Mt. Fitzherbert

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise high above the crater rim today would drift southward this morning and southeastward this afternoon.

Recent observations: Yesterday's clear, calm weather, coupled with a relatively low level of steaming, created ideal conditions for observations and instrument installations. Thermal-imaging and geologic observations revealed further expansion of the welt, the broad area of uplift south of the 1980-86 lava dome, toward the southeast and development of several deep pits on the uplift that may be the result of melting of blocks of glacier ice and collapse of overlying debris. Three instrument packages called Spiders, two with GPS instruments and one with a seismometer, were lowered from a helicopter. One GPS sits near the top of the new lava dome. Processing of the first several hours of data, showed that the highest point on the new lava dome is at an altitude of 2256 m (7400 ft), or about 76 m (250 ft) higher than the summit of the 1980-86 lava dome. Hopefully this instrument can survive in its harsh environment and allow us to track movement of that point in real-time, both horizontally and vertically. This will provide a method for assessing how lava-dome growth is progressing. The new seismometer is located on the upper east side of the old lava dome and will help in obtaining better locations of earthquakes. Data from the gas-sensing flight is still being evaluated. Other work included aerial photography and construction of a new radio repeater site to ensure a more robust system for relating data to the observatory. The only field work planned for today is further work on the new repeater site.