Although it's too soon to shrug off Mount Redoubt's latest mood swing, the volcano has simmered down considerably since Wednesday and the alert level remains upgraded a notch from green to yellow.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory's webcam windows on Redoubt have been iced up since the volcano started rumbling Sunday afternoon. So scientists are getting their first good look at the lava dome today as they fly around the mountain collecting gas measurements.
These measurements can give clues as to what may or may not be coming. As new magma approaches the surface, volcanologists expect to detect an increase in sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide levels. Results of samples collected today should be available in a couple of days, said Tom Murray, scientist in charge.
In addition to the overflight, an AVO field crew arrived by helicopter today to clear the ice and snow from the webcam windows, including the Redoubt Hut webcam, which looks directly at the dome.
So far, steam levels appear to be normal, Murray said. Redoubt spewing steam off and on is nothing unusual, since the dome is still warm from last spring's eruption.
At this point, it's difficult to say when the alert level might return to green, Murray said.
"We continue to watch it closely a while longer, and at some point we'll make a determination."
The 10,197-foot volcano is about 50 miles west of Kenai and 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.
Find Debra McKinney online at adn.com/contact/dmckinney or call 257-4465.
By DEBRA McKINNEY
dmckinney@adn.com