There’s a volcano in Alaska - Mount Spurr - so massive that ordinary volcanoes seem tiny in comparison. Scientists have discovered that this monster is waking up, and the warning signs are becoming impossible to ignore. If it erupts, we’re not just talking about local damage — we’re talking about an event powerful enough to affect the entire planet. This isn’t a scene from a movie; it’s real science, unfolding right now. The alarms are sounding, and the world needs to pay attention. Join us as we dive into what could be one of the most important discoveries of our time. Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
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00:00Over the past year, the Alaska Volcano Observatory has picked up more than 3,500 earthquakes
00:06and smaller tremors around Mount Spur, a giant volcano covered in ice.
00:12On top of that, satellite images show that the ground is actually shifting, and when
00:17they fly over, they're spotting more and more of those nasty gases coming out, the
00:22kind that can cause acid rain and annoy birds.
00:26At least for a few days.
00:29Others say it's not really about if the volcano is going to blow, but when.
00:34No one can say exactly when it'll happen, but people in Anchorage are watching closely.
00:41But what really happens when an icy volcano loses its cool with a major city just 80 miles
00:47away?
00:49Mount Spur is part of the Aleutian Arc, a volcanic chain stretching roughly 1,200 miles across
00:55southwestern Alaska.
00:57This region is part of the notorious Pacific Ring of Fire, known for its volcanoes and
01:03intimidating earthquakes.
01:05In fact, 90% of yearly earthquakes happen along this ring.
01:10Regardless, people are eager to visit these places.
01:14Volcano tourism is a real thing.
01:16It's controlled and safe, as long as you're careful when opening a canned soda you brought
01:21there.
01:22What sets Mount Spur apart from other volcanoes in the region is that it's one of the few
01:27large stratovolcanoes covered in thick ice and permafrost.
01:33This icy layer can lead to fierce eruptions that create steam and volcanic mudflows.
01:39It also has two major vents, the main summit, which hasn't erupted in over 5,000 years, and Crater
01:46Peak, the one that came to life in the 20th century, once in 1953 and three times in 1992.
01:57A stratovolcano is made up of many layers of hardened lava, ash, and rock from past eruptions.
02:04It can also erupt explosively because its thick magma traps gases, building up pressure that
02:10eventually leads to a sudden, dramatic explosion.
02:15It's like a tightly sealed pressure cooker left on a stove where steam accumulates inside
02:20until the lid blows off.
02:22Mount Spur's magma traps gases until the pressure becomes too much.
02:27It leads to explosive outbursts instead of just oozing liquid rock.
02:32However, this kind of eruption can be more dangerous because its effects like ash, clouds, and gas
02:38can spread much farther than just around the volcano itself.
02:44When Crater Peak violently exploded in 1953, it sent a huge ash cloud soaring more than six
02:52miles into the sky, affecting anchorage and nearby areas.
02:57Near the crater, hot material mixed with snow, ice, and heavy rain created fast-moving mudflows
03:04known as lahars.
03:06These lahars surged down the volcano's slopes, flooding nearby valleys and clogging a local river
03:12with debris.
03:14This rerouted the river and affected the local ecosystem.
03:20Once you pop a pressurized fizzy drink bottle, you can cork it again without worrying it'll
03:25blow like the first time and ruining your ceiling.
03:28Even if you poured all the drink back in, it wouldn't make a difference.
03:32No matter how much you shake it, you can never generate the same amount of pressure.
03:38However, volcanoes don't work like that.
03:41Not all the magma escapes and the underground plumbing system constantly shifts.
03:47New, hotter materials mix with what's left trapped, causing violent reactions.
03:53It's like throwing hot water on hot oil.
03:57Which might be the reason why four decades later, in June 1992, Mount Spurs Crater Peak erupted
04:03again.
04:04The blast was powerful and sudden.
04:07A massive plume of volcanic dust broke the previous record and went nearly nine miles into the sky,
04:14forcing aviation warnings and grounding flights.
04:18The ash cloud drifted far, raining volcanic ash more than 160 miles away from the eruption.
04:25The volcano expelled around 1.55 billion cubic feet of ash.
04:30That's enough to cover a large city or fill over 17,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
04:38In Anchorage, residents had to stay indoors or wear masks to avoid inhaling it.
04:43Fortunately, no one was injured, thanks to the remote location and early warnings from observatory scientists.
04:50That wasn't the end of it.
04:52Not until the subsequent eruptions in August and September.
04:56While disruptive, they were not as powerful as the previous two.
05:01But what about the current situation and potential risks?
05:05We're at a point where the ground near the volcano is shaking almost constantly.
05:10Toxic emissions are increasing daily, which means that the magma is moving.
05:16Satellites even spotted the ground bulging slightly, like something was pushing from underneath.
05:22All that's left is for nature to send one last warning, called a volcanic shutter.
05:28It's a prolonged rumbling earthquake that marks the final push of molten rock toward the surface.
05:34No one can predict the exact timing, but the ongoing activity has put scientists and monitoring systems on high alert.
05:41You know that the situation is critical when authorities are suggesting that tourists postpone their visits.
05:48While there's a small chance that the volcano might calm down, many in Anchorage are preparing for the worst case scenario.
05:56So, what is the worst case scenario?
06:00What happens next really depends on how much ash the volcano throws out.
06:05Based on the wind direction and strength, ash could blanket the town again, just like before.
06:12If the eruption happens during the day, the ash might block out the sun for hours, turning midday into a sudden twilight.
06:20It could be mildly annoying, making citizens grab shovels again.
06:24Or it could cause complete devastation, endangering the people in Anchorage and affecting the entire region.
06:32Here's why the so-called volcanic ash isn't like the soft ash you get from burning wood or paper.
06:40Breathing it in, by accident, isn't just unpleasant, it can be harmful, especially for those with asthma or other respiratory issues.
06:49It's made up of tiny sharp particles of rock and glass, similar to fiberglass, that can irritate lungs and airways.
06:57It can also destroy machinery and cars.
07:01According to the U.S. Geological Survey, very thick ash deposits, typically greater than 4 inches, can cause roof collapse.
07:11But these guidelines refer to volcanic ash in general.
07:14Glaciated volcanoes, like Mount Spur, can produce finer ash, and more of it, especially if magma interacts with ice or water.
07:23This is called phreatomagmatic activity, and it can make ash plumes even more explosive and widespread, leading to an even more dangerous situation.
07:34The good news is that for Anchorage to be affected so heavily, it would take strong winds blowing in in just the right direction to carry the ash plume over the city.
07:44But regardless of the weather, one thing is almost certain, the nearby airspace will feel the impact.
07:51Volcanic ash can bring down planes.
07:54It's abrasive and heat-resistant, but melts inside jet engines, causing them to clog or fail mid-flight.
08:01It can remain in the atmosphere anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
08:06Because Anchorage sits beneath major flight paths connecting North America and Asia, an eruption here could disrupt international flights crossing the Pacific.
08:16It would potentially cause delays or cancellations across continents.
08:20The city is also home to one of the world's busiest cargo airports, serving as a crucial link for supplies and goods flowing in and out of Alaska.
08:30A shutdown could trigger widespread shortages, which would affect everything from food and medical supplies to everyday essentials.
08:39While the entire world has been interested in Mount Spur these last couple of months, it isn't the only volcano showing signs of unrest.
08:47Across the globe, several others could start raining fire at any moment.
08:51Italy's Campi Flegri has been experiencing increased seismic activity near one of the most densely populated regions in Europe.
08:59The Yellowstone supervolcano, though quiet, has the potential for continent-wide devastation.
09:06In Mexico, Popocatepital frequently spits ash into the skies near cities.
09:12Meanwhile, Cumbre Vieja in the Canary Islands has raised concerns over potential mega tsunamis.
09:18And Mount St. Helens continues to show signs of reawakening.
09:23Each of these volcanoes could, under the right or wrong circumstances,
09:27send ripple effects across the world.
09:30Flights grounded, climate shifted, millions at risk.
09:34While Mount Spur is the volcano of the moment,
09:37it's part of a much larger, volatile network of fire beneath our feet.
09:44That's it for today.
09:45So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends.
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