Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Alaska: Video and footage from helicopter of Mt Redoubt volcanic eruption-23/3/09



Mount Redoubt is an active and currently erupting stratovolcano (composite volcano) in the mainly volcanic Aleutian Range of Alaska. It is located just over 100 miles south-west of Anchorage. Many of Alaska's 40 active volcanoes are located on the Aleutian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Here the Pacific Plate subducts the North American Plate. This is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

More recently the volcano has erupted in 1902, 1966, 1989 and 2009. In 1989 sudden melting of snow and ice at the summit caused lahars, or mudflows, which flowed down the north flank of the mountain. Some of the mudflows reached Cook Inlet, c22 miles from the volcano. The volcanic ash reached a height of 14,000 m (45,000 ft) and covered an area of about 20,000 km² (7,700 sq. miles).
There were minor eruptions on March 15th 2009 with large- scale eruptions commencing on March 22nd 2009. Volcanic ash is estimated to have reached heights of 50,000-60,000 feet. Alaska Airlines has cancelled 45 flights following volcanic eruptions.

Footage of Alaska's Redoubt Volcano taken on Monday, March 23, 2009 from a helicopter.

Footage of Alaska's Redoubt Volcano taken by Kristi Wallace (USGS / AVO) Monday, March 23, 2009 is available. This footage was shot via aerial observations during helicopter supported field work at the volcano (Requires strong internet connection)

A digital file (.wmv, 210 MB) of the footage is available as a download by clicking here:

Details and Credits:
Title: Post-eruption footage of Redoubt Volcano
Shoot Date: March 23, 2009
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Produced by: Kristi Wallace (USGS / AVO)
Run Time: 14 minute 33 seconds

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the blog post on this. Great info. We've been following it on other blogs too. I've even seen school children tracking and waiting for this eruption.

My son shared the following with me last night.

i believe mt. redoubt was the one that was subject to one of the most elaborate practical jokes i've ever heard of.

years back, a bush pilot who was famous for practical jokes secretly flew thousands of used tires into the caldera and lit them on fire for april fools day, to make everybody think it was erupting.

John Barry said...

Thanks for the compliments and great story about Mt. Redoubt.

rainywalker said...

I was there in 1989 and we were required to use headlights during the day in Fairbanks and masks for several days. Only prop aircraft could fly in the state and all gets were grounded. Mother nature can teach you some respect for what real power is.

John Barry said...

Nothing beats personal experience of a volcanic eruption- not even a video