Alaska Volcano Preparing to Erupt

Alaska volcano shows signs of impending eruption

By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska | Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:54am EDT

(Reuters) – Recent satellite images of a remote Alaska volcano along a flight route for major airlines show it may be poised for its first big eruption in 10 years, scientists said.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory has issued an eruption advisory for the 5,676 foot-tall (1,730 meters) Cleveland Volcano, located on the uninhabited island of Chuginadak in the Aleutian chain about 940 miles (1,500 km) southwest of Anchorage.

The advisory was based on “thermal anomalies” detected by satellite, the observatory said on Thursday. Those measurements indicate the volcano could erupt at any moment, spewing ash clouds up to 20,000 feet (3.7 miles/6 km) above sea level with little further warning, the observatory said.

to read more, go to:    http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/22/uk-usa-volcano-alaska-idUSLNE76L03220110722