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The latest eruption of the Bogoslof Volcano led to a series of air traffic restrictions.
Specialists recorded yet another eruption of the Bogoslof Volcano, which this time around, resulted in some air traffic restrictions. This volcanic event’s 35.000 feet high ash columns determined authorities to declare a Code red aviation alert level.
Bogoslof Volcano Has Been Continuously Active For Some Six Months Now
The Bogoslof is a submarine stratovolcano or composite volcano which means that it is built layers upon layers. This volcanic formation can be found in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. It has been continuously active for almost six months now, its first eruption of this series having taken place on December 20, 2016.
This resulted in a geographical change of the island. Over these past six months, the site is also believed to have more than tripled in size, thanks to the frequent eruptions.
On Sunday, specialists detected a new volcanic such event. The last major eruption before took place on May 17 and sent ash clouds as high up as 34,000 feet. This latest, May 28 event was even bigger and is considered the highest eruption recorded until now.
On May 28, the Bogoslof Volcano sent columns of ash even 35,000 feet or higher up in the air. These led to the decision of imposing a Code Red in the Aviation Color Code. This marks the highest possible level on the Alaska Volcano Observatory scale. It means that planes can be grounded even for days, up until the skies clear of ash.
“We actually went to color code red this afternoon because of numerous lightning detections and increased seismic signals,” stated Jeffrey Freymueller.
He is part of the University of Alaska’s Geophysical Institute. Ash can be extremely dangerous to planes if it passes a 20,000 feet altitude. It can either cause damage or even completely halt an aircraft’s engine. According to reports, no flights have encountered problems or been delayed following this latest eruption.
AVO Bogoslof RED/WARNING – Significant explosive eruption started at 14:16 AKDT and continues. https://t.co/NaarBApIs5
— Alaska AVO (@alaska_avo) May 28, 2017
Authorities also decided to reduce the Color Code to Orange, which means that the danger may be seemingly over, but the situation should still be carefully monitored.
AVO Bogoslof RED/WARNING – Seismicity has declined, and eruption has ended. Ash cloud drifting NW. https://t.co/NaarBApIs5
— Alaska AVO (@alaska_avo) May 28, 2017
Image Source: Wikimedia
