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Weekly Highlights for 04-23-2009

I. Departmental/Bureau News

A. Upcoming Events

USGS at Alaska Aviation Trade Show, Highlighting Volcano Hazards to Aviation
On May 2 and 3, the USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) will participate as an exhibitor at the 2009 Alaska State Aviation Trade Show and Conference, held in the FedEx Maintenance Hangar at Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage. This two-day event is a hugely popular gathering of thousands of aviation enthusiasts, aircraft operators, civil and military aviation authorities, and the general public. USGS' participation is an opportunity to conduct outreach regarding volcano hazards to aviation. In the wake of the ongoing Redoubt eruption and its impacts on commercial and general aviation in Alaska, we anticipate a lot of interest. USGS' booth is always collocated with the National Weather Service (NWS), and this year with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to emphasize the mutli-agency partnership necessary to reduce the risks to aviation posed by explosive volcanic eruptions.
Contact: C. (Tina) Neal Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7458

B. Current

Redoubt Volcanic Activity Continues
USGS Alaska Science Center staff at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) continue to respond to the ongoing eruption of Redoubt Volcano. Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE with the Alert Level at WATCH. Over the past week, AVO personnel conducted field work which included tephra sampling and FLIR imaging of the new lava dome, mapping and analysis of mudflows in the Drift River Valley, and instrumentation maintenance. Data from real-time seismic networks, web cameras, ground-based radar, GPS stations, an infrasound instrument, and near-real imagery from satellites are monitored by AVO staff 24/7. AVO continues to post daily updates of Redoubts condition on the AVO website (http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php ). AVO is a partnership among the USGS, the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, and The University of Alaska Geophysical Institute.
Contact: C. (Tina) Neal Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7458

II. Press Inquiries/Media

USGS scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory continued answering media inquiries, April 16-22, about the current period of unrest at Redoubt Volcano. Media outlets include CBS affiliate KTVA-TV (Ch 11, Anchorage), NBC affiliate KTUU-TV (Ch 2, Anchorage), and the Homer News.
Contact: C. (Tina) Neal Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7458

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