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Indonesian Mud Volcano is Collapsing
Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 @ 5:36 am by Dave Schumaker
In 2006, a drilling accident near the city of Sidoarjo, Indonesia caused a large and rapidly growing mud volcano to form. The volcano, named Lusi, eventually went on to become the fastest growing mud volcano in the world, engulfing upwards of 7 square kilometers and forcing 30,000 people from their homes.
New research from Durham University suggests that if the volcano continues erupting at current levels, the area will significantly subside, resulting in the creation of a caldera.
Source: Reuters
Their research used GPS and satellite data recorded between June 2006 and September 2007 that showed the area affected by Lusi had subsided by between 0.5 metres and 14.5 metres per year.
The scientists found that if Lusi continued to erupt for three to 10 years at the constant rates measured during 2007 then the central part of the volcano could subside by between 44 metres and 146 metres – 26 metres longer than a football pitch.
They propose the subsidence is due to the weight of mud and collapse of rock strata due to the excavation of mud from beneath the surface.
Their study has also found that while some parts of Sidoarjo are subsiding others are rising suggesting that the Watukosek fault system has been reactivated due to the eruption.
We previously wrote about this eruption last year.
More Information:
About.com - Watch Lusi Collapse
Highly Allochthonous - Lusi in Time
Guardian - Mud Volcano on Brink of Collapse
[Via Eurekalert]
Geology Picture of the Day - Mount St. Helens
Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 @ 7:50 am by Dave Schumaker
28 years ago today, Washington state’s Mount St. Helens catastrophically erupted, becoming the largest volcanic eruption in the lower 48 states.
Image credit: USGS
Geology Picture of the Day - Mount Cleveland Eruption
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 @ 10:24 am by Dave Schumaker
This is a picture taken from the International Space Station of Mount Cleveland, located in Alaska, erupting in June of 2006.
Image credit: Astronaut Jeffrey Williams and NASA.
More information on Mount Cleveland and its eruptions can be found at the Alaska Volcano Observatory website.
Geology Picture of the Day - Chaitén Eruption
Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008 @ 1:04 am by Dave Schumaker
Today’s geology picture of the day is from the ongoing Chaiten eruption (which started unexpectedly at the beginning of this month in Chile). Ralph Harrington at The Volcanism Blog has been providing wonderful updates on the eruption.
This photo was captured on May 6 and shows electrostatic discharges as a result of the ash cloud above the volcano.
Image Credit: Carlos Gutierrez
PodClast - Episode 3: Chaiten Eruption, Gigapan Photos and More
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ 11:51 am by Dave Schumaker
The third episode of the GoodSchist PodClast has been published today. This episode features Chris Town, Ron Schott, Brian Romans and Ralph Harrington.
Show notes for Episode 3 are available on Chris’ webpage and relevant links have been posted on the newly created PodClast del.icio.us account.
I really think the PodClast is starting to come into its own and has done a great job featuring various personalities in the Geoblogosphere and discussing a wide range of topics. Bravo to Chris and the gang. You can subscribe to the PodClast via iTunes here.
[Via GoodSchist]