A PERSONAL VOLCANO WATCH

Many of you know that my daughter Bryn and her husband Tony are now living in Anchorage, Alaska, having transferred in July to the FBI office there. They live in a suburb of the big city, a suburb that everyone in the United States surely knows about: Wasilla. Except for always having to be on the alert for bears and moose, she says it is an absolutely wonderful place to live.

However, she called me the other day to advise that the FBI had issued her a face mask and goggles to use when the volcano erupts. Apparently all employees are routinely issued this equipment when they are hired, but somehow Bryn didn't get hers when she transferred in, so she was really shocked at learning about this.

The volcano is some 100 miles south of Anchorage and the major damage to the city from an eruption comes from the ash and glass that rains from the skies. Below is an AP article which will explain what is going on much better than I can.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Geologists monitoring Mount Redoubt for signs of a possible eruption noticed that a hole in the glacier clinging to the north side of the volcano had doubled in size overnight — and now spans the length of two football fields.

Scientists with the Alaska Volcano Observatory on Friday flew close to Drift Glacier and spotted vigorous steam emitted from a hole on the mountain. By Saturday, they had confirmed the area was a fumarole, an opening in the earth that emits gases and steam, that was increasing in size at an alarming rate.

They also saw water streaming down the glacier, indicating heat from magma is reaching higher elevations of the mountain.

"The glacier is sort of falling apart in the upper part," research geologist Kristi Wallace said.

The signs of heat add to concerns that an eruption is near, which could send an ash cloud about 100 miles northeast toward Anchorage, the state's largest city, or onto communities on the Kenai Peninsula, which is even closer to the mountain on the west side of Cook Inlet. It would be the first eruption since 1990.

Particulate released during an eruption has jagged edges and can injure skin, eyes and breathing passages, especially in young children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems.

It can also foul engines. An eruption in December 1989 sent out an ash cloud 150 miles that flamed out the jet engines of a KLM flight carrying 231 passengers on its way to Anchorage. The jet dropped more than two miles before pilots were able to restart the engines and land safely.

Will I worry about Bryn? No. Am I concerned about her? Yes. Will I keep you informed? Of course.