Sunday, September 30, 2012

[Geology2] Renowned SDSU Geologist Gordon Gastil Dies at 84



Renowned SDSU geologist Gordon Gastil dies at 84

By Gary Robbins - San Diego Union-Tribune
7:12 p.m., Sept. 30, 2012
Updated 8:20 p.m.
R. Gordon Gastil, a retired San Diego State University geologist who was revered for his teaching and his exploration of the seismicity of the southwestern United States and Baja California, died Sept. 29 in La Mesa. He was 84. The cause of death wasn't immediately announced, but SDSU said in an online announcement that Gastil passed away at home where "his last days were spent listening to his family sharing stories, reading his poems aloud, singing selections from his Tremble Clefs songbook, and reminiscing on their shared lives together in San Diego, on family vacations, and on geologic field trips."

Gastil did geologic mapping throughout Baja California, helping expand oil drilling in Mexico during a career that wasn't limited to science. He also was a writer with a deep interest in politics, leading him to run for Congress in the mid-1970s. He didn't win, but he remained involved, helping his wife, Janet, win a local school board election. Gastil also is remembered as a man who was basically interested in everything, and everyone, and who remained vital after suffering a stroke.

"The way I remember Gordon is (as) a man hobbling though the long, fluorescent-lit white hallway that housed the Geological Sciences department offices," said Maureen N. Moses, who studied geology at SDSU after Gastil retired.

"Usually accompanied by his wife, Janet, to help him walk, he made a point to poke his head in every office, and say good morning to all the faces of the department. The love he fostered was returned by his former students, my professors, who helped him walk, who translated through the slur that marred his post-stroke conversations, and who waited with loving patience as he made his rounds to say hello, to ask a question about current research, and listened as Gordon reminisced about past adventures that are an inevitable part of an education in geology. I was grateful to be included."

Gastil was born in the Encanto section of San Diego on June 25, 1928, and developed a passion for geology early in life. He studied the subject at San Diego State Teachers College (today SDSU) and went on to earn a doctorate at the University of California Berkeley. Gastil later joined the SDSU faculty, where he became a prominent geologist known for the energy he brought to field research.

David Kimbrough, a geologic sciences professor at SDSU, first met Gastil on Mexico's Vizcaino Peninsula during a scientific meeting in 1979.

"We were on an outcrop of Eugenia Formation at the moment I first laid eyes on Gordon - with his straw hat crouched down low chewing on the end of a belemnite like a stogie – a sly grin and twinkle in his eye he was clearly immensely enjoying the occasion," Kimbrough said by email. "We then headed over to Puerto Escondido to a section of tuff known to contain Late Triassic radiolaria. After about 10 minutes on the outcrop Gordon discovered Monotis bivalves in the sectio and I remember thinking, 'Jeez, this guy is for real.' … I was in awe."

Deno Milano of Foster City said in an online tribute, "Gordon was my thesis adviser and I was one of his teaching assistants in a few field mapping classes. I was always amazed by how much geology he could map while walking up the side of a mountain, and how he could drive the department's Toyota land cruiser in places Toyota never imagined."

Eric Frost, a professor of geologic science and homeland security at SDSU, said, "By seeing what he was able to draw to the understanding of other geologists, he earned a special reputation as a remarkable person and remarkable geologist. By who he was and how he interacted with others, he was one of the major builders of the SDSU Geology Department and a major builder of our understanding of the geologic development of this entire region."

Source: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/30/friends-mourn-passing-sdsu-geologist-gordon-gastil/

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[californiadisasters] Jury Recommends Death Sentence for Arsonist in 2003 Old Fire Murder Trial



Rickie Lee Fowler was convicted in the deaths of five men who died after a wildfire evacuation

By Jonathan Lloyd and Craig Fiegener | KNBC-TV Los Angeles
|  Friday, Sep 28, 2012  |  Updated 9:37 PM PDT
Jurors recommended the death sentence Friday in the penalty phase of a trial for the arsonist convicted of murder in the deaths of five men who suffered heart attacks after fleeing from the 2003 Old Fire.

Rickie Lee Fowler was convicted in August on two counts of arson and five counts of first-degree murder. During 11 days of deliberations, jurors considered whether he should be sentenced to death or spend the rest of his life in prison.

A judge will conduct formal sentencing for the 31-year-old Fowler.

The Old Fire caused widespread damage including the destruction of more than 1,000 homes and other buildings. Fowler became a suspect after witnesses reported seeing a passenger in a van toss burning objects into dry brush in the foothills above San Bernardino.

He was interviewed, but authorities did not have enough evidence to file charges until six years after the 91,000-acre fire. At that time, Fowler was already in jail for a burglary conviction.

The Old Fire was one of several wildfires that burned in California during October 2003.

Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Verdict-Rickie-Lee-Fowler-Old-Fire-Murder-Trial-171817411.html

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[californiadisasters] California Special Weather Statements (9/30/12-PM)



SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA  340 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    CAZ089>099-011100-  WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-  SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-  MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-  TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-  SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-  TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-  SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-  340 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    ...RECORD TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY...    A STRONG UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE AREA REMAIN OVER CALIFORNIA  THROUGH MONDAY. THIS WILL COMBINE WITH AN INCREASING OFFSHORE FLOW  NEAR THE SURFACE TO PUSH TEMPERATURES TO RECORD OR NEAR RECORD  LEVELS ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR.    ON MONDAY...THE OFFSHORE FLOW WILL STRENGTHEN AND TEMPERATURES IN  THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS ARE EXPECTED  TO RANGE FROM 98 TO 105 DEGREES. THE HOT WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO  PERSIST THROUGH TUESDAY...THEN LOWER A COUPLE OF DEGREES  WEDNESDAY.    EVEN IN THE MOUNTAINS HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SUMMER LIKE...AND  RANGE FROM THE LOWER TO MID 90S AT 4000 FEET...TO THE MID 70S TO  MID 80S AT 8000 FEET.    NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES IN THE LARGER CITIES COULD ALSO BE CLOSE TO  RECORD HIGH MINIMUMS. HOWEVER WITH A DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE AND  LONGER NIGHTS...MOST VALLEY AND LOWER FOOTHILL TEMPERATURES SHOULD  DROP INTO THE 60S AT NIGHT.    IT WILL NOT BE QUITE AS HOT THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK AS THE HIGH  PRESSURE AREA BEGINS TO WEAKEN...BUT IT STILL COULD BE WELL ABOVE  NORMAL.    $$    SANGER    WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA  257 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    CAZ013>019-063-064-066>069-011300-  SHASTA LAKE AREA / NORTHERN SHASTA COUNTY-  BURNEY BASIN / EASTERN SHASTA COUNTY-NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-  CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY-SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-  CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA-NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-  MOUNTAINS SOUTHWESTERN SHASTA COUNTY TO NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY-  CLEAR LAKE/SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY-  NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS/SACRAMENTO VALLEY-MOTHERLODE-  WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-  WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-  257 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    ...HOT WEATHER FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CONTINUES NEXT WEEK...    STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RESULTING  IN ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE COMING WEEK.    HOTTER TEMPERATURES STARTED TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE INTO AT LEAST  TUESDAY. HIGHS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND DELTA ARE EXPECTED TO  RANGE FROM 95 TO 105 THROUGH TUESDAY WITH MID 70S TO 80S FOR THE  HIGHER MOUNTAINS. OVERNIGHT MINIMUM TEMPERATURES IN THE CENTRAL  VALLEY WILL BE IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S. LOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS  WILL RANGE FROM THE 40S TO 60S WITH WARMER FOOTHILLS LOCATIONS  SEEING MINIMUMS ONLY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S.    TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY COOL WEDNESDAY INTO THE WEEKEND BUT WILL  STILL REMAIN ABOVE SEASONAL NORMALS.    HOT WEATHER SAFETY TIPS...    1. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.  2. AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITY DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY.  3. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE.  4. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING.    $$

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA  1259 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    CAZ034>041-044>046-051>054-059-087-088-547-548-012300-  SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CENTRAL COAST-SANTA YNEZ VALLEY-  SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-CUYAMA VALLEY-  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST-VENTURA COUNTY COAST-  LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES-  VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-  SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-  SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-  VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-  LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE-  ANTELOPE VALLEY-CATALINA ISLAND-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-  LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-  LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY-  1259 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    ...HOT AND DRY AND GUSTY CONDITIONS WITH ELEVATED FIRE DANGER     ACROSS SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THROUGH TUESDAY...    RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY. HIGH  PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OVER THE GREAT BASIN THROUGH MONDAY  AND DRY OFFSHORE WINDS WILL WARM TEMPERATURES TO 100 TO 108 IN THE  VALLEYS AND TO THE 90S ALONG THE COAST. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WILL  LIKELY REACH 100 DEGREES MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE OFFSHORE WINDS WILL  DIMINISH MONDAY NIGHT THOUGH A STRONG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL  PERSIST OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE WEEK AND TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY  CONTINUE 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FROM  THE COAST. ONSHORE WINDS WILL LIKELY MODERATE THE COASTAL  TEMPERATURES WHERE THE CENTRAL COAST WILL COOL SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW  NORMAL BY WEDNESDAY AND THE VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COASTS WILL COOL  BELOW NORMAL BY FRIDAY.    A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY FOR THE  VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS FOR SANTA  CLARITA VALLEY. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP EARLY  MONDAY MORNING AS OFFSHORE WINDS COMBINE WITH WIDESPREAD SINGLE  DIGIT HUMIDITIES AND RECORD LOW VEGETATION MOISTURE. THE CRITICAL  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL MODERATE SOMEWHAT MONDAY AS WEAKER  OFFSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED...BUT THE DANGER WILL LIKELY REMAIN HIGH  AS THE ONSHORE WINDS DEVELOP AND INCREASE BEFORE THE HUMIDITY CAN  RECOVER EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.    PEOPLE PLANNING TO BE OUTDOORS OR THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING  SHOULD REVIEW HEAT SAFETY TIPS. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT LIGHT-COLORED LOOSE  FITTING CLOTHING. DRINK PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS. AVOID  STRENUOUS ACTIVITY DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY WHICH IS  TYPICALLY FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY EVENING. NEVER LEAVE  CHILDREN...PETS OR THE ELDERLY IN A VEHICLE...EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS  DOWN AS TEMPERATURES CAN CLIMB TO LIFE-THREATENING LEVELS WITHIN  MINUTES.    $$

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 1118 AM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012 CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-011300- ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS- SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE- SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS- RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS- SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS- COACHELLA VALLEY-SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS- 1118 AM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012 ...HOT AND DRY WEATHER THROUGH TUESDAY... HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT OVER CALIFORNIA WILL BRING HOT DAYS THROUGH TUESDAY WITH WEAK OFFSHORE FLOW BRINGING THE HOTTEST WEATHER ON MONDAY. SLIGHTLY COOLER ON TUESDAY AS ANY OFFSHORE FLOW WEAKENS AND WEAK ONSHORE FLOW BRINGS SLIGHT COOLING WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS. HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR MONDAY: BEACHES AND LOWER ELEVATIONS NEAR THE COAST..............85 TO 92. INLAND COASTAL AREAS AND HIGHER TERRAIN NEAR THE COAST...92 TO 100. INLAND VALLEYS..........................................100 TO 108. MOUNTAINS BELOW 6000 FEET................................85 TO 103. MOUNTAINS ABOVE 6000 FEET................................70 TO 90. UPPER DESERTS............................................95 TO 102. LOWER DESERTS...........................................106 TO 112. EXCEPT NEAR THE IMMEDIATE COAST...THE DRY ATMOSPHERE WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES 5 TO 10 DEGREES BELOW THE AIR TEMPERATURE. SLOW COOLING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TUESDAY AND EXTEND INTO NEXT WEEKEND AS HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WEAKENS AND ONSHORE FLOW RETURNS. PERSONS PLANNING TO BE OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT DURING THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON HOURS SHOULD STAY HYDRATED AND KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. DRINK PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC AND NON-DECAFFEINATED FLUIDS AND AVOID STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IF POSSIBLE. $$ JAD

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 848 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012 CAZ006-505>513-516>518-528>530-012200- SAN FRANCISCO- COASTAL NORTH BAY...INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE- NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS-NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS- SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE-SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST- EAST BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS-EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE- SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS-SANTA CLARA VALLEY...INCLUDING SAN JOSE- SOUTHERN SALINAS VALLEY...ARROYO SECO...AND LAKE SAN ANTONIO- SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST- MOUNTAINS OF SAN BENITO AND INTERIOR MONTEREY COUNTY INCLUDING PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT- NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY...HOLLISTER VALLEY...AND CARMEL VALLEY- NORTHERN MONTEREY BAY-SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST- 848 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012 ...HOT AND DRY WEATHER FORECAST FOR MUCH OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND MONTEREY BAY AREA THROUGH TUESDAY... A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL PRODUCE VERY WARM AND DRY WEATHER ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION THROUGH TUESDAY. THE WARMEST DAY IS EXPECTED TO BE MONDAY WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL EXCEED 100 DEGREES IN SOME OF THE WARMEST INLAND VALLEYS. ALTHOUGH INLAND AREAS WILL EXPERIENCE VERY WARM TO HOT CONDITIONS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS...THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT OVERNIGHT COOLING EACH NIGHT TO REDUCE THE OPPRESSIVE NATURE OF THIS HEAT EVENT. NONETHELESS...THOSE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE WARMEST PART OF THE DAY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR HOT WEATHER. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. IN ADDITION...DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES. A COOLING TREND WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY EVENING WHEN HIGH PRESSURE WEAKENS AND STRONGER ONSHORE FLOW DEVELOPS. MUCH COOLER WEATHER IS FORECAST FOR ALL AREAS BY THE END OF THE WEEK. $$

Source: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Special%20Weather%20Statement


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[californiadisasters] Fire Weather Watch - Santa Monica Mts. (9/30/12-PM)



...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT LATE TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH  TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS DUE TO LOCALLY  GUSTY WINDS...HOT TEMPERATURES...AND LOW HUMIDITIES...    .SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE GREAT BASIN WILL BRING A  PERIOD OF WEAK OFFSHORE FLOW WITH HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS TO  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN ELEVATED  FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY.    FIRE DANGER IS EXPECTED TO PEAK ON MONDAY WHEN RECORD BREAKING  TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT AND WIDESPREAD SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES WILL  COMBINE WITH VERY DRY FUELS. THE MOST CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER  CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND  VENTURA COUNTIES AND SANTA CLARITA VALLEY...WHERE A RED FLAG  WARNING IS IS IN EFFECT. THESE AREAS WILL LIKELY SEE OFFSHORE  WINDS GUSTING TO BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH ON MONDAY. WHILE  CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY WILL NOT BE QUITE AS HOT AND DRY DUE TO  INCREASING ONSHORE FLOW...AREAS UNDER THE RED FLAG WARNING COULD  STILL SEE TEMPERATURES AROUND 100 DEGREES AND HUMIDITIES AROUND 10  PERCENT ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON...COINCIDING WITH ONSHORE WINDS  GUSTING TO AROUND 25 MPH.    WHILE OFFSHORE WINDS WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY STRONG TO WARRANT  A RED FLAG WARNING ON MONDAY ACROSS THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS...THERE  WILL STILL BE A HEIGHTENED FIRE WEATHER CONCERN DUE TO THE HOT  AND DRY CONDITIONS. ON TUESDAY...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR BRIEF  CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS  AS ONSHORE WINDS GUSTING TO 25 MPH COMBINE WITH CONTINUED HOT AND  DRY CONDITIONS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.    CAZ246-011700-  /O.EXT.KLOX.FW.A.0004.121002T1700Z-121003T0100Z/  SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA-  148 PM PDT SUN SEP 30 2012    ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT LATE TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH  TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS...HOT TEMPERATURES...AND  LOW HUMIDITIES FOR THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS...    * WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH ON    TUESDAY AFTERNOON.    * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...HUMIDITIES EXPECTED TO RANGE BETWEEN 10 AND 15    PERCENT ON TUESDAY.    * TEMPERATURES...HIGHS 90 TO 100 DEGREES ON TUESDAY.    * IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS...HOT    TEMPERATURES...LOW HUMIDITIES...AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL    POTENTIALLY BRING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...    A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR  CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH VERY  DRY FUELS COULD CREATE EXTREME FIRE DANGER AND/OR FIRE BEHAVIOR.    PLEASE STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPDATES  FOR THE POTENTIAL UPGRADE TO A RED FLAG WARNING.    &&    $$    GOMBERG

Source: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=lox&wwa=fire%20weather%20watch
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[californiadisasters] South Ops News & Notes Update (9/30/12-6:30PM)



Date

Time

News and Notes

09/30

1830

Range Fire CA-RRU-96791

Old Banning Idyllwild Rd. X Shirleon Rd., Banning

250 acres, 70% contained

Acreage correction due to better mapping. Demobilizing excess resources.

09/30

0900

Range Fire CA-RRU-96791 Old Banning Idyllwild Rd. X Shirleon Rd., Banning

Fire has burned 300 acres grass, brush and 0% contained. SRA

Moderate Rate of Spread, No structure or ISO threat.

Fire spreading in Southerly direction towards Mt. Edna

09/29

1900

Light initial attack activity throughout the Geographic Area.

09/29

0800

Temperatures are forecast to reach 100 degrees over the warmer valley

locations and humidity will be mainly in the teens.

09/28

0830

Light IA,  Warmer temps forecast

Source: http://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/predictive/intelligence/news_notes/index.htm

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[Geology2] 7.4 about 3 hours ago

> AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
>
> ORIGIN TIME - 1632Z 30 SEP 2012
> COORDINATES - 2.0 NORTH 76.6 WEST
> DEPTH - 140 KM
> LOCATION - COLOMBIA
> MAGNITUDE - 7.4


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[californiadisasters] Fwd: 2012-09-30 16:31:34 UPDATED: (mb 7.1) COLOMBIA 2.0 -76.3 (109e7)



The Wapmerr alert and the USGS update for this deep quake.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USGS ENS <ens@usgs.gov>
Date: Sun, Sep 30, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Subject: 2012-09-30 16:31:34 UPDATED: (mb 7.1) COLOMBIA 2.0 -76.3 (109e7)
To: sabharim@gmail.com


                     == PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==



Region:                            COLOMBIA
Geographic coordinates:             1.969N,  76.315W
Magnitude:                        7.1 mb
Depth:                            150 km
Universal Time (UTC):             30 Sep 2012  16:31:34
Time near the Epicenter:          30 Sep 2012  11:31:34
Local standard time in your area: 30 Sep 2012  16:31:34

Location with respect to nearby cities:
  62 km (39 miles) SSE (149 degrees) of Popayan, Colombia
  89 km (55 miles) WNW (296 degrees) of Florencia, Colombia
 137 km (85 miles) NE (51 degrees) of Pasto, Colombia
 345 km (214 miles) NE (45 degrees) of QUITO, Ecuador


ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
________________________________
event ID                     :  us 2012gdap

This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC
For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2012gdap
or
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

National Earthquake Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey
http://neic.usgs.gov/


Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2012 10:34 PM
Subject: Earthquake, COLOMBIA
 
Earthquake Loss Estimate
The following Earthquake has been Reported:
Origin Time: 2012/09/30 16:31:24.0 
Region: COLOMBIA 
Latitude: 1.8 N 
Longitude: -76.05 W 
Magnitude: 7.4 M 
Depth: 140 km
Source: NEI/GFZ/TWC
ESTIMATE OF HUMAN LOSSES
Injured Exp. min/max: 0/100
Fatalities Exp. min/max: 0/0
ALERT LEVEL
MAP OF MEAN DAMAGE BY SETTLEMENT
LEGEND
REMARKS: The USGS has reduced its estimate of magnitude to M7.1. Which means that there are probably no casualties. The epicenter of the USGS is 60 km farther west than that of the GFZ (shown).
www.wapmerr.org
ESTIMATED EXPOSURE
IntensityPopulation
V 1,300.000
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII




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[Geology2] Volcano power possibilities erupting in Utah's Black Rock Desert




Volcano power possibilities erupting in Utah's Black Rock Desert


Stuart Johnson, Deseret News file photo

DELTA — The land south of here is mostly flat, sprawling and full of cheatgrass and sagebrush, a landscape that belies its hidden treasure thousands of feet below the surface.

In this wind-whipped region of west central Utah lies a volcano, a literal hotbed of geothermal energy that has the potential to erupt with cheap, dependable power for years to come.

"This big basin is hot," said Rick Allis, director of the Utah Geological Survey.

The Black Rock Desert is teeming with underground heat revealed through a two-year research project that sunk holes in the ground suggesting temperatures of up to 500 degrees, 13,000 feet deep.

The results of the effort that paired geoscientists with the Utah Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey will be presented Monday in Reno, Nev., at an industry conference, where the big find is expected to draw big attention.

"It looks to us to be quite an exciting prospect," Allis said. "We are excited about it."

The estimated 620-square-mile geothermal basin teased geologists because of an abandoned oil exploration well that was drilled in 1981. Sunk near Pavant Butte in the middle of the basin, it confirmed exceptionally high temperatures.

Geologists are well-acquainted with the volcanic history of the region. As recently as 600 years ago, there was an eruption. The Pavant Butte Volcano spewed 15,000 years ago. The area is already home to PacifiCorp's Blundell geothermal power plant, Raser Technologies' Hatch plant and a geothermal facility at Cove Fort.

Combined, the plants produce less than 100 megawatts of geothermal power, while this find has the potential to deliver several hundred megawatts of geothermal power for years at a large scale — with an hour of energy estimated to cost just 10 cents at the wholesale price.

Allis said most geothermal plants occupy just a few square miles, and the less deep they drill, the better.

The find at Black Rock Desert at first blush is intimidating — extraction would have to take place at thousands of feet deep — but Allis said the technology is already there with the oil industry.

"It is not that deep by oil industry standards," he said.

Allis said he believes the Black Rock Desert could be home to a substantially large geothermal power plant, much larger than other plants.

"The reason it will be that size is that the wells have to be deeper so you go to economy of scale," he said.

Tapping that volcano power in this region is particularly attractive because of a major transmission line that already ships power to California, as well as a coal-fired power plant. The infrastructure is there, ready to be used, Allis added.

"Utah power is relatively cheap," he said. "California pays twice our rates. For geothermal power, you could not pick a better place."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765607978/Volcano-power-possibilities-erupting-in-Utahs-Black-Rock-Desert.html
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Saturday, September 29, 2012

[ Volcano ] Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 12-18 September 2012

****************************************************************************************
Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 12-18 September 2012
****************************************************************************************



Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

12-18 September 2012



Sally Kuhn Sennert - Weekly Report Editor

kuhns@si.edu

URL: http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/





New Activity/Unrest: | Fuego, Guatemala | Gamalama, Halmahera | Grozny Group, Iturup Island | Little Sitkin, Aleutian Islands | Lokon-Empung, Sulawesi | San Cristóbal, Nicaragua | Soputan, Sulawesi



Ongoing Activity: | Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia) | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Popocatépetl, México | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Telica, Nicaragua



The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. Updated by 2300 UTC every Wednesday, notices of volcanic activity posted on these pages are preliminary and subject to change as events are studied in more detail. This is not a comprehensive list of all of Earth's volcanoes erupting during the week, but rather a summary of activity at volcanoes that meet criteria discussed in detail in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section. Carefully reviewed, detailed reports on various volcanoes are published monthly in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network.



Note: Many news agencies do not archive the articles they post on the Internet, and therefore the links to some sources may not be active. To obtain information about the cited articles that are no longer available on the Internet contact the source.







New Activity/Unrest





FUEGO Guatemala 14.473°N, 90.880°W; summit elev. 3763 m



In a special bulletin on 13 September, INSIVUMEH reported that activity at Fuego increased, starting the sixth eruption in 2012. Lava flows traveled 600 m down the Taniluyá drainage (SSW) and the Las Lajas drainage (SE), producing block avalanches that reached vegetated areas. Strombolian explosions generated ash plumes that rose 3 km above the crater and drifted SW and 12 km W. Ash fell in multiple areas, including the villages of Panimaché (8 km SW), Morelia (8 km SW), Santa Sofia (12 km SE), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), Palo Verde, San Pedro Yepocapa (8 km NW), Santiago Atitlan (42 km NW), San Lucas Toliman (32 km NW), Mazatenango (68 km W), Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu (86 km W), and Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa (23 km SW). Explosions produced degassing sounds and rumbling noises, accompanied by shock waves that vibrated structures on the SW flank. Pyroclastic flows traveled down the Las Lajas and Ceniza (SSW) drainages, producing ash plumes. CONRED increased the Alert Level to Orange (third highest on a four-color scale). About 10,600 people evacuated from nearby communities including Yepocapa, San Juan Alotenango (9 km ENE), Sacatepéquez. Evacuation shelters were set up in Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa.



Later that day seismicity decreased, ash plumes rose 300 m above the crater and drifted W and NW, fewer pyroclastic flows were observed, and the rate of explosions slowed. Ashfall was reported in Panimaché, Morelia, and Sangre de Cristo. Lava flows in the Ceniza drainage were 1 km long and 150 m wide, and in Las Lajas were 700 m long and 100 m wide. CONRED noted that residents began to return to their homes on 14 September.



During 14-18 September explosions generated rumbling noises; ash plumes that rose 400-900 m above the crater drifted 7-8 km W and SW, causing ashfall in Sangre de Cristo, Panimaché I, and Panimaché II. Lava flows were at most 1.2 km long in the Taniluyá drainage and 200 m long in the Ceniza drainage during 14-16 September; flows were not observed during 17-18 September.



Geologic Summary. Volcán Fuego, one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, lies between 3,763-m-high Fuego and its twin volcano to the N, Acatenango. Construction of Meseta volcano continued until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene, after which growth of the modern Fuego volcano continued the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded at Fuego since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows. The last major explosive eruption from Fuego took place in 1974, producing spectacular pyroclastic flows visible from Antigua.



Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/,

Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED) http://www.conred.gob.gt/





GAMALAMA Halmahera 0.80°N, 127.33°E; summit elev. 1715 m



CVGHM reported that during 1-14 September cloudy weather and fog at Gamalama mostly prevented observations from the post in Marikurubu and from S Ternate (S, SE, and E part of island); white plumes were sometimes observed rising 10 m above the crater. A phreatic eruption on 15 September at 2027 produced ashfall in Ternate. An eruption at 1415 the next day was accompanied by rumbling sounds. A plume rose 1 km and drifted SE and S, producing ashfall at the Gamalama observation post five minutes later. Neither eruption was observed due to fog. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 16 September. Visitors and residents were warned not to approach the crater within a radius of 2.5 km.



Geologic Summary. Gamalama (Peak of Ternate) is a near-conical stratovolcano that comprises the entire island of Ternate off the western coast of Halmahera and is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. The island of Ternate was a major regional center in the Portuguese and Dutch spice trade for several centuries, which contributed to the thorough documentation of Gamalama's historical activity. Three cones, progressively younger to the N, form the summit of Gamalama, which reaches 1,715 m. Several maars and vents define a rift zone, parallel to the Halmahera island arc, that cuts the volcano. Eruptions, recorded frequently since the 16th century, typically originated from the summit craters, although flank eruptions have occurred in 1763, 1770, 1775, and 1962-63.



Source: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) http://proxy.vsi.esdm.go.id/index.php





GROZNY GROUP Iturup Island 45.026°N, 147.922°E; summit elev. 1211 m



Based on visual observations and analyses of satellite imagery, SVERT reported that during 10-17 September fumarolic activity at Grozny Group was at a medium intensity. The Aviation Color Code was lowered to Green.



Geologic Summary. The Grozny volcano group in central Iturup Island contains the complex volcanoes of Ivan Grozny and Tebenkov. The former has a 3-3.5 km diameter caldera that is open to the south, where the large, 1158-m-high andesitic Grozny extrusion dome (also known as Etorofu-Yake-yama) was emplaced. Several other lava domes of Holocene age were constructed to the NE; extrusion of these domes has constricted a former lake in the northern side of the caldera to an extremely sinuous shoreline. The forested andesitic Tebenkov volcano, also known as Odamoi-san, lies immediately to the NE of the Grozny dome complex. The large Machekh crater, which displays strong fumarolic activity, lies immediately south of Tebenkov. Historical eruptions, the first of which took place in 1968, have been restricted to Ivan Grozny.



Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT) http://www.imgg.ru/en/svert.html





LITTLE SITKIN Aleutian Islands 51.95°N, 178.543°E; summit elev. 1174 m



AVO reported that during 11-18 September seismic activity at Little Sitkin remained elevated and satellite views were obscured by clouds. Two earthquake swarms were detected on 11 and 13 September. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory.



Geologic Summary. Diamond-shaped Little Sitkin Island is bounded by steep cliffs on the east, north, and NE sides. Little Sitkin volcano contains two nested calderas. The older, nearly circular Pleistocene caldera is 4.8 km wide, may have once contained a caldera lake, and was partially filled by a younger cone formed mostly of andesitic and dacitic lava flows. The elliptical younger caldera is 2.7 x 4 km wide; it lies within the eastern part of the older caldera and shares its eastern and southern rim. The younger caldera partially destroyed the lava cone within the first caldera and is of possible early Holocene age. Young-looking dacitic lava flows, erupted in 1828 (Kay, in Wood and Kienle 1990), issued from the central cone within the younger caldera and from a vent on the west flank outside the older caldera. Fumarolic areas are found near the western coast, along the NW margin of the older caldera, and from the summit crater down the southern flank for a 1 km distance.



Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) http://www.avo.alaska.edu/





LOKON-EMPUNG Sulawesi 1.358°N, 124.792°E; summit elev. 1580 m



According to the Darwin VAAC, ground-based observers reported that on 15 September an ash plume from Lokon-Empung rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. On 15 September satellite imagery showed an ash plume drifting 185 km SE.



Geologic Summary. The twin volcanoes Lokon and Empung, rising about 800 m above the plain of Tondano, are among the most active volcanoes of Sulawesi. Lokon, the higher of the two peaks (whose summits are only 2.2 km apart) has a flat, craterless top. The morphologically younger Empung volcano has a 400-m-wide, 150-m-deep crater that erupted last in the 18th century, but all subsequent eruptions have originated from Tompaluan, a 150 x 250 m wide double crater situated in the saddle between the two peaks. Historical eruptions have primarily produced small-to-moderate ash plumes that have occasionally damaged croplands and houses, but lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows have also occurred.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/





SAN CRISTOBAL Nicaragua 12.702°N, 87.004°W; summit elev. 1745 m



On 10 September, INETER reported that seismicity decreased after the 8 September eruption at San Cristóbal. Sulfur dioxide emissions had decreased since the previous day. During 10-11 September steam plumes rose 200-300 m above the crater and drifted W. Three small explosions on 11 September generated ash-and-gas plumes that rose 300 m above the crater and drifted W. An explosion and ash venting was observed a few hours later; a plume drifted S and ash fell on the flanks. The seismic network detected small explosions on 13 September. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions were above normal, and similar to levels detected on 8 September. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions increased on 14 September. The next day a small explosion was observed and gas plumes drifted NE. Gas plumes drifted N on 17 September.



Geologic Summary. The San Cristóbal volcanic complex, consisting of five principal volcanic edifices, forms the NW end of the Marrabios Range. The symmetrical 1,745-m-high youngest cone, San Cristóbal itself (also known as El Viejo), is Nicaragua's highest volcano and is capped by a 500 x 600 m wide crater. El Chonco, with several flank lava domes, is located 4 km to the west of San Cristóbal; it and the eroded Moyotepe volcano, 4 km to the NE of San Cristóbal, are of Pleistocene age. Volcán Casita contains an elongated summit crater and lies immediately E of San Cristóbal; Casita was the site of a catastrophic landslide and lahar in 1998. The Plio-Pleistocene La Pelona caldera is located at the eastern end of the San Cristóbal complex. Historical eruptions from San Cristóbal, consisting of small-to-moderate explosive activity, have been reported since the 16th century. Some other 16th-century eruptions attributed to Casita volcano are uncertain and may pertain to other Marrabios Range volcanoes.



Source: Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER) http://www.ineter.gob.ni/





SOPUTAN Sulawesi 1.108°N, 124.73°E; summit elev. 1784 m



Based on information from US Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume from Soputan rose to an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. on 18 September. The VAAC also noted that a sulfur dioxide alert was issued by the Support to Aviation Control Service (SACS).



Geologic Summary. The small conical volcano of Soputan on the southern rim of the Quaternary Tondano caldera is one of Sulawesi's most active volcanoes. During historical time the locus of eruptions has included both the summit crater and Aeseput, a prominent NE-flank vent that formed in 1906 and was the source of intermittent major lava flows until 1924.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/





Ongoing Activity





BATU TARA Komba Island (Indonesia) 7.792°S, 123.579°E; summit elev. 748 m



Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that during 12-16 September ash plumes from Batu Tara rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 28-130 km W and NW.



Geologic Summary. The small isolated island of Batu Tara in the Flores Sea about 50 km north of Lembata (formerly Lomblen) Island contains a scarp on the eastern side similar to the Sciara del Fuoco of Italy's Stromboli volcano. Vegetation covers the flanks of Batu Tara to within 50 m of the 748-m-high summit. Batu Tara lies north of the main volcanic arc and is noted for its potassic leucite-bearing basanitic and tephritic rocks. The first historical eruption from Batu Tara, during 1847-52, produced explosions and a lava flow.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/





KARYMSKY Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) 54.05°N, 159.45°E; summit elev. 1536 m



KVERT reported weak-to-moderate seismic activity from Karymsky during 7-14 September. Seismic data indicated that ash plumes possibly rose to an altitude of 3 km (9,800 ft) a.s.l. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly on the volcano on 7, 10, and 12 September. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.



Geologic Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed about 7,600-7,700 radiocarbon years ago. Construction of the Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2,000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2,300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been Vulcanian or Vulcanian-Strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions has originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is located immediately S of Karymsky volcano and erupted simultaneously with Karymsky in 1996.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





KILAUEA Hawaii (USA) 19.421°N, 155.287°W; summit elev. 1222 m



During 12-18 September HVO reported that the circulating lava lake periodically rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. The gas plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of spatter and Pele's hair, and possible crater wall veneer, onto nearby areas. Lava flows were active above the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision. At Pu'u 'O'o Crater, incandescence from the S and E pits on the crater floor, and from the W edge of the crusted N pit, was often visible. An opening in the roof of the lava tube at the base of the SE flank of Pu'u 'O'o also continued to glow. On 14 September HVO geologists estimated that the lava lake in the E pit was about 10 m below the rim.



Geologic Summary. Kilauea, one of five coalescing volcanoes that comprise the island of Hawaii, is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Eruptions at Kilauea originate primarily from the summit caldera or along one of the lengthy E and SW rift zones that extend from the caldera to the sea. About 90% of the surface of Kilauea is formed of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. A long-term eruption from the East rift zone that began in 1983 has produced lava flows covering more than 100 sq km, destroying nearly 200 houses and adding new coastline to the island.



Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/





POPOCATEPETL México 19.023°N, 98.622°W; summit elev. 5426 m



CENAPRED reported that during 12-18 September seismicity at Popocatépetl indicated continuing gas-and-steam emissions that sometimes contained ash; cloud cover often prevented visual observations of the volcano. Incandescence from the crater was observed most nights. On 13 September gas-and-steam plumes rose 2 km above the crater and drifted NE. Later that day a gas-and-ash plume rose 2 km. Incandescent tephra was ejected 500 m and fell on the NE flanks. On 14 September incandescent tephra fell on the N flank and gas-and-ash plumes rose 1 km. The next day gas-and-ash plumes again rose 1 km. During 16-18 September gas plumes continued to rise 1 km at most and drifted NE, NW, and SW. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two.



Geologic Summary. Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5,426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City and is North America's second-highest volcano. Frequent historical eruptions have been recorded since the beginning of the Spanish colonial era. A small eruption on 21 December 1994 ended five decades of quiescence. Since 1996 small lava domes have incrementally been constructed within the summit crater and destroyed by explosive eruptions. Intermittent small-to-moderate gas-and-ash eruptions have continued, occasionally producing ashfall in neighboring towns and villages.



Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED) http://www.cenapred.unam.mx/es/





SAKURA-JIMA Kyushu 31.585°N, 130.657°E; summit elev. 1117 m



Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that explosions from Sakura-jima during 13-15 and 17-18 September often produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 2.1-3.7 km (7,000-12,000 ft) a.s.l. The plumes sometimes drifted NW, N, and NE. On 14 September a pilot observed an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l.



Geologic Summary. Sakura-jima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, is a post-caldera cone of the Aira caldera at the northern half of Kagoshima Bay. Eruption of the voluminous Ito pyroclastic flow was associated with the formation of the 17 x 23-km-wide Aira caldera about 22,000 years ago. The construction of Sakura-jima began about 13,000 years ago and built an island that was finally joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major explosive and effusive eruption of 1914. Activity at the Kita-dake summit cone ended about 4,850 years ago, after which eruptions took place at Minami-dake. Frequent historical eruptions, recorded since the 8th century, have deposited ash on Kagoshima, one of Kyushu's largest cities, located across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km from the summit. The largest historical eruption took place during 1471-76.



Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/svd/vaac/data/vaac_list.html





SHIVELUCH Central Kamchatka (Russia) 56.653°N, 161.360°E; summit elev. 3283 m



Based on visual observations and analyses of satellite data, KVERT reported that during 7-14 September a viscous lava flow continued to effuse on the NW flank of Shiveluch's lava dome, and was accompanied by hot avalanches and fumarolic activity. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly over the lava dome on 9, 11, and 13 September; cloud cover prevented observations on the other days, and during 15-16 September. Seismicity increased on 18 September. At 1119 observers noted that an ash plume rose to an altitude of 8 km (26,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 137 km SE. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.



Geologic Summary. The high, isolated massif of Shiveluch volcano (also spelled Sheveluch) rises above the lowlands NNE of the Kliuchevskaya volcano group and forms one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes. The currently active Molodoy Shiveluch lava-dome complex was constructed during the Holocene within a large breached caldera formed by collapse of the massive late-Pleistocene Strary Shiveluch volcano. At least 60 large eruptions of Shiveluch have occurred during the Holocene, making it the most vigorous andesitic volcano of the Kuril-Kamchatka arc. Frequent collapses of lava-dome complexes, most recently in 1964, have produced large debris avalanches whose deposits cover much of the floor of the breached caldera. Intermittent explosive eruptions began in the 1990s from a new lava dome that began growing in 1980. The largest historical eruptions from Shiveluch occurred in 1854 and 1964.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





TELICA Nicaragua 12.602°N, 86.845°W; summit elev. 1061 m



During 10-11 September INETER reported "jet" sounds from Telica, two incandescent fumaroles, and gas-and-steam plumes rising 100-200 m above the crater. On 11 September two small explosions occurred in the crater. During 12-14 and 17 September gas plumes rose 30-150 m and incandescence from the crater was observed. Gas measurements on 14 and 17 September showed normal levels of sulfur dioxide emissions.



Geologic Summary. Telica, one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes, has erupted frequently since the beginning of the Spanish era. The Telica volcano group consists of several interlocking cones and vents with a general NW alignment. Sixteenth-century eruptions were reported at symmetrical Santa Clara volcano at the SW end of the Telica group. However, its eroded and breached crater has been covered by forests throughout historical time, and these eruptions may have originated from Telica, whose upper slopes in contrast are unvegetated. The steep-sided cone of 1061-m-high Telica is truncated by a 700-m-wide double crater; the southern crater, the source of recent eruptions, is 120 m deep. El Liston, immediately SE of Telica, has several nested craters. The fumaroles and boiling mudpots of Hervideros de San Jacinto, SE of Telica, form a prominent geothermal area frequented by tourists, and geothermal exploration has occurred nearby.



Source: Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (INETER) http://www.ineter.gob.ni/





+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sally Kuhn Sennert

SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report Editor

Global Volcanism Program

http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

Department of Mineral Sciences, MRC-119

Washington, D.C., 20560

Phone: 202.633.1805
Fax: 202.357.2476









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[ Volcano ] Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 19-25 September 2012

****************************************************************************************
Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 19-25 September 2012
****************************************************************************************



Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

19-25 September 2012



Sally Kuhn Sennert - Weekly Report Editor

kuhns@si.edu

URL: http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/





New Activity/Unrest: | Fuego, Guatemala | Little Sitkin, Aleutian Islands | Lokon-Empung, Sulawesi | Soputan, Sulawesi | Tangkubanparahu, Western Java (Indonesia)



Ongoing Activity: | Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia) | Galeras, Colombia | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Reventador, Ecuador | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Soufrière Hills, Montserrat



The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. Updated by 2300 UTC every Wednesday, notices of volcanic activity posted on these pages are preliminary and subject to change as events are studied in more detail. This is not a comprehensive list of all of Earth's volcanoes erupting during the week, but rather a summary of activity at volcanoes that meet criteria discussed in detail in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section. Carefully reviewed, detailed reports on various volcanoes are published monthly in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network.



Note: Many news agencies do not archive the articles they post on the Internet, and therefore the links to some sources may not be active. To obtain information about the cited articles that are no longer available on the Internet contact the source.







New Activity/Unrest





FUEGO Guatemala 14.473°N, 90.880°W; summit elev. 3763 m



INSIVUMEH reported that during 19-21 September explosions from Fuego ejected incandescent material 100 m above the crater and produced ash plumes that rose 500-1,000 m. Incandescent avalanches traveled 600 m down the flanks. Ashfall was reported at the observatory, and in Morelia (8 km SW) and Santa Sofia (12 km SE). During 22-25 September explosions generated ash plumes that rose 300-800 m above the crater and drifted 6-10 km NE, N, and NW. Incandescent material was ejected 75-150 m above the crater, and avalanches descended the Ceniza and Taniluyá drainages (SSW).



Geologic Summary. Volcán Fuego, one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, lies between 3,763-m-high Fuego and its twin volcano to the N, Acatenango. Construction of Meseta volcano continued until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene, after which growth of the modern Fuego volcano continued the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded at Fuego since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows. The last major explosive eruption from Fuego took place in 1974, producing spectacular pyroclastic flows visible from Antigua.



Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/





LITTLE SITKIN Aleutian Islands 51.95°N, 178.543°E; summit elev. 1174 m



AVO reported that during 19-24 September seismic activity at Little Sitkin remained elevated and satellite views were mostly obscured by clouds. On 21 September AVO noted that the frequency of earthquakes had declined during the previous week. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory.



Geologic Summary. Diamond-shaped Little Sitkin Island is bounded by steep cliffs on the east, north, and NE sides. Little Sitkin volcano contains two nested calderas. The older, nearly circular Pleistocene caldera is 4.8 km wide, may have once contained a caldera lake, and was partially filled by a younger cone formed mostly of andesitic and dacitic lava flows. The elliptical younger caldera is 2.7 x 4 km wide; it lies within the eastern part of the older caldera and shares its eastern and southern rim. The younger caldera partially destroyed the lava cone within the first caldera and is of possible early Holocene age. Young-looking dacitic lava flows, erupted in 1828 (Kay, in Wood and Kienle 1990), issued from the central cone within the younger caldera and from a vent on the west flank outside the older caldera. Fumarolic areas are found near the western coast, along the NW margin of the older caldera, and from the summit crater down the southern flank for a 1 km distance.



Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) http://www.avo.alaska.edu/





LOKON-EMPUNG Sulawesi 1.358°N, 124.792°E; summit elev. 1580 m



According to the Darwin VAAC, ground-based observers reported that on 21 September an ash plume from Lokon-Empung rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash was not identified in satellite imagery.



Geologic Summary. The twin volcanoes Lokon and Empung, rising about 800 m above the plain of Tondano, are among the most active volcanoes of Sulawesi. Lokon, the higher of the two peaks (whose summits are only 2.2 km apart) has a flat, craterless top. The morphologically younger Empung volcano has a 400-m-wide, 150-m-deep crater that erupted last in the 18th century, but all subsequent eruptions have originated from Tompaluan, a 150 x 250 m wide double crater situated in the saddle between the two peaks. Historical eruptions have primarily produced small-to-moderate ash plumes that have occasionally damaged croplands and houses, but lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows have also occurred.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/





SOPUTAN Sulawesi 1.108°N, 124.73°E; summit elev. 1784 m



Based on information from the US Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), the Support to Aviation Control Service (SACS), and CVGHM, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume from Soputan rose to an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. on 19 September. Later that day an ash plume rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l.



Geologic Summary. The small conical volcano of Soputan on the southern rim of the Quaternary Tondano caldera is one of Sulawesi's most active volcanoes. During historical time the locus of eruptions has included both the summit crater and Aeseput, a prominent NE-flank vent that formed in 1906 and was the source of intermittent major lava flows until 1924.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/





TANGKUBANPARAHU Western Java (Indonesia) 6.77°S, 107.60°E; summit elev. 2084 m



CVGHM reported that during 23 August-21 September shallow volcanic earthquakes continued to be recorded at Tangkubanparahu but were less frequent. Other types of seismic signals also decreased. Based on seismicity, visual observations, deformation data, gas measurements, and soil and crater lake water temperatures, the Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4) on 21 September.



Geologic Summary. Tangkubanparahu is a broad shield-like stratovolcano overlooking Indonesia's former capital city of Bandung that was constructed within the 6 x 8 km Pleistocene Sunda caldera. The volcano's low profile is the subject of legends referring to the mountain of the "upturned boat." The rim of Sunda caldera forms a prominent ridge on the western side; elsewhere the caldera rim is largely buried by deposits of Tangkubanparahu volcano. The dominantly small phreatic historical eruptions recorded since the 19th century have originated from several nested craters within an elliptical 1 x 1.5 km summit depression. Tangkubanparahu last erupted in September 1983, when ash rose up to 150 m above the rim of Kawah Ratu.



Source: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) http://proxy.vsi.esdm.go.id/index.php





Ongoing Activity





BATU TARA Komba Island (Indonesia) 7.792°S, 123.579°E; summit elev. 748 m



Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that on 25 September an ash plume from Batu Tara rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 28 km NW.



Geologic Summary. The small isolated island of Batu Tara in the Flores Sea about 50 km north of Lembata (formerly Lomblen) Island contains a scarp on the eastern side similar to the Sciara del Fuoco of Italy's Stromboli volcano. Vegetation covers the flanks of Batu Tara to within 50 m of the 748-m-high summit. Batu Tara lies north of the main volcanic arc and is noted for its potassic leucite-bearing basanitic and tephritic rocks. The first historical eruption from Batu Tara, during 1847-52, produced explosions and a lava flow.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/





GALERAS Colombia 1.22°N, 77.37°W; summit elev. 4276 m



INGEOMINAS reported that during 18-22 and 24-25 September cameras around Galeras recorded emissions that were mostly water vapor. On 18 and 24 September the emissions contained ash. An earthquake swarm detected on 25 September was characterized by events less than M 1 that occurred 2 km W of the crater at depths near 3 km. The Alert Level remained at III (Yellow; "changes in the behavior of volcanic activity").



Geologic Summary. Galeras, a stratovolcano with a large breached caldera located immediately W of the city of Pasto, is one of Colombia's most frequently active volcanoes. The dominantly andesitic Galeras volcanic complex has been active for more than 1 million years, and two major caldera collapse eruptions took place during the late Pleistocene. Longterm extensive hydrothermal alteration has affected the volcano. This has contributed to large-scale edifice collapse that has occurred on at least three occasions, producing debris avalanches that swept to the W and left a large horseshoe-shaped caldera inside which the modern cone has been constructed. Major explosive eruptions since the mid Holocene have produced widespread tephra deposits and pyroclastic flows that swept all but the southern flanks. A central cone slightly lower than the caldera rim has been the site of numerous small-to-moderate historical eruptions since the time of the Spanish conquistadors.



Source: Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (INGEOMINAS) http://www.ingeominas.gov.co/





KARYMSKY Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) 54.05°N, 159.45°E; summit elev. 1536 m



KVERT reported weak-to-moderate seismic activity from Karymsky during 14-21 September. Seismic data indicated that ash plumes possibly rose to an altitude of 5.5 km (18,000 ft) a.s.l. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly on the volcano on 19 September. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.



Geologic Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed about 7,600-7,700 radiocarbon years ago. Construction of the Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2,000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2,300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been Vulcanian or Vulcanian-Strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions has originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is located immediately S of Karymsky volcano and erupted simultaneously with Karymsky in 1996.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





KILAUEA Hawaii (USA) 19.421°N, 155.287°W; summit elev. 1222 m



During 19-25 September HVO reported that the circulating lava lake periodically rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. The gas plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of spatter and Pele's hair onto nearby areas. Lava flows were active above the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision and began to flow down the pali. At Pu'u 'O'o Crater, incandescence from the S and E pits on the crater floor, and from the W edge of the crusted N pit, was often visible. An opening in the roof of the lava tube at the base of the SE flank of Pu'u 'O'o also continued to glow.



Geologic Summary. Kilauea, one of five coalescing volcanoes that comprise the island of Hawaii, is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Eruptions at Kilauea originate primarily from the summit caldera or along one of the lengthy E and SW rift zones that extend from the caldera to the sea. About 90% of the surface of Kilauea is formed of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. A long-term eruption from the East rift zone that began in 1983 has produced lava flows covering more than 100 sq km, destroying nearly 200 houses and adding new coastline to the island.



Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/





REVENTADOR Ecuador 0.077°S, 77.656°W; summit elev. 3562 m



Based on analysis of satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported that an ash plume from Reventador drifted 22 km SW on 20 September.



Geologic Summary. Reventador is the most frequently active of a chain of Ecuadorian volcanoes in the Cordillera Real, well E of the principal volcanic axis. It is a forested stratovolcano that rises above the remote jungles of the western Amazon basin. A 3-km-wide caldera breached to the E was formed by edifice collapse and is partially filled by a young, unvegetated stratovolcano that rises about 1,300 m above the caldera floor. Reventador has been the source of numerous lava flows as well as explosive eruptions that were visible from Quito in historical time. Frequent lahars in this region of heavy rainfall have constructed a debris plain on the eastern floor of the caldera.



Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html





SAKURA-JIMA Kyushu 31.585°N, 130.657°E; summit elev. 1117 m



JMA reported that during 15-21 September explosions from Sakura-jima's Showa Crater ejected tephra as far as 1.3 km from the crater. Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that explosions from Sakura-jima during 19-20 and 22-24 September often produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.8-3.4 km (6,000-11,000 ft) a.s.l. The plumes sometimes drifted NE, E, SE, S, and SW. On 19 September a pilot observed an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE.



Geologic Summary. Sakura-jima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, is a post-caldera cone of the Aira caldera at the northern half of Kagoshima Bay. Eruption of the voluminous Ito pyroclastic flow was associated with the formation of the 17 x 23-km-wide Aira caldera about 22,000 years ago. The construction of Sakura-jima began about 13,000 years ago and built an island that was finally joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major explosive and effusive eruption of 1914. Activity at the Kita-dake summit cone ended about 4,850 years ago, after which eruptions took place at Minami-dake. Frequent historical eruptions, recorded since the 8th century, have deposited ash on Kagoshima, one of Kyushu's largest cities, located across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km from the summit. The largest historical eruption took place during 1471-76.



Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/index.html,

Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/svd/vaac/data/vaac_list.html





SHIVELUCH Central Kamchatka (Russia) 56.653°N, 161.360°E; summit elev. 3283 m



Based on visual observations and analyses of satellite data, KVERT reported that during 14-21 September a viscous lava flow continued to effuse on the NW flank of Shiveluch's lava dome, and was accompanied by hot avalanches and fumarolic activity. A strong explosion on 18 September generated an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 8 km (26,300 ft) a.s.l. An ash plume rose to an altitude of 3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. on 20 September. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly on the lava dome on 14 and 19 September, and an ash plume drifting 2,000 km SE during 17-20 September. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.



Geologic Summary. The high, isolated massif of Shiveluch volcano (also spelled Sheveluch) rises above the lowlands NNE of the Kliuchevskaya volcano group and forms one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes. The currently active Molodoy Shiveluch lava-dome complex was constructed during the Holocene within a large breached caldera formed by collapse of the massive late-Pleistocene Strary Shiveluch volcano. At least 60 large eruptions of Shiveluch have occurred during the Holocene, making it the most vigorous andesitic volcano of the Kuril-Kamchatka arc. Frequent collapses of lava-dome complexes, most recently in 1964, have produced large debris avalanches whose deposits cover much of the floor of the breached caldera. Intermittent explosive eruptions began in the 1990s from a new lava dome that began growing in 1980. The largest historical eruptions from Shiveluch occurred in 1854 and 1964.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





SOUFRIERE HILLS Montserrat 16.72°N, 62.18°W; summit elev. 915 m



MVO reported that during 14-21 September activity at the Soufrière Hills lava dome was at a low level, although multiple rockfalls originated from the W side of the lava dome. The largest event generated a pyroclastic flow that traveled 1 km. Overhanging areas on both on the E and W faces of the dome were observed. The Hazard Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5).



Geologic Summary. The complex dominantly andesitic Soufrière Hills volcano occupies the southern half of the island of Montserrat. The summit area consists primarily of a series of lava domes emplaced along an ESE-trending zone. English's Crater, a 1-km-wide crater breached widely to the E, was formed during an eruption about 4,000 years ago in which the summit collapsed, producing a large submarine debris avalanche. Block-and-ash flow and surge deposits associated with dome growth predominate in flank deposits at Soufrière Hills. Non-eruptive seismic swarms occurred at 30-year intervals in the 20th century, but with the exception of a 17th-century eruption that produced the Castle Peak lava dome, no historical eruptions were recorded on Montserrat until 1995. Long-term small-to-moderate ash eruptions beginning in that year were later accompanied by lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows that forced evacuation of the southern half of the island and ultimately destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, causing major social and economic disruption.



Source: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) http://www.mvo.ms/



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sally Kuhn Sennert

SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report Editor

Global Volcanism Program

http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

Department of Mineral Sciences, MRC-119

Washington, D.C., 20560

Phone: 202.633.1805
Fax: 202.357.2476










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