Ol Doinyo Lengai
2004 Centennial Expedition
This was a special year on Lengai! One hundred years after
the
first brief scientific observations by Prof. Fritz Jaeger in 1904, the
eight members of the 2004 expedition experienced some extraordinary
activity during their week at the crater, and I remained there another
23 nights to gather data that will be used in an attempt to
determine if the timing of eruptions is influenced by
the lunar cycle or by changes in barometric
pressure.
The expedition began rather badly with two days of terrible weather and
very little activity, followed by a very dangerous situation at T56B
which could have easily led to loss of life. After that the weather
improved and the activity followed suit, with beautiful eruptions from
T58B and T49G. On 4 July there was so much interesting activity that
people had trouble deciding which eruption to watch. After the first
week the expedition members left but I remained at the crater alone to
collect additional data. On 15 July I had the privilege of seeing an
amazing paroxysm that was a bit frightening in its strength. A
newly opened vent, T58C, ejected gas, ash and lava high into the air
and sent several raging rivers of lava through the eastern half of the
crater. I unofficially named the vent "Charging Rhino". On the
last two nights a leopard visited the camp.
Members of the 2004 expedition were Ge Beijers, Thorsten
Bockel, Jeff Brown, Fabian Cruchon,
Olivier
Gruenwald, Patrick Koster, Martin Rietze, and
Richard Roscoe. Details are provided at the following links:
2004
expedition
slide show
2004
expedition videos
Summary of
activity for 29 June - 29 July, 2004
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