Up one level Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands » Volcano fieldwork

Volcano fieldwork
The Alaska Volcano Observatory monitors numerous volcanoes in the Aleutians. This gallery shows installation of equipment to monitor volcanic deformation and earthquakes.

game The Aleutian volcanoes are very active. This makes them not only an ideal place for research, but also requires a monitoring system that warns of impending or ongoing eruptions.
kanaga The Alaska Volcano Observatory installs monitoring equipment on the flanks of the most active or dangerous volcanoes throughout the Aleutians.
fuel Because of the remoteness, logistics can be very challenging. Here, helicopter fuel is delivered by zodiac to a beach on Umnak Island.
pat Means of transportation include hiking, boats, ATVs...
fc05 ...and very often helicopters.
directing_heli Equipment is prepared at the base station...
slinging ...and slung to the installation site in the field.
shiprock A temporary GPS system is set up for high precision geodetic measurements.
redoubt The GPS antenna is set up over a benchmark and left in the field for a couple days, here at Redoubt volcano.
westdahl_gps After several campaigns, maps are created that show the measured deformation, in this case the inflation of Westdahl volcano.
chaingang To install monitoring equipment permanently requires some serious construction work by the chain gang.
bigdrill Holes are drilled to anchor the legs of a GPS monument.
grinder Cutting, grinding, welding is all done in the field.
concrete The hut that houses the electronics is anchored with concrete.
okce The porous rock at this site required some improvised construction techniques.
seismometer A seismometer is lowered into the ground.
okfg A site conatining a GPS and a broadband seismometer is complete. Behind the GPS antenna are the solar panels and the electronics hut.
solar An array of solar panels that charges batteries is the most common way to supply power for the stations. Some others use wind power.
geophysichicks The (in)famous
fisher Despite the difficulties due to remoteness and weather, the Aleutians are an incredibly beautiful working environment.

Album was updated 1/2/05 10:30 PM  |  ©2005 Doerte Mann. All rights reserved.