Webcam: Alaska Volcano Observatory, Mount Redoubt

A couple of months ago I read a report – in an Australian online news service no less - that Mount Redoubt , a volcano in Alaska was showing some activity. Not only was there an interesting report but there was a link to the Alaska Volcano Observatory!. Thus, I learned about this wonderful site that I visit at least on a daily basis if not several times each day, particularly on weekends.

The site has a map and a list of the volcano regions in Alaska. Clicking on the map or link will take you to detailed map of that region with all of the mountains marked. A table below the map indicates which volcanos are active or inactive. Click on the mountain name on the map or in the table will transport you to a page with details about the mountain.

Mount Redoubt is in the Cook Inlet-South Central region and there are now three webcams to view the mountain. Redoubt-CI looks across Cook Inlet. In this image, captured on April 4th, you can see the steam cloud rising above the mountain.
















Redoubt-Hut is located approximately 7.5 miles from the mountain and looks at the north flank of the summit crater. These images were captured on March 15th, 2009 when there was a little activity and on April 4th when the mountain was quite active.
































Redoubt – DFR that was recently activated is approximately 7.6 miles NE of the crater. In this image, captured on April 4th, in addition to the activity in the crater, a small steam vent is visible at the lower right of the image.

















A really nice feature of the webcam sites is that each has a thumbnail of the view on a clear day. If the current weather is bad, you can see what the view would look like on a good day. Encouraging when the webcam is socked in during bad weather.

Kudos to the hosts of this site - the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAFGI), and the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS)!

Click on an image to view a larger image.

Butterfly: Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)

It's a Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo). The first butterfly of the season at our place this year.

On March 30th, it was flitting around the grass near the woods in the late afternoon. It would settle on stalks of the dry Andropogon grass. It would let me approach to within about six feet but then flit off to another stalk a little distance away.

Daffodil #6

This daffodil was planted last fall. The center is more intensely frilled than most daffodils.










This daffodil began blooming on March 7th.

Daffodil #5

This daffodil was planted last fall.



















This daffodil began blooming on March 7th.

Daffodil #4

This daffodil was planted last fall. The outer petals are white. The centers are yellow when the flowers first open and then fade over time, first to cream and then to white.

This daffodil began blooming on February 24th and it's blooms last longer than most others.

Daffodil #3: Jetfire

This is Jetfire. One of the three named daffodils that I planted a few years ago. It has thrived so far, second only to one that was on the property when we moved here. Each year the clumps increase in size and they flower freely. The bright yellow and orange flowers provide some welcome color after a long winter of browns and greens.

This year they were in full bloom when we had several inches of snow. Both foliage and blooms were completely buried. I thought that was the end of them for this year. Everything was flattened. Slowly they straightened up, not as tall as they were originally, and provided bright color for several weeks.

Jetfire began blooming on February 24th.

Daffodil #2

This daffodil was planted last fall and began blooming on February 10th.