Category: SciTech » Earth Science
Cleveland Weekly Update issued Feb 3, 2012 11:53 AKST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
4:36 pm Eastern | USA News
Satellite observations throughout the week suggest that eruptive activity at Cleveland Volcano has slowed or paused. Since observation of a new lava dome on 30 January, its size has not changed appreciably. Satellite-derived surface temperatures are consistent with slow to no growth of the dome. There have been no indications of explosive ash-producing activity from distant seismic, pressure or lightning sensors. Renewed eruptive activity producing a small 40 meter (130 foot) lava dome was first observed in satellite data on 30 January 2012, following a month of little to no observable ...read more »
Cascade Range Weekly Update issued Feb 3, 2012 10:42 PST Volcano Alert Level NORMAL - Aviation Color Code GREEN
3:06 pm Eastern | SciTech
Activity Update: All volcanoes in the Cascade Range are at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams in Washington State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Volcano, and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake volcano, Mount Shasta, and Lassen Peak in northern California. Recent Observations: No unusual geologic activity was apparent at any of the Cascades Volcanoes during the week. Volcano seismicity remained at background levels. Hydrologic field teams collected stream data and ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Feb 3, 2012 07:02 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
1:37 pm Eastern | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. DI deflation slowed and the lava lake was perturbed by two large collapses of the vent rim. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow was visible from several sources on the northeast and southeast edges of the floor. Surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o remained active but possibly weaker according to satellite imagery. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network continued to record DI deflation punctuated with two abrupt positive ...read more »
Pagan Weekly Update issued Feb 3, 2012 13:54 ChST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
3 Feb 00:07 | SciTech
Low-level volcanic unrest continues at Pagan. On 30 January the USGS received a pilot report via the National Weather Service office in Guam of a volcanic cloud rising to an altitude of 10,000 ft asl. The cloud was described as "white with bits of light brown". Satellite images of Pagan from the time of the PIREP showed a vigorous gas and steam cloud but no evidence of a significant amount of volcanic ash. Other satellite images over the past week showed a gas and steam plume drifting downwind from the volcano. The USGS received no further reports of unrest or activity at Pagan ...read more »
Cleveland Status Report issued Feb 2, 2012 10:42 AKST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
2 Feb 15:04 | SciTech
There was no evidence of ash emissions or elevated surface temperatures in partly cloudy satellite images over the past day. AVO has not received any other reports of activity. Renewed eruptive activity producing a small 40 meter (130 foot) lava dome was first observed in satellite data on 30 January 2012, following a month of little to no observable change. The new dome occupies only a small portion of the approximately 200 meter (650 foot) diameter summit crater. There have been no observations of ash emissions or explosive activity during this current lava eruption. The lava dome that ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Feb 2, 2012 07:09 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
2 Feb 13:35 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was slightly elevated. DI deflation and the drop of the summit lava lake started yesterday morning. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow was visible from several sources on the northeast and southeast edges of the floor; a single very short flow issued from the southeast source yesterday afternoon. Surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o remained active according to satellite imagery. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Another DI deflation started ...read more »
Yellowstone Monthly Update issued Feb 1, 2012 12:59 MST Volcano Alert Level NORMAL - Aviation Color Code GREEN
1 Feb 15:04 | USA News
During January 2012, 26 earthquakes were located in the Yellowstone National Park region. The largest was a magnitude 2.5 event on January 18 at 2:32 AM MST, located about 7 miles north northeast of West Yellowstone, MT. Yellowstone earthquake activity continues at relatively low background levels and no swarms were detected. Slow subsidence of the caldera, which began in early 2010, continues. Current deformation patterns at Yellowstone are well within historical norms. Please see: http://www.uusatrg.utah.edu/ts_ysrp.html for a map of GPS stations in the Yellowstone vicinity. For ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Feb 1, 2012 07:19 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
1 Feb 13:36 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was slightly elevated. DI inflation and the rise of the summit lava lake slowed overnight. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow was visible from several sources on the northeast and southeast edges of the floor; brief, short flows issued from the southeast source. Surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o reactivated according to satellite imagery. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: DI inflation and the rise of the lava lake slowed to a stable level ...read more »
Cleveland VAN/VONA issued Jan 31, 2012 15:21 AKST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
31 Jan 19:36 | USA News
Renewed eruptive activity of Cleveland Volcano has been observed in satellite data, and AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to Orange and the Alert Level to Watch. A new lava dome has been observed in the summit crater, and as of 30 January 2012 was approximately 40 meters (130 feet) in diameter. There have been no observations of ash emissions or explosive activity during this current lava eruption. The lava dome that formed throughout the fall-winter of 2011 was largely removed by the explosive activity on 25 and 29 December, 2011. It remains possible for intermittent, sudden ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 31, 2012 07:00 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
31 Jan 13:37 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity level was low. DI inflation started yesterday morning and the summit lava lake rose with it. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow was visible from several sources on the northeast and southeast edges of the floor. Surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o may be stalling according to satellite imagery. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Slowing DI inflation and a rise of the lava lake started about 6:30 am yesterday. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur ...read more »
U.S. Mineral Values Up in 2011
30 Jan 15:55 | SciTech
The value of mineral production in the United States increased by 12 percent in 2011 from that of 2010, suggesting that the nonfuel minerals industries, particularly metals, continued to recover from the economic recession that began in December 2007 and lasted well into 2009. The value of raw, nonfuel minerals mined in the United States was $74 billion in 2011, up from $66 billion in 2010, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s annual release of mineral production statistics and summary of events and trends affecting domestic and global nonfuel minerals. "Information in the Mineral Commodity Summaries helps business leaders, policy makers, managers, and anyone else understand the critically important flow of minerals through the supply chain and how they are contributing to, and reflecting the health of, our nation's economy," said USGS director Marcia McNutt. "For example, in 2011 domestic recycled metallic and mineral mread more »
Severe Declines in Everglades Mammals Linked to Pythons
30 Jan 13:52 | SciTech
Additional Partnerships: State Museum of Pennsylvania Denison University Constrictor Snakes (B-roll): Video footage (B-roll) of Everglades National Park biologists hunting and capturing a Burmese Python in Florida. HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Precipitous declines in formerly common mammals in Everglades National Park have been linked to the presence of invasive Burmese pythons, according to a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, the first to document the ecolread more »
Severe Declines in Everglades Mammals Linked to Pythons
30 Jan 13:52 | USA News
Additional Partnerships: State Museum of Pennsylvania Denison University Constrictor Snakes (B-roll): Video footage (B-roll) of Everglades National Park biologists hunting and capturing a Burmese Python in Florida. Editors: For frequently asked questions about this study and Burmese pythons, please visit the Fort Collins Science Center, Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida website. HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Precipitous declread more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 30, 2012 07:05 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
30 Jan 13:36 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity level was low. DI deflation and slowed summit lava lake withdrawal continued. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow was visible from several sources on the northeast and southeast edges of the floor. Surface flows were active southeast of Pu`u `O`o according to satellite imagery. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: DI deflation and a slow withdrawal of the lava lake level continued. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 29, 2012 08:02 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
29 Jan 13:36 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low but waxed with inflation and waned with deflation. DI deflation started last night and the summit lava lake started to drop. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, the eastern depression was partially covered with lava twice more yesterday before deflation started there. Surface flows were active southeast of Pu`u `O`o according to satellite imagery. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Back-to-back DI tilt events continued - DI deflation started at 6 ...read more »
New Research Show Earth Has Not Warmed in 15 Years
29 Jan 12:42 | SciTech
New data released by a noted climate research institute last week indicated that the earth has not warmed in more than a decade, findings that are sure to challenge the global warming mentality for years held by a number of scientists.read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 28, 2012 06:45 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
28 Jan 12:04 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity remained slightly elevated. DI inflation started last night and the summit lava lake started to rise. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, the eastern depression was partially covered with lava once more yesterday morning. Surface flows were active southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: DI inflation started at 8 pm last night and the lava lake level started to rise about an hour later. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide ...read more »
Wrangell Weekly Update issued Jan 27, 2012 14:26 AKST Volcano Alert Level UNASSIGNED - Aviation Color Code UNASSIGNED
27 Jan 19:34 | SciTech
AVO can no longer seismically monitor Wrangell volcano because of seismic station outages. As a result, AVO is unable to assess seismic activity at this volcano. As at other volcanoes without real-time seismic networks, AVO will continue to use satellite data and reports from pilots and ground observers to detect signs of eruptive activity. Because Wrangell is no longer seismically monitored, earlier today we changed both the Volcano Alert Level from Normal and Aviation Color Code from Green to "UNASSIGNED". Wrangell will likely remain without real-time seismic monitoring until the summer ...read more »
Wrangell VAN/VONA issued Jan 27, 2012 14:21 AKST Volcano Alert Level UNASSIGNED - Aviation Color Code UNASSIGNED
27 Jan 19:34 | USA News
AVO can no longer seismically monitor Wrangell volcano because of seismic station outages. As a result, AVO is unable to assess seismic activity at this volcano. As at other volcanoes without real-time seismic networks, AVO will continue to use satellite data and reports from pilots and ground observers to detect signs of eruptive activity. Because Wrangell is no longer seismically monitored, we are changing both the Volcano Alert Level from Normal and Aviation Color Code from Green to "UNASSIGNED". Wrangell will likely remain without real-time seismic monitoring until the summer of 2012, ...read more »
Cleveland Weekly Update issued Jan 27, 2012 14:26 AKST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
27 Jan 19:34 | USA News
No new activity was detected at Cleveland volcano this week. Clouds obscured views of the volcano by satellite this week. Satellite data indicate that the lava dome that formed throughout the fall-winter of 2011 was largely removed and covered by the explosive activity of late December. It is uncertain if eruptive activity at Cleveland has ended, paused, or is occurring at a level below our detection capabilities. It remains possible for intermittent, sudden explosions of blocks and ash to occur at any time, and ash clouds exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level may develop. Such explosions ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 27, 2012 07:51 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
27 Jan 13:35 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was slightly elevated. DI deflation started and the summit lava lake started to drop. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, the eastern depression was periodically covered with lava. Surface flows were active southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: DI deflation started at 12:45 pm yesterday and the lava lake level started to drop soon afterward. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,500 tonnes/day on ...read more »
Cascade Range Weekly Update issued Jan 27, 2012 08:57 PST Volcano Alert Level NORMAL - Aviation Color Code GREEN
27 Jan 12:04 | USA News
Activity Update: All volcanoes in the Cascade Range are at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams in Washington State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Volcano, and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake volcano, Mount Shasta, and Lassen Peak in northern California. Recent Observations: Monitoring data show that Cascade Range volcanoes remain at background levels. The small, shallow, glacier-related earthquakes at Mount Rainier continue. An M3.4 earthquake north of Coldwater ...read more »
Pagan Weekly Update issued Jan 27, 2012 09:11 ChST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
26 Jan 19:34 | USA News
Satellite images of Pagan showed a gas and steam plume drifting downwind from the volcano most of the past week. The USGS received no further reports of unrest or activity at Pagan volcano. Pagan Volcano is not monitored with ground-based geophysical instrumentation and the only sources of information are satellite observations and occasional reports from observers who pass by or visit the island. We will continue to evaluate satellite imagery, on-island, and mariner reports when they become available, but because the volcano is not monitored with ground-based instruments, we cannot ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 26, 2012 07:32 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
26 Jan 13:35 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was slightly elevated. DI inflation and the summit lava lake rise continued. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, the eastern depression continued to fill with lava. There was satellite evidence of minor surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Both DI inflation and the rising of the lava lake continued; the spattering sink on the southeastern edge of lake continued building a small spatter rampart and feeding very small ...read more »
Radical Theory Explains the Origin, Evolution, and Nature of Life
26 Jan 12:47 | SciTech
The earth is alive, asserts a revolutionary scientific theory of life emerging from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 25, 2012 07:34 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
25 Jan 13:39 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was slightly elevated. DI inflation and the summit lava lake rise continued. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, the eastern depression filled with lava. There was satellite evidence of minor surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Both DI inflation and the rising of the lava lake continued at a slower rate; a vigorous spattering sink developed on the southern edge of lake and was building a small spatter rampart on the ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 24, 2012 07:51 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
24 Jan 13:36 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. DI inflation started last night and the summit lava lake started to rise. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen from persistent sources on the crater floor. There was no evidence of active surface flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Both DI inflation and the anticipated rising of the lava lake started around 9 pm last night. Although not measured today, a very small amount of ash-sized tephra, ...read more »
Scientists Discover New Clue To The Chemical Origins Of Life
24 Jan 12:36 | SciTech
Organic chemists at the University of York say they have made a significant advance towards establishing the origin of the carbohydrates (sugars) that form the building blocks of life.read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 23, 2012 07:42 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
23 Jan 13:38 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. A magnitude-4.7 earthquake plus aftershocks occurred on Kilauea's south flank yesterday afternoon but it had no obvious effect on eruptive activity. DI deflation slowed to stable and the summit lava lake level remained low. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen from persistent sources on the crater floor. Minor surface flows may be active or inactive but cooling southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: A ...read more »
California Condor Still Threatened By Human Activities
23 Jan 2012 | SciTech
A recently released scientific paper authored by San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research scientists shows the leading causes of death of the endangered California condor in the wild are human influenced, with lead poisoning being the primary factor in juvenile and adult birds.read more »
Airborne Geophysical Survey Offers New Insight Into Permafrost in Alaska
23 Jan 2012 | SciTech
DENVER, Colo. — A pioneering airborne electromagnetic survey in the Yukon Flats near Fort Yukon, Alaska, by the U.S. Geological Survey has yielded unprecedented images of the presence and absence of permafrost to depths of roughly 328 feet. The airborne survey captured images of permafrost over a substantially larger area, and with greater data density, than has been previously achieved using sparse boreholes and ground-based geophysics. "Liquid water conducts electricity better than ice," explained USGS director Marcia McNutt. "We can detect from the air the weak magnetic fields generated by those electric currents, thus distinguishing quickly and easily melted from frozen ground. This new technology, and the maps of changing permafrost, will be valuable for both climate change research and engineering in the challenging Alaskan environment." Because the Yukon Flats is near the boundary between continuous permafrost to the north aread more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 22, 2012 07:09 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
22 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low with continuing tilt and lava lake level oscillations. DI deflation started yesterday and the summit lava lake level has been dropping. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, the eastern floor subsided and issued a small lava flow; glow could be seen from persistent sources on the crater floor. Minor surface flows may be active southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Back-to-back DI tilt events continued - DI inflation became weak ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 21, 2012 05:28 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
21 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low with continuing tilt and lava lake level oscillations. DI inflation started this morning but the summit lava lake level had not yet started to rise. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen from several sources with several brief lava flows on the crater floor yesterday. Minor surface flows are active southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Back-to-back DI tilt events continued with weak DI deflation becoming DI ...read more »
Cleveland Weekly Update issued Jan 20, 2012 10:04 AKST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
20 Jan 2012 | SciTech
No new activity was detected at Cleveland volcano this week. Elevated surface temperatures at the volcano's summit were observed in a satellite image on January 17. The elevated temperatures likely result from active fumaroles (vents of hot steam and gas) as well as from recent, still-warm deposits of ash, blocks, and lava. No lightning, airwave (infrasound) signals, or volcanic ash in satellite images were detected during this interval, indicating that the elevated temperatures were not related to volcanic explosions. AVO has received no reports of activity at the volcano from pilots or ...read more »
Cascade Range Weekly Update issued Jan 20, 2012 09:18 PST Volcano Alert Level NORMAL - Aviation Color Code GREEN
20 Jan 2012 | USA News
Activity Update: All volcanoes in the Cascade Range are at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams in Washington State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Volcano, and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake volcano, Mount Shasta, and Lassen Peak in northern California. Recent Observations: Monitoring data, chiefly volcano seismicity and ground deformation from tiltmeters and real-time GPS, show that activity in the Cascade Range has remained at background levels during the past ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 20, 2012 07:45 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
20 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low with continuing tilt and lava lake level oscillations. DI deflation may have started this morning but the summit lava lake level remained stable and had not yet started to drop. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen from several sources with a brief lava flow across the crater floor around 3 am this morning. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Back-to-back DI tilt events continued with the next DI deflation starting about 5 am this ...read more »
'Extinct' Monkey Rediscovered In Borneo
20 Jan 2012 | SciTech
An international team of scientists has found one of the rarest and least known primates in Borneo, Miller's Grizzled Langur, a species which was believed to be extinct or on the verge of extinction. read more »
Carbon Dioxide Is "Driving Fish Crazy" Say Researchers
20 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Rising human carbon dioxide emissions may be affecting the brains and central nervous system of sea fishes with serious consequences for their survival, an international scientific team has found.read more »
Pagan Weekly Update issued Jan 20, 2012 08:08 ChST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
19 Jan 2012 | USA News
Satellite images of Pagan showed a gas and steam plume drifting downwind from the volcano most of the past week. The USGS received no further reports of unrest or activity at Pagan volcano. Pagan Volcano is not monitored with ground-based geophysical instrumentation and the only sources of information are satellite observations and occasional reports from observers who pass by or visit the island. We will continue to evaluate satellite imagery, on-island, and mariner reports when they become available, but because the volcano is not monitored with ground-based instruments, we cannot ...read more »
Acid Rain Study Show Substantial Decreases, But More Progress Is Needed
19 Jan 2012 | SciTech
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Measurable improvements in air quality and visibility, human health, and water quality in many acid-sensitive lakes and streams, have been achieved through emissions reductions from electric generating power plants and resulting decreases in acid rain. These are some of the key findings in a report to Congress by the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, a cooperative federal program. The report shows that since the establishment of the Acid Rain Program, under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, there have been substantial reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from power plants that use fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, which are known to be the primary causes of acid rain. As of 2009, emissions of SO2 and NOx declined by about two-thirds relative to levels in the 1990s. These emissions levels declined even further in 2010, read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 19, 2012 07:34 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
19 Jan 2012 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low but expected to increase slightly. DI inflation started last night and the summit lava lake level started to rise a little over an hour later. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen from several sources. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network recorded the switch to DI inflation at 10:40 pm last night. The lava lake level started to rise around midnight. A very small amount of ash-sized tephra, including fresh ...read more »
Japan and New Zealand Hit Hardest By Earthquakes In 2011
19 Jan 2012 | World
Last year earthquakes and their consequences, such as tsunamis, landslides and ground settlements, caused damage of US$365 billion and was the year with the highest economic losses due to earthquakes so far, according to researchers.read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 18, 2012 07:34 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
18 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was slightly elevated but all surface flows appear inactive this morning. DI deflation and the summit lava lake level stabilized at low values. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen and brief short lava flows issued from several sources. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network recorded continued DI deflation flattening after 9 pm last night. The lava lake level continued to slowly drop stablizing at a low level after ...read more »
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Marks a Century of Research and Monitoring
17 Jan 2012 | SciTech
HAWAI`I ISLAND, Hawaii — In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory celebrates its 100th anniversary of studying the volcanoes’ workings and disseminating cutting-edge volcano science throughout the world. Many public events are planned to celebrate the centennial of HVO, the first volcano observatory in the United States. Located on the rim of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit caldera within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, HVO monitors the seismic and volcanic activity of six Hawaiian volcanoes including Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the most active volcanoes in the world. Kīlauea has erupted 48 times on HVO’s watch, with a nearly continuous flank eruption since 1983, and an ongoing summit eruption since 2008. Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth, has erupted 12 times in the same period, most recently in 1984, when lava flowed to within about 4 miles of the Hilo city limits. "Volcanread more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 17, 2012 08:06 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
17 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. DI deflation started just before midnight and the summit lava lake level started to drop. Within Pu`u `O`o Crater, glow could be seen from at least one source via webcam. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network recorded DI deflation at 11 pm yesterday on the heels of a 7+ microradian inflation, the largest in a couple of months. The lava lake level remained high through midnight and started to drop by 1 am this ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 16, 2012 06:49 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
16 Jan 2012 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity increased slightly. DI inflation started yesterday morning and the summit lava lake started to rise. Within Pu`u `Oo Crater, glow could be seen from several sources via webcam and small lava flows issued from the easternmost sources this morning. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network recorded DI inflation at 8:15 am yesterday and the lava lake level rose near the level of the inner ledge by this morning. Although not ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 15, 2012 07:54 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
15 Jan 2012 | USA News
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. DI deflation and the summit lava lake were stable at low levels. Surface flows were probably inactive a short distance southeast of Pu`u `O`o cone; glow could be seen from sources within Pu`u `O`o crater via webcam. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network again recorded DI deflation stabilized at about 5 microradians - the largest since a mid-October, three-day-long deflation of 7 microradians. The lava lake level ...read more »
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 14, 2012 07:45 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
14 Jan 2012 | SciTech
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. DI deflation and the summit lava lake stabilized at low levels. Minor surface flows may be active a short distance southeast of Pu`u `O`o cone; glow could be seen from sources within Pu`u `O`o crater via webcam. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network recorded DI deflation stabilized at about 5 microradians - the largest since a mid-October deflation of 7 microradians. The lava lake level remained low and steady. ...read more »
Cleveland Weekly Update issued Jan 13, 2012 12:44 AKST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
13 Jan 2012 | USA News
No new activity was detected at Cleveland volcano this week. Elevated surface temperatures at the volcano's summit were observed in satellite images January 12. The elevated temperatures likely result from active fumaroles (vents of hot steam and gas) as well as from recent, still-warm deposits of ash, blocks, and lava. No lightning, airwave (infrasound) signals, or volcanic ash in satellite images were detected during this interval, indicating that the elevated temperatures were not related to volcanic explosions. AVO has received no reports of activity at the volcano from pilots or other ...read more »
Cascade Range Weekly Update issued Jan 13, 2012 12:34 PST Volcano Alert Level NORMAL - Aviation Color Code GREEN
13 Jan 2012 | USA News
Activity Update: All volcanoes in the Cascade Range are at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams in Washington State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Volcano, and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake volcano, Mount Shasta, and Lassen Peak in northern California. Recent Observations: Monitoring data, chiefly volcano seismicity, show that activity in the Cascade Range has remained at background levels during the second week of January 2012. The U.S. Geological Survey and ...read more »
