July 2015 - Avoemails - list.avo.alaska.edu

Re: Article Accessibility
by cheryl.cameron＠alaska.gov 23 Jul '15

23 Jul '15

Hello Cassandra - I don't have a PDF of that article. The text is copied below. However, it's pretty old - I would guess that VDAP has more recent things that explain its scope and mission: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vdap/ Thanks, cheryl Introduction When the seismograph began to record the violent earth-shaking caused by yet another eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia, no one thought that a few hours later more than 23,000 people would be dead, killed by lahars (volcanic debris flows) in towns and villages several tens of kilometers away from the volcano. Before the fatal eruption the volcano was being monitored by scientists at a seismic station located 9 km from the summit, and information about the volcano's activity was being sent to Colombian emergency-response coordinators who were charged with alerting the public of the danger from the active volcano. Furthermore, areas known to be in the pathways of lahars had already been identified on maps, and communities at risk had been told of their precarious locations. Unfortunately, a storm on November 13, 1985, obscured the glacier-clad summit of Nevado del Ruiz. On that night an explosive eruption tore through the summit and spewed approximately 20 million cubic meters of hot ash and rocks across the snow-covered glacier. These materials were transported across the snow pack by avalanches of hot volcanic debris (pyroclastic flows) and fast-moving, hot, turbulent clouds of gas and ash (pyroclastic surges). The hot pyroclastic flows and surges caused rapid melting of the snow and ice and created large volumes of water that swept down canyons leading away from the summit. As these floods of water descended the volcano, they picked up loose debris and soil from the canyon floors and walls, growing both in volume and density, to form hot lahars. In the river valleys farther down the volcano's flanks, the lahars were as much as 40 m thick and traveled at velocities as fast as 50 km/h. Two and a half hours after the start of the eruption one of the lahars reached Armero, 74 km from the explosion crater. In a few short minutes most of the town was swept away or buried in a torrent of mud and boulders, and three quarters of the townspeople perished. After the fatal eruption, volcanologists of the U.S. Geological Survey were dispatched to Colombia to quickly establish a seismic and tiltmeter network at the volcano and to help Colombian scientists assess the likelihood of future eruptions and lahars. At the same time, a painstaking search began for the circumstances that led to the disaster. It soon became clear that no single factor was responsible for the disaster. Contributing factors were a lack of a timely hazards evaluation (a hazard map took nearly a year to complete after the first signs of volcanic unrest and was available for distribution only days before the eruption), an inadequate monitoring system at the volcano, and ineffective procedures for communicating information and making decisions during the emergency. In hindsight, the disaster at Nevado del Ruiz could have been prevented. The realization that disasters like that at Nevado del Ruiz might be prevented launched the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) in August 1986. With support from USAID through its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the U.S. Geological Survey created VDAP to assist developing countries during volcanic crises. During its short existence, VDAP has assisted Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, the Philippines, and other countries to reduce the loss of life and property from volcanic eruptions and to prepare for future volcanic crises. The successful response to the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines stands as VDAP's most extraordinary contribution to volcano-hazard mitigation (see Earthquakes and Volcanoes, v. 23, no. 1, 1992). Goal and Strategy of VDAP The goal of the program is to reduce loss of life and minimize economic disruption in countries that experience volcanic eruptions. Drawing from the lessons of the Nevado del Ruiz disaster, the strategy to meet this goal includes the following elements: Develop the capability to rapidly deploy a volcano-monitoring network anywhere in the world. Assist local scientists in geologic studies to assess volcano hazards. Work with local scientists to interpret monitoring data and to disseminate hazard information. Train local scientists to use monitoring techniques to forecast volcanic eruptions. The ability to respond rapidly with volcano-monitoring equipment is not sufficient by itself to mitigate volcano hazards. Although an early scientific response tO a reawakening volcano is critical to making reliable forecasts of the timing and nature of future eruptions, hazard mitigation is most effective when volcanoes have been monitored for many years before eruptive activity begins. To assist local scientists, VDAP provides the monitoring equipment and personnel needed to quickly establish an effective volcano-monitoring network. Data gathered by the network helps volcanologists to forecast eruptive activity and issue timely eruption warnings. The record of a volcano's past eruptive activity is preserved in the volcanic rocks and unconsolidated volcanic deposits that surround the volcano. Evaluation of a volcano's past eruptions by dating these deposits and determining their mode of origin, provides information about the nature of possible future eruptive activity and associated hazards at the site. The results of these studies, summarized in volcano-hazard assessment and hazard-zonation maps, help public officials to prepare land-use maps and determine risk during emergencies. The program has the best chance of success when VDAP and host-country scientists have worked together for a period of time before volcanic unrest becomes a crisis. Thus, VDAP scientists are cooperating with scientists from other countries to help them prepare for future volcanic activity in their countries. Workshops and training programs for participants from developing countries are conducted in the United States and in the host countries. To meet the needs of the many Spanish-speaking host countries, USGS publications about volcano hazards and volcano monitoring are published in Spanish as well as English. What is VDAP ? The principal components of VDAP are: (1) a core team of five volcanologists at the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) in Vancouver, Washington, and (2) a cache of volcano-monitoring equipment also kept at the observatory. The fields of expertise of the core team include geology, geophysics, hydrology, and electronics. The team plans daily operations, purchases and develops equipment, and participates in all VDAP responses. Other scientists, from within and outside the USGS, supplement the core group as needs arise. The second component is a complete cache of monitoring equipment that functions as a portable volcano observatory. Much of the equipment was developed or modified by the USGS; with the essential requirements that it must be durable, relatively inexpensive, and easily transported. The monitoring equipment can be set up quickly and is self-contained. In addition, the VDAP staff continually strives to improve hardware and software systems to enhance the monitoring capabilities of volcano observatories. Benefits of VDA P In addition to saving lives from volcanic eruptions in other countries, collaborative work by VDAP has significantly strengthened the ability of the USGS Volcano Hazards and Geothermal Studies Program to respond to future volcanic crises within the United States. By working with VDAP, USGS scientists have gained additional experience in monitoring active volcanoes and communicating volcano-hazard information tO emergency management officials and people living in hazardous areas. Participation in volcano emergencies abroad has provided critical field tests for newly developed or modified volcano-monitoring instruments. Furthermore, these collaborative experiences have led to the development of data-acquisition and data-analysis systems that run on widely available personal computers (PCs). In the event of a crisis at a volcano in the United States, the USGS has the ability to supplement an existing network or install an entirely new one in a matter of days. This capability did not exist when Mount St. Helens became active in 1980 or during the 1985 crisis at Nevado del Ruiz. Another consequence of VDAP is the extent to which volcano-monitoring systems are standardized and widely distributed in both developed and developing countries. Use of standardized equipment makes it possible for Central and South American countries to cooperate in installing, maintaining, or exchanging components of the system and in interpreting data in familiar formats. VDAP'S Portable Volcano Observatory Volcanologists monitor changes in the physical or geochemical state of a volcano induced by magma movement beneath the volcano. Movement of magma generally causes swarms of earthquakes and produces other types of seismic events, swelling or subsidence of a volcano's flanks, and sometimes changes in the amount or types of gases emitted from a volcano. By monitoring these phenomena, volcanologists are sometimes able to forecast eruptions days to weeks ahead of time and to detect remotely the occurrence of certain volcanic events such as explosions or lahars. Monitoring techniques have vastly improved due to the recent advances in electronics and the development of the personal computer (PC). A portable volcano observatory is now possible because of the large storage capacity and rapid data analysis that can be accomplished with a PC. The use of PC's makes it possible for scientists to quickly establish a complete monitoring network at a restless volcano with a nearby data-gathering and data-analysis base station. This has proven extremely important for geologists conducting field work at restless volcanoes, both for their personal safety and for correlating field observations in real time with geophysical data so as to effectively update hazard assessments during rapidly changing conditions. Technological advances and wider experience in monitoring volcanoes in the United States and abroad since the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 have helped scientists to give better advance warning of eruptions and to detect volcanic events underway, especially explosive eruptions and lahars. As the tragedy at Nevado del Ruiz demonstrated, people at risk need to know about explosive eruptions and lahars as soon as possible. Each eruption that has been monitored by the USGS in the past 14 years has led to improved understanding of volcanic systems and has made possible more accurate interpretations of subsequent monitoring data. For example, scientists have recognized certain common patterns and styles of seismic activity that occur before eruptions. These patterns of pre-eruptive activity have been useful in forecasting the onset of eruptions. Some seismic signals (called long-period earthquakes) appear to be related to magmatic gas pressure and in the future may serve as a basis for forecasting the relative size of explosive eruptions. Described below are key components of the portable observatory developed by the USGS in the last 10 years, plus new data-collection and data-analysis systems and new instrumentation designed to detect explosive eruptions and lahars. We discuss the key components of the data gathering, storage, and analysis system, and we highlight a few techniques and instrumentation that are part of VDAP's volcano-monitoring "tool box." Seismic System Seismometers deployed on volcanoes produce signals that are sent to the portable volcano observatory via radio telemetry. Forming the core of the portable volcano observatory, the PC-based seismic system records the seismic signals in digital form and displays them on a computer screen. Preliminary earthquake locations and magnitudes are automatically determined by the system; further analysis of the seismic signals is done interactively. Developed by USGS scientists in Menlo Park, California, the PC-based system is capable of supporting a large seismic network consisting of as many as 128 seismometers and has become a world standard for local seismic networks. VDAP has modified the system for use on volcanoes. Once earthquake epicenters and hypocenters are determined either interactively or automatically, several different programs can be used to view the earthquake data graphically. One of the programs displays a one-page summary of earthquake activity that can be included in a "daily update" of a volcano's activity. The summary combines an earthquake epicenter plot and a hypocenter cross section. An interactive program plots earthquake locations both on a map and a cross section in chronological sequence. The program can rotate a group of hypocenters about any axis, draw cross sections along any azimuth through the volcano, and print a hardcopy of the display. This capability is very useful because it allows scientists to visualize the hypocenters in three dimensions and to identify spatial patterns that might indicate faults or magma conduits. The ability to visualize the seismic activity in three dimensions also makes it easier for scientists to convey to public officials the current status of a volcano's activity. Real-time Seismic Analysis Two new systems, Real-time Seismic-Amplitude Measurement (RSAM) and Seismic Spectral-Amplitude Measurement (SSAM), have been developed by the USGS to summarize seismic activity during volcanic crises. These techniques for characterizing a volcano's changing seismicity in real time (as it is occurring) rely on the amplitudes and frequencies of seismic signals rather than the locations and magnitudes of the earthquakes. During a volcanic crisis, seismicity commonly reaches a level at which individual seismic events are difficult to distinguish. Analog seismic records (seismograms) provide some information, but rapid quantitative analysis is not always possible without substantially disturbing the continuity of recording. Although several real-time earthquake-detection and recording systems exist, most fail to provide quantitative information during periods of intense seismicity, which is a common situation before a volcanic eruption. Yet it is precisely during such periods that the need for timely quantitative seismic information becomes most critical. To fill this need a simple and inexpensive real-time seismic-amplitude measurement system (RSAM) was developed. The RSAM computes and stores the average amplitude of ground shaking caused by earthquakes and volcanic tremor over 10-min intervals. Increases in tremor amplitude or the rate of occurrence and size of earthquakes cause the RSAM values to increase. Rather than focusing on individual events, RSAM sums up the signals from all events during 10-min intervals to provide a simplified but still very useful measure of the overall level of seismic activity. This information is easy to plot and convey to public officials. The Seismic Spectral-Amplitude Measurement (SSAM) system takes this approach one step further by computing in real time the average amplitude of the seismic signals in specific frequency bands. This permits seismologists to evaluate the nature of seismicity at a volcano and recognize subtle shifts in frequency that are related to changing dynamics of magma movement. Deformation Monitoring In addition to recording seismic data, the portable volcano observatory also includes instruments that measure horizontal and vertical movements and tilting of a volcano's surface in response to subsurface movement of magma. Measurements of horizontal deformation are made with electronic distance meters (EDM's) and global positioning system (GPS) receivers. Vertical deformation and ground tilt are measured with levels and electronic total stations (theodolite/EDM combinations). Telemetered tiltmeters provide tilt measurements in near-real time. VDAP's equipment cache includes EDM's, theodolites, and reflectors needed to survey key points (benchmarks) on a volcano for detection of surface deformation. This traditional surveying method requires a clear line of sight between the benchmarks on the volcano and the instrument site at its base, which is often difficult to achieve. Increasingly, GPS receivers are being used to measure horizontal deformation because this technique does not require a clear line-of-sight between benchmarks. Compared to conventional surveying, the ease with which deformation data can be collected with GPS makes this a very attractive method. A typical GPS survey deploys several receivers at benchmarks on the volcano to collect satellite data simultaneously at several points. The data are then downloaded and processed on a PC. This strategy works well in non-hazardous situations to gather baseline location data for comparing to future measurements. However, a GPS campaign requires someone to repeatedly deploy and retrieve the receivers. Such repeated entry into a zone of high hazard on a volcano that is threatening to erupt may represent an unacceptable risk. For this reason scientists at CVO designed a telemetered GPS monitoring system, using unattended stations, which is being tested on Augustine Volcano in Alaska. As we continue to develop the system, we expect it to become part of the portable volcano observatory. Low-Data-Rate Telemetry A low-data-rate, radio-telemetry system developed by the USGS is used to transmit various volcano-monitoring data from remote field sites to the portable volcano observatory. This low-data-rate system samples and transmits data at intervals of 1 min or longer. Transmissions typically take less than 10s, thereby conserving power and allowing all units to use a single radio frequency. Individual field transmitters can accept up to eight different data inputs from nearby instruments that measure various phenomena, such as ground tilt, gas concentrations, temperature, local magnetic field, or water quality. Telemetering such measurements to a central receiving site provides near-real-time information on the status of a volcano when personal observation or on-site data collection is impractical because of high hazards or inclement weather. Gas Emission Although VDAP relies mostly on seismic and ground-deformation data, as well as direct visual observations, to make short-term predictions of eruptions, the rate of emission of sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) from a volcano has also proven useful. SO2 released from the magma as it ascends toward the surface aids in evaluating the likelihood of an eruption. VDAP uses an instrument known as a correlation spectrometer (COSPEC) to measure SO2 emission rates. Data Analysis To provide timely warnings of impending volcanic eruptions, a volcano observatory must collect and store a variety of data in near-real time, and provide scientists with immediate access to the data. An interactive, command-driven data base and analysis program called BOB, the core of VDAP's data analysis system, was developed especially for rapid analysis of time-series data in crisis situations. This program provides quick retrieval of data and easy correlations between various data sets. Time periods as short as one day or as long as 50 years can be rapidly plotted to look for relationships between recent trends and long-term records. Using BOB, time-series data from different measurements can be plotted on a common time base to facilitate recognition of correlations between data sets. Analysts have ready access to a wide variety of data made available by the user-friendly BOB program. Additional programs are written in BASIC computer language to work with the BOB software and enable modifications and enhancements to be made easily by staff members with minimal programming experience. With these programs, observatory staff can print plots showing all or part of the data for the last few minutes, days, or months with a single command. By providing the means to manipulate and scan time-series data from multiple sources and various time periods, BOB significantly enhances the usefulness of the VDAP monitoring System. Detection of Explosive Eruptions One might expect that it would be a trivial matter to determine whether or not a volcano is in eruption. However, if the volcano is obscured by clouds, ash from previous eruptions, or darkness, or if the volcano is located far from observers, it may not be clear whether vigorous seismicity or rapid ground deformation data are associated with an explosive eruption. Warnings of eruptions are of utmost importance to populations in hazardous areas, as well as to air traffic controllers who must route commercial air traffic away from eruption clouds. VDAP uses lightning detectors and microbarographs to help confirm the onset of explosive eruptions. Lightning is commonly associated with ash-producing eruptions and can occur either in the eruption column or in the eruption cloud that drifts away from the volcano. Lightning discharges produce broad-band radio waves that can be detected at a considerable distance. VDAP uses a simple lightning-detection system that was originally designed to warn golfers of approaching thunderstorms. It cannot determine signal strength or azimuth to the source of the lightning; it can only detect the presence of nearby lightning strikes. Explosive volcanic eruptions can also produce small, sharp fluctuations in atmospheric pressure that are easily detected with a microbarograph. VDAP's microbarograph system consists of a sensitive pressure transducer, installed either at the local observatory or near the volcano. The resulting signals are recorded continuously on a drum recorder, where they can quickly be compared to the current level of seismic activity. Detection of Lahars Spurred by the volcanic disaster at Nevado del Ruiz in 1985, USGS scientists developed a lahar-detection system that records the local high-frequency ground shaking induced by passage of a lahar. A prototype of the system was developed in 1989 and tested during the 1990 eruptions of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska. The system consists of a network of acoustic flow sensors deployed at increasing distances from a volcano along rivers that head at the volcano. The flow sensors are geophones (seismometers) sensitive to high-frequency ground vibrations. The peak amplitudes in three different frequency bands (10-300 Hz, 10-100 Hz, and 100-300 Hz) are sampled every second. If the peak amplitudes exceed set thresholds for a set time, an alert is transmitted to the observatory. Lahars can be distinguished from other events on the basis of their high-frequency character even during eruptions and earthquakes. The acoustic flow monitor has several features that give it versatility and durability. Most importantly, unlike systems employing trip wires, the acoustic flow monitor system uses a non-contact method of flow detection to avoid repetitive and hazardous maintenance of equipment after each flow. Like all VDAP field systems, the acoustic flow monitor is weatherproof, rugged, and has proven effective at remote sites under extreme temperature and humidity conditions. A unique feature of the system is a two-way radio link that allows users to obtain data and query the field sites about current activity or to modify system operating parameters. Summary The decade of the 1980's was a period of frequent destructive volcanic eruptions. Approximately 25,000 eruption-related deaths occurred during the decade, more than any other ten-year period since the 1900's. This destructive trend has continued through the first several years of the 1990's. As rapidly growing populations in both developed and developing countries encroach on areas of high volcano hazard, the potential for volcano-related casualties likewise will increase. In response to this growing threat, the U.S. Geological Survey has combined the theory and practice of volcanology and volcano-hazards mitigation to minimize the loss of life and economic disruption caused by volcanic eruptions. Acronyms Used in This Article CVO Cascades Volcano Observatory EDM Electronic Distance Meter GPS Global Positioning System OFDA Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance PC Personal Computer PHIVOLCS Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology RSAM Real-time Seismic-Amplitude Measurement SSAM Seismic Spectral-Amplitude Measurement USAID United States Agency for International Development USGS United States Geological Survey VDAP Volcano Disaster Assistance Program PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Armero, Colombia, destroyed by a lahar on November 13, 1985. More than 23,000 people were killed in Armero when lahars (volcanic debris flows) swept down from the erupting Nevado del Ruiz volcano. When the volcano became restless in 1984, no team of volcanologists existed that could rush to the scene of such an emergency. However, less than a year after the Colombian disaster in 1985, the U.S. Geological Survey established a team of volcano specialists and a portable volcano observatory that could be quickly dispatched to an awakening volcano anywhere in the worM. Photograph by R. J. Janda. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Aerial view of Mount Pinatubo after the cataclysmic eruption on June 15, 1991. A joint team from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) worked together to assess hazards and predict eruptive activity at Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The accurate characterization of the hazards and timely warnings of eruptions led to the evacuation of approximately 56,000 people--including 14,500 U.S. servicemen and their dependents--from high-hazard areas near Mount Pinatubo days before the volcano's climactic eruption. Photograph by E. W. Wolfe. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Response to the Mount Pinatubo crisis in the Philippines. USGS and PHIVOLCS personnel install a seismic station near Mt. Pinatubo six weeks before the devastating eruptions. Installation of a monitoring network is a team effort. Photograph by J.A. Power. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): International cooperation in volcano monitoring. VDAP fosters cooperative efforts in volcano monitoring and volcano-hazards mitigation in several countries in Central and South America. Personnel from Ecuador's Geophysical Institute of the National Politechnical University and VDAP staff discuss modifications to standard USGS seismic components. Photograph by J. W. Ewert. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Telemetry tower 8 km north of Mount St. Helens, Washington. This tower, part of the network that monitors activity at Mount St. Helens, transmits data directly to the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory. Work at Mount St. Helens in the 1980's resulted in advances in monitoring technology and understanding of volcano behavior that were then applied at other volcanoes' in the United States and abroad. Photograph by S. R. Brantley. ILLUSTRATIONS: Volcano-monitoring flow chart. This diagram shows the flow of data in VDAP's portable volcano observatory. Data recorded at sensors in the field (top) are transmitted to the observatory (bottom), where all data are entered into a PC-based computer system for display and analysis. The acronyms are defined in the box on p. 273. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Seismograph in action at Pinatubo response. Signals from some seismometers are always recorded on analog drum recorders. Despite advances in computer-based data acquisition, drum recorders are still needed. A glance at the seismogram wrapped around the drum gives experienced volcanologists a quick appreciation of the current level of seismic activity at the volcano. Photograph by R.P. Hoblitt. ILLUSTRATIONS: Earthquake summary plot (Mount Pinatubo, May 7 to June 8, 1991). Epicenters are plotted on the map at the left; hypocenters are shown on the east-west cross section on the right (the epicenter of an earthquake is a point on the surface directly above the focus or hypocenter of the earthquake). Real-time Seismic-Amplitude Measurement (RSAM) plot Comparison of RSAM data (top) and seismograms (bottom) shows how RSAM reduces complex seismic data to a simple line graph that correlates with ground-shaking energy. Eruptions (heavy dark lines) from Redoubt Volcano occurred at 09:47 a.m., and 10:15 a.m. on the 14th and 15th of December 1989. GRAPH: Seismic Spectral-Amplitude Measurement (SSAM) plot (Mount Pinatubo, the Philippines, June 15, 1991). This plot shows the average relative seismic amplitude in specific frequency bands over 15-minute intervals. This type of seismic data is available in real time, and permits seismologists to detect and evaluate a change in the type of earthquake activity occurring beneath an active, restless volcano. In the figure, the time scale refers to Greenwich mean time (GMT). Brief episodes of intense seismicity in the 0.5-1.5 Hz frequency band between approximately 0200 and 0530 were associated with explosive eruptions. Intense tremor during the first part of the climactic eruption began at about 0540 and gave way after approximately 3 hours, as the eruption waned, to higher-frequency seismicity related to structural readjustments of the volcano. Data gaps result from loss of power to the system during the evacuation of Clark Air Base. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Global positioning system (GPS) receiver at Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador. GPS uses data transmitted by orbiting satellites to locate points on the ground. The USGS has made baseline GPS measurements at several volcanoes in the United States and in Latin America. In the event of an awakening of one of these volcanoes, GPS receivers would be set up at these points again to determine whether or not measurable deformation had occurred and to monitor for precursory deformation that might herald an eruption. Photograph by J. W. Ewert DIAGRAMS: Composite plot showing various types of data monitored at Mount St. Helens, Washington (October 15-24, 1986). The data base and analysis program called BOB was used to prepare this plot. Experience gained with the eruptions of Mount St. Helens and other volcanoes shows that the most accurate predictions of volcanic activity can be made when several different parameters are monitored. Arrows indicate when a dome-building eruption began. Using the program BOB, all types of monitoring data can be compared on a common time base. PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Acoustic Flow Monitor (AFM) site in the Drift River valley, near Redoubt Volcano, Alaska. The key component of the AFM system is a seismometer, buried in the ground nearby, that responds to the high-frequency (10-300 Hz) vibrations that characterize lahars. Inspired by the Nevado del Ruiz tragedy in 1985, the AFM system was developed and tested at Redoubt Volcano, and then successfully used in the Philippines to monitor lahars at Mount Pinatubo. Photograph by S. R. Brantley. DIAGRAMS: An Acoustic Flow Monitor (AFM) plot (above). Example of AFM data from a lahar at Redoubt Volcano. An explosive eruption at 5:23 pm generated the lahar that was detected by acoustic flow monitors located progressively farther from the volcano. Map (below) shows station locations. Miniaturization of computer components, exemplified by the Personal Computer (PC), made the concept of a rapidly deployable, portable volcano observatory feasible. In the VDAP system, earthquake locations may be determined interactively or they may be determined automatically with the use of phase arrival times picked by a computer algorithm. ~~~~~~~~ By TJohn W. Ewert, Thomas L. Murray, Andrew B. Lockhart, and C. Dan Miller U.S. Geological Survey, Cascades Volcano Observatory Vancouver, Washington -------- Cassandra Hart wrote: Good morning, I am a teacher in south Florida and I have a lesson that requires the following article, but I can not access it. Ewert, J.W.; Murray, T.L.; Lockhart, A.B.; and Miller, C.D., 1993, Preventing Volcanic Catastrophe: The U. S. International Volcano Disaster Assistance Program: Earthquakes and Volcanoes, vol.24, no.6. Is there anyway to get a copy in pdf format? I only need 3 copies for my class. Thank you! Cassandra Hart -- Cheryl Cameron Geologist, Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys voice: 907-451-5012 fax: 907-451-5050

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[Public Email] Article Accessibility
by hart1223＠bellsouth.net 23 Jul '15

23 Jul '15

--------------------------------------------------------------- The following message was sent to you via AVO Web Email System: --------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Cassandra Hart Email Address: hart1223(a)bellsouth.net Subject: Article Accessibility Message: Good morning, I am a teacher in south Florida and I have a lesson that requires the following article, but I can not access it. Ewert, J.W.; Murray, T.L.; Lockhart, A.B.; and Miller, C.D., 1993, Preventing Volcanic Catastrophe: The U. S. International Volcano Disaster Assistance Program: Earthquakes and Volcanoes, vol.24, no.6. Is there anyway to get a copy in pdf format? I only need 3 copies for my class. Thank you! Cassandra Hart ---------------------------------------------------------------- REMOTE IP ADDRESS: 172.3.150.9 USER AGENT/BROWSER: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/43.0.2357.134 Safari/537.36 REFERRING PAGE: https://www.avo.alaska.edu/contact.php

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Re: Illiamna
by cheryl.cameron＠alaska.gov 21 Jul '15

21 Jul '15

Hi Greg - Were you able to take a picture? Iliamna's steep slopes mean it has frequent avalanches and debris avalanches - so you might have been looking at a new or old slide. We have some summer photos of Iliamna's south flank - did the south face look like this? http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=43261 http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=46531 http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=46491 Thank you for the observations - I passed them on to AVO seismologists, also. Cheryl Cameron -------- Greg Johnson wrote: I am a commercial pilot of 30 years flying in Alaska. Last night 07/19/2015 while flying over Mt Illiamna I noticed what appeared to by a extremely large mud or rock flow originating high on the Southern slope of Mt Illiamna and flowing several miles down a valley on its southern flank. The flow appeared to cover the valley in several hundreds of feet of material. It may be old but it was not covered by snow as all other areas at the same elevation are and it is something have never observed during 100s of flight over Mt Illiamna. -- Cheryl Cameron Geologist, Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys voice: 907-451-5012 fax: 907-451-5050

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[Public Email] Illiamna
by fly392003＠yahoo.com 21 Jul '15

21 Jul '15

--------------------------------------------------------------- The following message was sent to you via AVO Web Email System: --------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Greg Johnson Email Address: fly392003(a)yahoo.com Subject: Illiamna Message: I am a commercial pilot of 30 years flying in Alaska. Last night 07/19/2015 while flying over Mt Illiamna I noticed what appeared to by a extremely large mud or rock flow originating high on the Southern slope of Mt Illiamna and flowing several miles down a valley on its southern flank. The flow appeared to cover the valley in several hundreds of feet of material. It may be old but it was not covered by snow as all other areas at the same elevation are and it is something have never observed during 100s of flight over Mt Illiamna. ---------------------------------------------------------------- REMOTE IP ADDRESS: 127.0.0.1 USER AGENT/BROWSER: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:39.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/39.0 REFERRING PAGE: http://avo.alaska.edu/contact.php

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Re: looking for film footage (MAAR eruption) for educational and commercial TV use
by cheryl.cameron＠alaska.gov 17 Jul '15

17 Jul '15

Hello Ms. Schwab - We don't know of any footage of Ukinrek Maars 1977. (We would love to see it, if it exists somewhere!) We do have a handful of photographs, here: https://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Ukinrek%20Maars&… We do have some video of the 2008 eruption of Okmok, which was also phreatomagmatic (but not maar-forming) - the closest thing, volcanologically speaking. Other places to check for Ukinrek Maars footage might be the KTUU television station. Best wishes in your search, Cheryl Cameron -------- Dorothea M. Schwab wrote: Dear Alaska Volkano Observatory, I am desperately looking for film footage (ideally in HD but SD quality even better then nothing) of an eruption of a MAAR. Is there any video-footage from the eruption of the UKINEK MAAR available? (Or any other MAAR?) I am the writer an director of a german documentary about vulcanism in the german territory named EIFEL and I reconstruct geologic events from the very past (Quartary vulcanism in our area) . We use such real footage to explain the different volcano-eruption types in the Eifel region. The doc is for educational use as well as for commercial use in TV. .Any support with information where I might get hold of footage would be of real great help. Very many thanks in advance! Sincerely Dorothea M. Schwab -- Cheryl Cameron Geologist, Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys voice: 907-451-5012 fax: 907-451-5050

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[Public Email] looking for film footage (MAAR eruption) for educational and commercial TV use
by Dorothea.M.Schwab＠t-online.de 17 Jul '15

17 Jul '15

--------------------------------------------------------------- The following message was sent to you via AVO Web Email System: --------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Dorothea M. Schwab Email Address: Dorothea.M.Schwab(a)t-online.de Subject: looking for film footage (MAAR eruption) for educational and commercial TV use Message: Dear Alaska Volkano Observatory, I am desperately looking for film footage (ideally in HD but SD quality even better then nothing) of an eruption of a MAAR. Is there any video-footage from the eruption of the UKINEK MAAR available? (Or any other MAAR?) I am the writer an director of a german documentary about vulcanism in the german territory named EIFEL and I reconstruct geologic events from the very past (Quartary vulcanism in our area) . We use such real footage to explain the different volcano-eruption types in the Eifel region. The doc is for educational use as well as for commercial use in TV. .Any support with information where I might get hold of footage would be of real great help. Very many thanks in advance! Sincerely Dorothea M. Schwab ---------------------------------------------------------------- REMOTE IP ADDRESS: 127.0.0.1 USER AGENT/BROWSER: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_9_5) AppleWebKit/600.6.3 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.6 Safari/537.85.15 REFERRING PAGE: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/contact.php

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Re: Internship
by cheryl.cameron＠alaska.gov 15 Jul '15

15 Jul '15

Hello Lisa - AVO does not offer a formal internship or volunteer program. Occasionally, students at UAF in Fairbanks or UAA in Anchorage do volunteer with AVO, mostly with in-office tasks. You could consider attending the Katmai-Kamchatka field school next summer, which is amazing opportunity: http://www.uaf.edu/geology/academics/international-volcanology/index.xml?__… Best wishes, Cheryl Cameron -------- Lisa Sieg wrote: Dear Sir, I am a Master student in geosciences at the University of Potsdam (Germany) and would like to ask for the opportunity for an internship at your institution. Could you please give me a short response as to whom I could send my application? Many thanks in advance. Best regards, Lisa Sieg -- Cheryl Cameron Geologist, Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys voice: 907-451-5012 fax: 907-451-5050

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Re: Volunteer Opportunities
by cheryl.cameron＠alaska.gov 15 Jul '15

15 Jul '15

Hello Lawrence - AVO does not offer a formal internship or volunteer program. Occasionally, students at UAF in Fairbanks or UAA in Anchorage do volunteer with AVO, mostly with in-office tasks. You could consider attending the Katmai-Kamchatka field school next summer, which is amazing opportunity: http://www.uaf.edu/geology/academics/international-volcanology/index.xml?__… Best wishes, Cheryl Cameron -------- Lawrence Bush wrote: To Whom It May Concern: I am a recent college graduate with a degree in Earth Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. I am currently seeking employment/considering graduate school and I would love an opportunity to work with you guys in any capacity possible. I recognize I most likely would not recieve pay and I am comfortable with that. If there is even a remote chance that you may need help, please do not hesitate to follow up with me at my provided email address or over the phone at 310 988-9286. I can provide a resume, scientific report examples, and references upon request. Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Best regards, Lawrence -- Cheryl Cameron Geologist, Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys voice: 907-451-5012 fax: 907-451-5050

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[Public Email] AVO image flipper access
by tanner.sims＠noaa.gov 15 Jul '15

15 Jul '15

--------------------------------------------------------------- The following message was sent to you via AVO Web Email System: --------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Tanner Sims Email Address: tanner.sims(a)noaa.gov Subject: AVO image flipper access Message: Good morning. I'm a research pilot with NOAA that conducts low-level flights out in the Aleutians. In the past, I have used the AVO image flipper to access satellite imagery for the north Pacific and western Aleutians. I'm going to be surveying out there this summer and I was wondering if it would be possible to sign up for a username/password to access the site. Thanks for any help you might can provide. Tanner LT Tanner Sims, NOAA Aircraft Commander B350ER & DHC-6 Remote Sensing Division Silver Spring, MD 20910 W: 301-713-1428 x 152 C: 405-612-6622 ---------------------------------------------------------------- REMOTE IP ADDRESS: 205.156.36.12 USER AGENT/BROWSER: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/43.0.2357.132 Safari/537.36 REFERRING PAGE: https://www.avo.alaska.edu/contact.php

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[Public Email] Top Ranking on Google
by seo＠googlepositions.com 15 Jul '15

15 Jul '15

--------------------------------------------------------------- The following message was sent to you via AVO Web Email System: --------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Max Williams Email Address: seo(a)googlepositions.com Subject: Top Ranking on Google Message: Hello and Good Day I am Max, Marketing Manager with a reputable online marketing company based in India. We can fairly quickly promote your website to the top of the search rankings with no long term contracts! We can place your website on top of the Natural Listings on Google, Yahoo and MSN. Our Search Engine Optimization team delivers more top rankings than anyone else and we can prove it. We do not use "link farms" or "black hat" methods that Google and the other search engines frown upon and can use to de-list or ban your site. The techniques are proprietary, involving some valuable closely held trade secrets. Our prices are less than half of what other companies charge. We would be happy to send you a proposal using the top search phrases for your area of expertise. Please contact me at your convenience so we can start saving you some money. In order for us to respond to your request for information, please include your company’s website address (mandatory) and or phone number. So let me know if you would like me to mail you more details or schedule a call. We'll be pleased to serve you. I look forward to your mail. Thanks and Regards Max williams ---------------------------------------------------------------- REMOTE IP ADDRESS: 110.232.248.211 USER AGENT/BROWSER: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:39.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/39.0 REFERRING PAGE: https://www.avo.alaska.edu/contact.php

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