A handout photo from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)/ Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (ADDGGS) shows a gas plume rising from the Augustine Volcano in Alaska in January 2006. Alaska was on alert Friday as scientists warned that a volcano rumbling near the state’s largest city Anchorage was likely to erupt, officials said. © AFP

BEIJING, Feb. 1 — Alaska’s Mount Redoubt is picking up volcanic activity. The Alaska Volcano Observatory Sunday raised its threat level to orange, the stage just before an eruption.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory said in a statement Friday “volcanic tremor” has increased in “amplitude.” The observatory Thursday began seeing even higher levels of seismic activity and long periods of tremors, said Geophysicist John Power.

The activity on the 10,197-foot peak is “more energetic than that of the previous several days. However, it is still less vigorous than that observed last weekend,” the observatory said.

On Nov. 5, geologists noted changed emissions and minor melting near the Redoubt summit and raised the threat level from green to yellow.

The volcano is about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The jet stream can carry ash for hundreds of miles. Experienced Alaskans are busy shopping for protection against a dusty shower of volcanic ash that could descend on south-central Alaska. Hardware stores and auto parts shops scored a post-holiday run of business as Anchorage-area residents stocked up on protective eyewear and masks.

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/01/content_10744451.htm