Mt. Fitzherbert

Potential ash hazards:Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift south-southeastward.

Recent observations: Clouds again obscure the mountain, but better weather is forecast for later in the week. According to field sensors, there is no significant change in the eruptive activity. When the weather improves, field crews will service seismic stations, continue repairs to radio transmitters, and install more GPS units. Preliminary analyses from a gas-sensing flight last week suggest that emissions of SO2 may be slightly elevated, but within the range of past measurements; confirmation of results awaits further analysis. As of the end of November, the “whaleback” measured about 500 m long, about 200 m wide, and its highest point, which extends above the old lava dome, reached about 275 m above the old crater floor. The volumetric change associated with emplacement of new lava (the new dome, uplift, and glacier deformation) was about 28 million cubic meters. The old lava dome, which grew from 1980-86, has a volume of about 80 million cubic meters.