[Geysers] GIANT 22 October 2006

[jacross]

Giant erupted 22 October at 1544.  Total duration was 98 minutes.  Mastiff and 
Catfish did not erupt with Giant.  The first surges from Giant were estimated 
to be around 200 feet high.  The hot period preceding the eruption started 
very weakly, but suddenly became intense 3 minutes in, as if someone had 
thrown gasoline onto a campfire.  This has happened before all of the 3 
Giant-initiated eruptions I have seen this fall--weak start and sudden 
intensification followed by the eruption.

Hot periods preceding the eruption:

0740 Lethargic marathon recovery, D = 4 minutes
0929 Decent hot period, D = 7 minutes
1037 D = 3 minutes
Grotto Fountain 1046
Grotto 1101, D < 10 minutes
1211 D = 2 minutes
1342 D < 2 minutes (from Karen Low)
1427 D = 3 minutes (from Karen Low)
Mastiff had very nice bursting, and Giant had excellent surging following this 
hot period.
Grotto Fountain 1503
Grotto 1507, quit when Giant started
1534 Hot period, Feather and SW vents weak
1537 Sudden surge in activity, Rust, Feather Satellite start and Mastiff has a 
huge surge with heavy runoff.
1540 Bijou starts *before* Mastiff drops
1542 Mastiff drops
1544 Giant

Jeff Cross
jacross at lamar.colostate.edu