A lively volcano

By ⋅ August 14, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

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For today’s geo Quiz — we’re looking for an explosive island. The island we’re looking for is mostly a tall cone-shaped volcano — a “stratovolcano” in geologic parlance.

Except the top of the cone is cut off — and sports a crater lake. The volcano literally exploded… about a year ago… on August 7th, 2008.

Summit crater and crater lake of Kasatochi volcano, August 6, 2008, the day before the eruption. The crater shown here is about 4,000 feet in diameter. Photo by Chris Ford, USFWS.

Summit crater and crater lake of Kasatochi volcano, August 6, 2008, the day before the eruption. The crater shown here is about 4,000 feet in diameter. Photo by Chris Ford, USFWS.

Kasatochi shown October 23, 2008, three months after the eruption. Photo by Jerry Morris

Kasatochi shown October 23, 2008, three months after the eruption. Photo by Jerry Morris

The eruption sent an ash plume almost five miles into the sky over the surrounding Aleutian Islands. It also covered the entire island in several feet of scorching ash, incinerating everything alive. Now, some scientists are paying the island a visit — looking for new signs of life on the barren terrain.

We’re just looking for the name of the island.

Geo Answer:

For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a volcanic island… roughly halfway between Alaska and Russia. An eruption a year ago coated the island in a thick layer of searing hot ash. And as far as scientists knew at the time, nothing survived.

Now people are returning to explore the island. Among them is University of Alaska entomologist Derek Sikes… and he joins us by satellite phone. He’s among those searching for new signs of life on Kasatochi, a volcanic island that is part of the Aleutian chain. An eruption there last year incinerated the island’s plants and animals.

Listen to the interview:

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Discussion

6 comments for “A lively volcano”

  • Derek Sikes

    Working on Kasatochi has been an incredible scientific experience. I need to add the comment that the research vessel, the Tiglax (Tekla), is not ‘mine’ – it’s run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service who, combined with the USGS are the organizers of this project and their contributions really should be gratefully acknowledged.

  • http://paperitual.blogspot.com/ Trista Saunders

    Brilliant! It’s great to see great UAF scientists getting some air time :)

    • Grace

      You are right. I am a long time fan of the world from back in AK. Its nice to know it has relevance.

  • Aaron Sikes

    That’s my bro!

    Great work, Derek! It sounds absolutely fascinating, and congrats on catching some publicity :)

  • Grace

    What a great story. I am an Alaskan expat and a UAF grad. I listen to the World nearly every day and am happy to have heard this story. It is very interesting in the science community as well.
    Thanks for broadcasting it.

  • Stephen Dietz

    Great opportunity! Informative interview. It is a wonderful research project. Ideas for our survival 100 yrs. from now? Keep up the good work!