Comments on: Desktop Project Part 20: Angling in on a smoking volcano

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:05:47 +0000

“…one of the only ways to monitor this volcano…”

Oddly, “one of the only” is a meaningless phrase, even though it feels completely grammatical, and it’s really hard to pin down why it doesn’t work semantically. (You can say, “I’m one of the only people on Earth.”) It works in a phrase like “this is one of only 3…”, but “only” can be replaced with “the” in that case. I think “only” just has to be modifying a quantity.

By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:49:32 +0000

Just as a suggestion, try not to refer to a volcano as “smoking”. There is no smoke involved as smoke is produced from combustion. As you mention, the plume is steam (with maybe a little ash mixed in), so calling it smoke just perpetuates that idea that volcanoes are someone “on fire”.

By: PC0101

PC0101 — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:04:24 +0000

Most of the volcanoes on the globe are permanently monitored by various satellites, particularly NASA’s Aqua and Terra with their MODIS instruments keep an eye on them (they deliver pix twice a day). Active volcanoes, meaning those with clearly visible plumes and where lots of people are at risk in case of a major eruption, are monitored more intensively by other satellites too. In addition, the ISS is running an imaging program that comprises all the major volcanoes in the world for documenting the condition of craters, calderas, etc. The above shot is one such example of the recent “round” of inspections that includes all the major volcanoes in South America, South East Asia, and Europe too. It actually has been taken by a member of the Russian crew as can be seen from the image details in the JSC database. The space station was about 300 miles south-east of the volcano when the photo was taken.

By: Wzrd1

Wzrd1 — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:49:14 +0000

No tilt meters, MadScientist? I’d have figured they’d put those on the volcano as well as a portable seismograph.

By: MadScientist

MadScientist — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:07:46 +0000

The USGS has had some presence in the CNMI since the eruption of Anatahan in 2003. (I get conflicting stories over whether it’s AVO or HVO who are responsible for the region.) Anyway, we really don’t rely on humans to live next to a volcano to monitor it. Typically a portable seismograph or two would be installed near the volcano – in the case of island volcanoes like Anatahan and Pagan, the equipment goes right on the volcano. The first instruments placed on Anatahan didn’t last too long before the volcano got ‘em. These islands are difficult to monitor though; you need a radio of some sort (such as a satellite modem) because the islands are ~80NM or so from the large islands of Saipan and Tinian. Despite Pagan being uninhabited (except for the pigs), folks living on nearby islands would have no trouble spotting the plumes.

By: Oscar Ferro

Oscar Ferro — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:56:00 +0000

I banish you to the world of Pagan! No one here knows of thee, Avatar…

By: Jim Craig

Jim Craig — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:51:19 +0000

The volcano on the other end of the island isn’t erupting.

Isthmus be its day off.