Spying on Volcanoes from Space

Submitted by Lynda McGilvary
Phone: (907) 474-7558
02/26/03

The approximately 75 historically active volcanoes in Alaska and on the Kamchatka Penninsula, Russia, affect the lives of Alaskans in many ways, despite their distance from most of Alaska’s cities and towns.

Ken Dean, research associate professor at the UAF Geophysical Institute’s Alaska Volcano Observatory, will present a free lecture for people of all ages on these volcanoes at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 at the Chena River Convention Center in Fairbanks. Originally scheduled for February 11, the lecture was postponed due to hazardous driving conditions.

Dean’s multimedia presentation will include a description of how scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory use satellite imagery to detect hot spots caused by lava flows and fountains of fire, and track ash ejected high into the atmosphere that can drift into air traffic routes over Alaska.

The lecture is the last of six weekly presentations included in the 2003 Science for Alaska free public lecture series, coordinated by the UAF Geophysical Institute and sponsored by the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation and the University of Alaska.

For more information about the lectures, call the Geophysical Institute at (907) 474-7558 or visit the Science for Alaska free public lecture series website.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Supporting full-color satellite images of volcanoes and corresponding caption and citing instructions are available electronically at ftp://ftp.gi.alaska.edu/pub/media.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Additional biographical information about Ken Dean and a comprehensive schedule of the statewide series can be found on the Science for Alaska free public lecture series Web site.

CONTACT:
Ken Dean, Research Associate Professor, Alaska Volcano Observatory, UAF Geophysical Institute: (907) 474-7364

Lynda McGilvary, UAF Geophysical Institute Information Office: (907) 474-7558