Asian update: Volcano and Typhoon

The big geological and meteorological stories today are in Asia. In Indonesia, an Alert Level IV has been issued for the Merapi volcano, which overlooks the Yogyakarta region of Java. Evacuations are underway to move the population that might be threatened by any pyroclastic flows. The sides of the volcano are exceptionally steep, and as the lava dome builds, very hot chunks break off and flow down the mountain. As the rock particles and gases mix, they form a very dense and hot flow that incinerates anything in its path. Even without a large eruption, you do not want to be in the valley below the mountain when one of these collapses occurs.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Chanchu has crossed the Philippines, and is making a beeline for Hong Kong. It should arrive there in about 4 days, and is expected to be anywhere from Category 3 to Category 5 when it does.

Back to Indonesia, aftershocks of the Great Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake are still continuing nearly 18 months later. Yesterday's magnitude 5.6 aftershock was felt at Banda Aceh, but caused no damage.