Yukon Monitoring Alaskan Volcano's Threat
STEPHANIE WADDELL - The Canadian Press
WHITEHORSE -- Emergency officials in British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska are preparing for the possible eruption of the Mount Redoubt volcano near Anchorage.
The volcano, 166 kilometres southwest of the Alaskan city, has been showing signs of minor activity since the fall.
In November, geologists saw changes in emissions and some minor melting near the summit, and the threat rating was upgraded.
Recently, it was upgraded again and there have been conference calls among agencies to review emergency-measures plans.
"Right now, it's sort of in watch mode," Michael Templeton, manager of the Yukon Emergency Measures Organization, said yesterday. Whether an eruption would affect the territory remains unknown, he said.
Volcanic ash has been known to travel thousands of kilometres, but distance and direction depend on factors such as the height of the volcano's smoke plume and the direction of the wind.
Officials are watching the Alaska Volcano Observatory website, which provides updates on activity at Redoubt.
"Seismic activity at Redoubt continues at an elevated level and is well above background levels. The volcano has not erupted," said the latest update on avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php.
A major concern is the possibility of ash ending up in the flight path of aircraft. Mr. Templeton said planes in the air at the time of an eruption would be notified by radio.
Should the volcano erupt, officials in Alaska would contact B.C. officials, who would then contact those in Yukon.
Mr. Templeton said the B.C. Provincial Emergency Program has more employees and is staffed around the clock, while Yukon emergency officials are available only on call outside regular working hours.
In 1992, parts of the Alaska Highway in Yukon were closed when the Mount Spurr volcano erupted close to the Canada-U.S. border.
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