YOU GOTTA SEE THESE!!!! Time lapse video of Redoubt erupting!

These videos are SO COOL! I cannot believe the sheer forces of nature at work here!

These were taken near Seldovia, Alaska about 80 miles away from the volcano.

Redoubt Eruption March 27 2009 from Bretwood Higman on Vimeo.

Time lapse of Redoubt Volcano ash from Bretwood Higman on Vimeo.

Volcano therapy

(Thursday's 65,000ft ashcloud as seen from space!)

OK, so it turned out not to be too big of a deal, but it was a little exciting none the less! We were enjoying hanging out at Nature Lady's house when the Prof mentioned that a report said we were getting ash. There had been a couple eruptions earlier in the day. We all headed outside onto the deck. I ran my finger over the banister and was surprised to feel grit! The sunny day had greyed up and what looked like winter fog was actually ash. A while later we went back outside to find a thin layer of ash everywhere and accumulations along the windows and windshield wipers on the cars. I could now smell a bit of sulfur in the air. Nature Lady got some pics(a couple are posted on her site!) . We enjoyed splitting our EARTH HOUR between Nature Lady's, the drive home, and our house. I was hoping to get some pics here this morning but we had a lot of wind and it looks like most of it has blown away. I haven't been outside yet but if there is anything to photograph, I'll post it later.

We've known some ashfall would be imminent after eruptions and last week I discussed this with Lo who was quite wide eyed at the thought of having to stay inside or wear face masks if we had to go outside. I Know she's been a bit frightened by the whole volcano thing these past couple of months. The volcano has been one of the most predominant subjects of her imaginative play and drawing. This is Lo's main way of dealing with both stressors and things of great interest. Sometimes both are not mutually exclusive.

So that wide eyed look on her face prompted me to engage her in some art therapy. After reading about stratovolcanos, magma, why volcano's erupt, etc. she did some drawings. We examined Daddy's volcanic rock from Craters of the Moon as well.We didn't have any clay but I thought I could put together a quick makeshift volcano out of foil and a plastic container and show her the ole' baking soda and vinegar erupting volcano experiment. Dea walked in from school at that point saying,"Oh! i remember doing this with you! And in EVERY single grade at school...". Lo was thrilled with the volcano and we went through quite a bit of vinegar and baking soda!

(Lo and Dea's interpretive dance, Erupting Frightening Volcano!)

Over the next few days volcanoes were incorporated into a lot of play. A little doll was errected out of silkies in volcano colors. Rice and beans became a volcano, as well as blocks and pillows/blankies, and paintings. I do think it all has helped her to process these very mysterious and powerful volcanic events.

EEEEEwwwwwwww! It, like, totally smells like ASH around here!

'Tis snowin ash-more latah.

Wordless Wednesday

Thar she blows!!!! Mt. Redoubt ERUPTS!!!! 8PM UPDATE

UPDATE: Another major eruption as of 7:41 this evening. A new ash cloud is billowing forth and reaching 60,000ft. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED AN ASH FALL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM AKDT TUESDAY. As per the Anchorage Daily News: "At a 3 a.m. press conference today, AVO geophysicist John Powers said -- looking at the history of Redoubt eruptions -- this event might continue for months." WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Nighty night!

Image courtesy of AVO

Camera is located at AVO's Redoubt Hut, approximately 7.5 mi (12 km) from Redoubt's summit crater. This camera provides a view of the north flank of Redoubt. This camera is in a remote location and operates on battery power.

Approximate sunrise/sunset times at the Redoubt - Hut webcam:

Monday March, 23, 2009:

Sunrise: 08:03 AKDT

Sunset: 20:31 AKDT

Heather Bleick / AVO / USGS
Redoubt volcano spews steam and ash from a crater on its north flank March 15, 2009.

*Ash cloud is now up to 60,000 ft after the 5th and strongest eruption around 4am this morning. Ash is still expected to miss Anchorage. Whew.

Updated story here:
Fifth explosion rocks Mount Redoubt volcano by GEORGE BRYSON

After months of threatening rumbles, Mount Redoubt finally exploded overnight in five separate eruptions, the latest sometime 5 a.m. today.

A fourth explosion had rocked the volcano at 1:39 a.m. after three eruptions earlier in the night sent an ash cloud an estimated 50,000 feet into the air, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.

The first eruption came at 10:38 p.m. Sunday followed by another at 11:02 p.m., and a third at 12:14 a.m. today.

Winds were carrying the ash plume north toward the Susitna Valley, and an ash advisory has been issued for the area until 8 a.m., the National Weather Service said.
Ash was not expected in Anchorage or Wasilla at this time, the Weather Service said, although they said a light dusting might be possible.