Alaska Satellite Facility's Open House to celebrate 20 years of service
The Geophysical Institute’s Alaska Satellite Facility will celebrate 20 years since the first downlink of images from an earth-observing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite by hosting an Open House. The public is invited to tour facilities used for the acquisition, storage, processing and distribution of data acquired from polar-orbiting satellites, and to learn why satellite-borne earth observation is critical for monitoring change.
GI demonstration at Tanana Valley State Fair
Tuesday, August 9 is UAF Day at the Tanana Valley State Fair! This year, several units from the Geophysical Institute will participate with demonstrations in Totem Square from noon until 6 p.m. Staff from the Alaska Satellite Facility, Poker Flat Research Range and the Alaska Volcano Observatory will be available to talk about remote sensing and ASF’s 20th anniversary, display some new unmanned aircraft, as well as volcanic ash modeling. Stop by the GI’s tent to witness some of the exciting research done by our very own faculty, staff and students.
The Science for Alaska Lecture Series: A winter tradition
For Immediate Release
For more than a decade, the Science for Alaska Lecture Series has provided Anchorage residents the latest findings in scientific research relevant to all Alaskans. Traditionally, the lectures are offered during January and February, and serve as an educational and entertaining option for all ages on cold winter nights.
PDF DownloadThe year of the Alaska volcano
For Immediate Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska—Three Alaska volcanoes erupted in midsummer 2008. Cleveland, Okmok and Kasatochi volcanoes, all located in Alaska’s Aleutian Chain, made for a hectic 20th anniversary for the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Satellite images spot Augustine Volcano's steam plume
For Immediate Release
A MODIS satellite image, captured by the Geographic Information Network of Alaska, confirms pilots' sightings of a steam plume emerging from Augustine Volcano. The plume appears to be primarily steam, but reports of a sulfurous smell have been reported by surrounding communities to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The plume extends an estimated 50 miles from the volcano.
Okmok erupts near Unalaska
FAIRBANKS, Alaska—Okmok Volcano in the Aleutian Islands began erupting at 11:43 a.m. Saturday, just five hours after seismologists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory began detecting earthquakes. Okmok is located on Umnak Island near Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands.
The initial ash cloud reached heights of approximately 45,000 feet. As of Monday afternoon, an ash cloud was drifting southeast of the 3,520 foot volcano at heights of 30,000 feet and posed a risk to aircraft. Two plane flights from Unalaska were cancelled due to the eruption.
Kamchatka volcano blows its top
Students learn from largest eruption in North Pacific
For Immediate Release
Mount Wrangell rumbles after Sumatra earthquake
For Immediate Release
South-central Alaska's Mount Wrangell rumbled for 11 minutes following the Sumatra earthquake in December 2004. A swarm of 14 earthquakes were triggered at Mount Wrangell about one hour after the initial rupture in Indonesia, more than 6,800 miles away.
Volcano detectives
For Immediate Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska—When an Alaska volcano erupts, it doesn’t just affect the immediate surroundings; volcanic ash may swirl through the atmosphere and travel throughout the North Pacific region. The ash can impact residents’ health and divert air traffic flying in and around the state. To date, scientists can’t predict volcanic eruptions, but they can forecast how volcanic ash will behave once it’s in the atmosphere.
