Volcanoes Heard 'Round The World

Alaska was on high alert Friday as a volcano called Redoubt rumbled near the state's largest city, Anchorage. Dave Schneider, a volcanologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, told AFP that the recent activity signaled an eruption much like the last significant blast in 1990.
"For around 18 hours or so we've had some pretty extensive periods of volcanic tremor. The volcanoes been shaking constantly and that's what we'd expect to occur before an eruption actually happens," Schneider states.
An erupting volcano can release plumes of ash several kilometers into the atmosphere but its the wind that decides which way the ash cloud travels.
"Like most eruptions in Alaska, the greatest hazard is from the airborne volcanic ash, which is tiny bits of broken rock and glass that comes from the volcano."
That volcanic ash erupted from Mount Asama and rained down on Japan's capital, Tokyo last week. The chunks of rock, smoke and powdery ash was not big enough to disrupt daily life near the volcano, though people in Tokyo woke to find their cars and homes completely covered in ash.
Mount Asama has been active for thousands of years with the last major eruption in September 2004.

"We don't think there will be any stronger eruptions, but we don't see the activity stopping anytime soon, either," agency official Kazuya Kokubo said.
Jump HERE to read more about the Mount Asama and watch the eruption.