Volcanoes

One of the primary reasons I'm amped about the upcoming Great Winter is volcanoes. There were three decent eruptions in the Aleutians this summer. Okmok on July 12, Cleveland on July 21 and Kasatochi on August 7. The picture shows the SO2 cloud from Kasatochi a few days after the eruption. Gas and ash from these three events was injected into the high stratosphere and are now circling the Arctic latitudes. Ironically, this activity took place very near the 125th Anniversary of the Grand Daddy Explosion of Krakatoa in 1883. Here's a great tidbit from that epic event.

"But the most extraordinary tale, apparently confirmed by the official report into the tragedy, involved a German quarry manager who told how he was swept off the roof of his three-storey office, only to be saved by a passing crocodile. As he cascaded through the jungle propelled by the giant wave, he spotted the croc beside him and leapt on its back. Safely aboard, he dug his thumbs into the creature's eye sockets and was carried along for the next few miles until he was dumped on the jungle floor."

Click here for some awesome webcame views of Alaskan volcanoes. THANKS, Rico!