Volcanic Ash Cloud Shuts Anchorage Airport

(AP)  Alaska's Mount Redoubt has simmered down, leaving an ugly, messy coating of volcanic ash scattered over scores of communities, including the state's largest city.

Monitors at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say Redoubt was emitting only low level tremors Sunday.

The calm follows several strong eruptions on Saturday, in which plumes of ash were sent tens of thousands of feet into the air, raining down on Nikiski, a community across Cook Inlet, about 50 miles from the volcano.

A thinner layer - enough to force the shutdown of the state's largest airport - fell on Anchorage, about 100 miles northeast of the volcano.

Ash from Alaska's volcanoes is like a rock fragment with jagged edges; it has been used as an industrial abrasive.

It can injure skin, eyes and breathing passages. The young, the elderly and people with respiratory problems are especially susceptible to ash-related health problems.

Ash can also cause damage engines in planes, cars and other vehicles.

Alaska Airlines, the state's largest carrier, cancelled all flights in and out of Anchorage on Saturday afternoon because of the ash.

Since the series of eruptions began last Sunday night, the volcano has had about a dozen bursts.

The last time the volcano erupted was during a four-month period in 1989-90.


For more info:

Alaska Volcano Observatory: Redoubt Activity

[trueblueusa]

Does this mean the Palin woman will not be able to see Russia or leave Alaska?
Great One!
We can`t let her go so easily tho,.....She made Real Sure that McCant would LOSE !

[scytherius]

Boy, I sure want Bobby Jindal to be MY President. He hates him that stupid science and sure won't ever let us spend money on anything as stupid as volcano monitoring. He so smart!!!!

[norcalruss]

Maybe the Rushlicans should send that clueless idiot Boby Jindal up there so that he can learn what a volcano is and why volcano monitoring is needed. I can't believe that the governor of a state that received billions of dollars in federal aid after Katrina could make such a moronic statement. Then again look at the pathetic losers who are fighting to lead this hopeless party: Rush ?The Buffoon? Limburger, Sarah ?Dan-Quayle-in-a-dress? Palin, Mitt ?The Mormon? Rommel, Newt the Grinch, and Mike ?Gomar Pyle? Huckleberry.

[dvsden]

Monitors at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say Redoubt was emitting only low level tremors Sunday.
Remember last month when Bobby Jindal (R-Clueless) described Volcano Monitoring as "wasteful gov't spending".
I guess in conservative bizzaro world, muttering superstitious prayers is a better way to ward off a natural disaster.

[jetranger7]

if anybodys intersteaded,, Mount Saint Helens has a 24 hr. Web Cam pointed right at it,, you can google it to see it,, try typing in Mt. Saint Helens Web Cam,, the camera is at the Johnson Ridge Observatory,,,

[bajajohn1]

Does this mean the Palin woman will not be able to see Russia or leave Alaska?