Sunday, March 29, 2009

March Madness in Alaska

So for the Madness...March Madness was alive and well here in Alaska! I met my coworker and some new UNC alum friends at the Peanut Farm in Anchorage. Lots of fun!














Now for the Mayhem,,,,yes Mt. Redoubt erupted in March. When it erupted years ago, it erupted 23 times over 4-6 months...This time it erupted 18 times in 1 week! Ash clouds came to Anchorage only twice. Here are pics in the day and night...crazy right?!?

Ash in Anchorage....

Living in the southeast most of my life, I have had my share of thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornados. I even experienced an earthquake in Northern California a couple of years ago, but I did not expect a volcanic eruption....especially in Alaska!

Pic: Mt Redoubt is completely covered in ash after several eruptions.

Well little did I know...Alaska actually has over 100 volcanos. Mt Redoubt has been erupting since Sunday(3/22) night and ash finally came to Anchorage today. Mt. Redoubt is a stratovolcano and instead of flowing lava, gas and rock erupts shooting ash up to 65,000 feet in the air. Where the ash falls completely depends on how the wind blows. So after yesterday's 3rd and 4th eruptions at 3:30 and 7:30, the wind finally blew the ash into Anchorage. The airport shut down and people were wearing their air filter masks outside.

I myself do not plan to leave the apartment until it is all settled! I can watch the Heels play Oklahoma from right here :)

Eruption at 11:20pm 3/27


Eruption at 1:20am 3/28