Alaska volcano has airlines preparing for travel chaos

Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, Travel Security

Using satellite imagery, scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) have determined that Alaska's Cleveland volcano may be ready to erupt and have issued a code yellow eruption advisory. Airlines that operate in the area are paying close attention because the Cleveland Volcano is located directly below the commercial airline flight path between Asia and North America.

The significant problem here is that, due to the remoteness of the Cleveland Volcano, there is no on-the-ground ongoing monitoring of activity. The volcano could erupt without warning and satellite imagery might not detect the blast immediately creating a serious potential problem for aircraft flying over the area.

"Short-lived explosions with ash clouds that could exceed 20,000 ft above sea level can occur without warning and may go undetected on satellite imagery for hours" the AVO said in a statement.

That leaves experts preparing for the volcano's first big eruption in 10 years. A 2001 eruption brought lava flow including a hot avalanche that reached the sea and blasted volcanic ash more than five miles into the sky. Since then a series of minor eruptions have occurred with the most recent minor ash emission in September 2010.

"Airlines operating through the region are aware that an eruption could happen suddenly and without further warning, and are preparing for potential travel chaos" reports christianpost.com.

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Alaska volcano has airlines preparing for travel chaos originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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