SOUFRIERE HILLS 99-257 WEST INDIES 16.7N 62.2W

BACKGROUND: SOUFRIERE HILLS MONTSERRAT (1600-05)
SUMMIT HEIGHT 3000 FT (915 M)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION: MONTSERRAT VOLCANO OBSERVATORY...GOES-8
VISIBLE INFRARED AND MULTISPECTRAL IMAGERY...12 UTC AVIATION MODEL
UPPER-AIR SOUNDING DATA.

ERUPTION DETAILS: INITIAL ERUPTION OCCURRED AT 09/2112

DETAILS OF ASH CLOUD: THE MONTSERRAT VOLCANO OBSERVATORY HAS
INDICATED AN EXPLOSION AT THE SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO. ASH IS
ESTIMATED TO BE REACHING FL200. HOWEVER THEY REPORTED THAT THE
ERUPTION IS STILL OCCURRING AND THAT THE ASH MAY GO TO A HIGHER
ALTITUDE. SATELLITE IMAGERY WILL SOON BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THE EXACT
NATURE OF THE ERUPTION.
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GUAGUA PICHINCHA 99-075 ECUADOR 0.17S 78.60W

BACKGROUND: GUAGUA PICHINCHA ECUADOR (1502-02)
SUMMIT HEIGHT 15695 FT (4784 M)

THE GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE IN ECUADOR CONTINUES TO MONITOR THE
INCREASED ACTIVITY OF THE GUAGUA PICHINCHA VOLCANO LOCATED NEAR THE
CAPITOL CITY OF QUITO. THE VOLCANO IS RESTLESS WITH A POTENTIAL
EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION POSSIBLE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE AREA AND IF THERE IS AN ASH CLOUD
OBSERVED OR REPORTED AT ANY ALTITUDE A VOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY
STATEMENT WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. REAL TIME
SATELLITE IMAGERY OF ECUADOR CAN BE ACCESSED VIA INTERNET AT:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/guag-img.html

This one has been doing this for weeks now! While the others have been letting off stream and venting ash, this one just remains INCREASED ACTIVITY. Volcanoes usually give one warning after another before blowing, but this one is sounding one long warning, as if it were stuck in gear.

Whatever, it's been mucial volcanoes down south of us for awhile now. Can't help but wonder what this is doing to our faults? Loosening them up is the only thing I can think and the feeling beneat my chair takes on more signifigance in the game of things.

Diane