KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Coast Guard snaps aerial photos of eruptions
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The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the six-mile-wide caldera has several vents erupting simultaneously. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)
Tina Neal with the Alaska Volcano Observatory (KTUU-TV)by Jackie Purcell
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The U.S. Coast Guard was able to capture the newest images of Okmok Volcano's ongoing eruption.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the six-mile-wide caldera has several vents erupting simultaneously.
Billowing ash clouds are reaching heights of up to 20,000 feet as seismic activity continues to fluctuate.
Darks streaks of ash fall were also observed by the Coast Guard flight.
Scientists are working with the National Weather Service to provide information to the aviation community as to the direction the ash clouds are drifting.
Geologists say they have been very busy trying to monitor not only the Okmok eruption, but also the erupting Cleveland Volcano nearby.
"I can't remember the last time we managed two eruptions at once, especially two so closely spaced on the volcanic arc," said Tina Neal with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. "So it's both a busy and interesting time for us."
Neal says they'll have to wait to replace the monitoring equipment they lost when the eruptions began earlier this month.
Contact Jackie Purcell at jpurcell@ktuu.com
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