart and go back to sleep, which will absolutely confirm that it's a boy volcano.

Good manners would be to appear not to notice the vegetable matter poking through his teeth or the stain, and I'm talking about being polite here, so thinking about right social forms, not doing the right thing. What can I say? I was bought up to be good mannered. But despite him being an annoying acquaintance, if I got a chance I would probably say something.

I don't like feeling embarrassed and I don't even like seeing other people embarrassed either.

Bigger picture and story HERE

Erupting Volcano Anak Krakatau - Child of Krakatoa, erupting since 2008

REDOUBT VOLCANO (CAVW #1103-03-)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Seismic activity at Redoubt remains low. Webcam views show continued steaming from the lava dome. The cooling dome remains potentially unstable, and could collapse with little or no warning, likely resulting in significant ash production, hot block and ash flows, and flooding in the Drift River valley.

Three field crews are out at Redoubt today, studying recent deposits, observing current activity, and measuring gas emissions.

Although the operations center is not staffed 24/7, AVO continues to monitor the volcano on a 24/7 basis using an alarm system that alerts on-call staff of potential unrest.

Palin’s Move Shocks G.O.P. and Leaves Future Unclear

URL:  HERE
Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska abruptly announced on Friday that she was quitting at the end of the month, shocking Republicans across the country and leaving both parties uncertain about whether she was leaving national politics or laying the groundwork for a presidential run.

Later bulletin:

Legal Bills Swayed Palin, Official Says

URL: HERE
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska said Sunday that Gov. Sarah Palin’s decision to resign was largely prompted by the personal legal costs of the ethics investigations against her.

 

... And more good news

Clerical Leaders Defy Ayatollah on Iran Election

URL: HERE
And Readout is still puffing away
REDOUBT VOLCANO (CAVW #1103-03-)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

No significant change has been observed at Redoubt in the last 24 hours. Seismicity at the volcano continues slightly above background level. Clear webcam views today show continued steaming from the lava dome. The lava dome remains potentially unstable, and its collapse would likely result in high-level ash production, hot lava block and ash flows, and possible flooding in the Drift River valley.

Part 1 of evidence that the world has finally gone bollicking mad - why is Michael Jackson suddenly the flavour of the month now his dead?

For years he's been reviled by the world's press and hated by a lot of people.

Talk about hypocrisy.


A farewell to Farrah Fawcett, I will at least miss YOU knowing you're not around any more

I thought Redoubt has fallen off the ends of the Earth or something. It looked like it had been wiped from the Alaska Volcano Observatory website. But the information was just being updated.

Actually not that much different .. wait, not in any way different to what I've become used to seeing.

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORT
Sunday, June 14, 2009 12:10 PM AKDT (Sunday, June 14, 2009 20:10 UTC)

( Read more... )

Not a good picture this morning ... Ahhhhh

REDOUBT VOLCANO (CAVW #1103-03-)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

( Read more... )

Long before the dawn as I lay deliberating upon the mysteries of this reality, I wondered about why it was, after WWII, that westerners on the whole, in general - and mostly - have stopped wearing hats as an everyday thing.

Save, of course, for those who wear baseball type caps. As casual headgear, these curiously peaked caps have crossed the great divide of fashion sense and attained acceptablity among men and women.

And crikey, I even have one to wear in the spa through daylight hours.

While hubby has a collection of them. In the daytime he doesn't leave home without one but then we live in a 'sunburnt country'; and it would be sensible for all Australians to 'slip on a hat' through the hot weather, wouldn't it?

But most of us choose to face the world bare-headed (although for babies and young children we might make an exception).

I guess I'm curious about the psychological underpinnings of this (me and origins!). I wonder what social shift occurred in the westernised world to label the wearing of hats as making a person look 'stupid', causing people to lose the habit of wearing in the everyday what is a very practical item of clothing?

REDOUBT VOLCANO (CAVW #1103-03-)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

PS: And no picture to speak of - webcam covered in ash

REDOUBT VOLCANO (CAVW #1103-03-)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

( Read more... )

was blanked out last night and this morning, possibly ashfall on the webcam ..

REDOUBT VOLCANO (CAVW #1103-03-)
60°29'7" N 152°44'38" W, Summit Elevation 10197 ft (3108 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

( Read more... )

Today I'm happy because our little Maudi came home, admittedly in an urn but in an urn shaped like a cat.

And obviously this is not Maudi but her mortal remains yet all that is left of her in a physical sense is now here with us. She's out of the reach of any harm and time will no longer be burdonsome to her. Gifts (just ask Tithonus) death bestows on all of us at some time.

I like to think our little one had a happy life with us.

I believe she did.

And I miss her, I always will, but I don't want to hang onto the past.

Where the living dwell, in actuality there is only the present.