Alaska's Mount Redoubt Soon to Erupt?

Mount Redoubt is among the highest mountains in Alaska with an elevation of 10,197 feet. It also happens to be one of the most active volcanoes in the region erupting six times since 1778. The mountain is part of the Aleutian Volcanic chain, and is its highest peak. Mount Redoubt is located about one hundred and ten miles Southwest of Anchorage in south central Alaska, the largest city in the state.

As of January 25, 2009, at two am, Mount Redoubt has been raised to alert orange by the Alaska Volcano observatory. Seismic activity has been ongoing since it's beginning on January 24th just before the warning was issued with a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hitting south central Alaska. Subsequent tremors have not been as extreme, but as of January 28th the Alaska Volcano observatory feels the earthquake has a sixty to seventy percent chance of erupting within a few days or possibly even hours.

During Mount Redoubt's last eruption in 1990, ash shot 45,000 feet in the air and covered an over 20,000 square foot range. The blast resembled a bomb creating a massive ash cloud which stopped even air traffic in south central Alaska. Unlike Volcanoes in areas such as Hawaii, Mount Redoubt, like many Alaskan Volcanoes erupts explosively. The results are costly. The five month long 1990 eruption of Mount Redoubt was the second most expensive volcanic eruption in United States history with a clean-up bill of $160 million.

If Mount Redoubt does decide to blow its top here in 2009 its expected ash will coat all of the Kenai Peninsula, as well as be carried on the wind to Anchorage, Alaska thus affecting the mass of Alaska's populace. When and if the eruption does occur anyone within the ash fall zone is advised to remain indoors, if you must travel use protective dust masks and goggles. The ash can damage vehicle engines, and electronics. All residents are encouraged to stock pile emergency supplies and seal homes from the ash as much as possible. The state also asks that phone use be kept only to emergency calls. More information of Volcano preparations can be found at: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash/todo.html#household

Current updates on Mount Redoubts activity can be found on the Alaska Volcano Observatories website linked in source.

Citation: Alaska Natural Productions; http://www.semicro.com/offline/anp/volcano.htm

More resources

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php