DailyTech recently reported on fears of a Yellowstone supervolcano.  While Yellowstone's ongoing geological activity is certainly worrisome, it pales in comparison to the long history of activity in Alaska, arguably North America's most seismically active site.

Alaska was already home to many active or recently active volcanoes, including Mount Veniaminof, Mount Gilbert, Mount Griggs and many more.  There are so many volcanoes that Alaska has considered using heat energy from smoldering volcanoes as an alternative energy power source.

However, the downside of having so many volcanoes is the potential for a major eruption.  Now a major volcano, Mount Redoubt, located a mere 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, the state's most populous city, appears on the verge of a major eruption.

In recent days, the Alaska Volcano Observatory has observed  a sharp increase in the Volcano's seismic activity, an important warning indicator that precedes most major eruptions.  Peter Cervelli describes, "The level of seismic activity increased markedly.  We don't have a crystal ball.  (But) we expect based on the past behavior of this volcano that this activity is going to culminate in an eruption."

The mountain is a relatively tall 10,197-foot peak.  Continuous volcanic tremors coupled with smaller quakes convinced the Observatory to raise the warning level this week.  The volcano last erupted in December 1989, and continued until April 1990.  Scientists say they expect an eruption "similar to or smaller than the one that occurred in 1989-90."

An eruption could spell trouble for Anchorage, whose airport is one of the busiest in the state.  According to Mr. Cervelli, volcanic ash can cause engine failure on jets.  He describes, "It's not the closest volcano to Anchorage.  (But) it has the potential to disrupt air traffic at Anchorage."

An eruption could trigger the release of toxic volcanic mudflows, or lahars, down the Drift River as the 1989/1990 one did.  It could also drop ash across much of Alaska.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is aggressively monitoring the state of the beast with gas sensors and webcams.  They will continue to provide the public with updates of the potential eruption's progress.