"Alaska is the air crossroads of the world and with dozens of active volcanoes, one of the most geologically active regions of the globe," Knowles said. "There is a crucial need to keep planes away from airborne volcanic ash. By monitoring Alaska's volcanoes and making forecasts of eruptive activity, the AVO uses their research to provide a vital service to the flying public and residents of Alaska communities located along the North Pacific's 'Ring of Fire'."

A cooperative effort of the University of Alaska, the State's Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the AVO monitors Alaskan volcanoes and provides warnings of eruptions and forecasts of likely volcanic activity to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service. The two agencies use the information to alert pilots and air-traffic controllers so planes can be safely routed around volcanic ash clouds.

Volcanic ash poses serious hazards to jet aircraft. The 1989 eruption of Redoubt volcano damaged five jets which flew into its ash cloud. One jetliner with 243 passengers aboard temporarily lost power to all four engines and nearly crashed before safely landing in Anchorage. Damage to the Boeing 747 totaled nearly $100 million.

Hazardous concentrations of volcanic ash, undetectable by present-day radar systems, can drift at high altitudes for hundreds of miles following an eruption. The busy air routes of the northern Pacific are especially vulnerable to such hazards due to the many active volcanoes in Alaska and the Russian Far East. AVO scientists work closely with their Russian counterparts to receive timely information about eruptions on the Kamchatka Peninsula that can affect international flights originating in Alaska.

During the 1992 eruption of Spurr volcano, the availability of an effective warning system by AVO and enhanced awareness of the ash-cloud hazard within the aviation community minimized economic loss to air carriers and reduced risks to passengers.

Earlier this year, AVO closely monitored Akutan Volcano which was rattled by more than 3,000 earthquakes in three days. Accurate information on the level of hazard posed by the activity averted wide scale evacuation of the island and its seafood processing plant, which otherwise may have occurred. AVO is currently monitoring the eruptive activity taking place at the Pavlof Volcano near Cold Bay and a strong cluster of shallow earthquakes beneath Ilimana Volcano.

On hand to receive the award were observatory staffers including AVO scientist in charge Terry Keith of the USGS, coordinating scientist John Eichelberger of the University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute, and Chris Nye of the Alaska Division of Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

Source of Press Release: VOLCANO Listserv, October 22, 1996

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