Eruptions

Mount Saint Helens in review

Posted by Erik Klemetti on April 3, 2009
(22)
More »


Image courtesy of USGS/CVO, taken March 8, 2005 from the Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, WA

For those of you looking for something to relax with and read this weekend, you could wander over to the USGS website and download yourself a copy (for free and legally) of “A Volcano Rekindled: the Renewed Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006″ (USGS Professional Paper 1750). The report comes in at a mere 872 pages (that’s 697 MB download for the whole report), but you can download the pieces that interest you most as well instead of the whole shebang.

Now, I haven’t read the whole thing, but I have had a chance to read preprints of some of the chapters (in particular Chapters 28, 31, 32 and 36) and while it is a technical paper, it does have a lot of information on the mechanisms of the eruption and our current knowledge of the magmatic system that drives St. Helens. The volcano is now considered to be back asleep, but this dome building episode will likely repeat many times in the future as the edifice rebuilds from 1980.

I’m excited that they finally got the paper out – nice job to the editors: David Sherrod, William Scott and Peter Stauffer. The volume itself was a collaboration between the USGS geologist at CVO and a multitude of geoscientists around the country and the world. Who knew that such a minor eruption of a Cascade volcano could produce so much fascinating research. Just imagine the number of volumes produced if Rainier erupts!

Keywords:
(22)
More »

Comments

  1. #1 EricJuve
    April 3, 2009

    I’m not a vulcanologist, but isn’t it “when Mt Rainier erupts”?

  2. #2 Erik Klemetti
    April 3, 2009

    Good point, Eric. It isn’t really a question of if Rainier will erupt again, just if it will be next week or next century.

  3. #3 Lance
    April 3, 2009

    Thanks Erik for posting. I have also read pre-released portions of the professional paper (whenever it was posted on the CVO FTP site) and I am glad to see the final version had been released.

    I do disagree with you about Rainier. Rainier is a danger only because it hosts the largest glacier system in North America and remember the largest lahars generated from Rainier was not associated to volcanic acitivity. Although I must say, much of the western face of Rainier – I understand – has been chemically altered, making the danger of a catastrophic landslide similar to MSH in 1980, possible.

    Right now, my money is on Baker, South Sisters and Shasta for the next Cascade Volcano to erupt. And don’t rule out Glacier Peak, which has been known to pack a pretty powerful punch.

  4. #4 David Williams
    April 3, 2009

    Erik,
    MSH is a very impressive mountain. If you have the chance, I highly recommend hiking to the summit. The view down into the crater is amazing, as are the views toward Adams and Rainier. In regard to Rainier, I am pretty sure the biggest lahar, the Osceola, was triggered by a massive eruption 5,600 years ago. That eruption blew off the top 1,000 feet or so of the mountain. Another smaller flow, the Electron, does not appear to be eruption related. It ran about 500-600 years ago.
    David

  5. #5 gg
    April 4, 2009

    Today, an explosive eruption at Redoubt, just after status was downgraded to orange. MSH here we come?

  6. #6 gg
    April 4, 2009

    Interesting to note that the “worst case scenario” of a directed blast at Redoubt, similar to MSH, shows the Drift River Terminal just outside the blast zone. This is from a 1998 hazard assessment report by the AVO.

  7. #7 quick recipes
    November 21, 2010

    Love another’s lover if you would hate open hearts … Confucius

  8. #8 VeronicaCG69
    November 22, 2010

    My x-boyfriend thinks your blog is lame.I think he’s wrong.;)

  9. #9 Madie Stitzer
    December 7, 2010

    I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly love reading all that is written on your blog.Keep the posts coming. I enjoyed it

  10. #10 herbal ecstasy usa
    December 25, 2010

    If you lappen to do definitely not mind, I’ll use some data from your articles, Let me definitely you’ll would like to post the financial lending. This post contains an abundance of precious data. I appreciated the specialist approach to writing this post. Many thanks, you can have made it quite simple for me to recognize.

  11. #11 Zachary Chervin
    December 27, 2010

    Good stuff, grant. I’ve heard some similar stories of people having their blogs yanked down after they had invested a lot of time into creating content for them. This is great information for someone who is thinking about getting started with their own blog.

  12. #12 dimagrire subito
    January 29, 2011

    Sorry, man, but I don’t think so!

  13. #13 Mariah Dollen
    January 31, 2011

    I do not even know how I finished up here, however I thought this submit used to be great. I don’t understand who you might be but definitely you are going to a well-known blogger in case you are not already ;) Cheers!

  14. #14 oroscopo
    February 11, 2011

    When are you going to update your blog, man? I’m anxious to read your next post!

  15. #15 calcolo mutuo
    February 17, 2011

    I decided to post just to say SHUT THE HELL UP, kiddo. You should be ashamed of using such a dirty language.

  16. #16 sviluppo italia intimo elexia
    February 17, 2011

    I don’t think this post is consistent with its title, it seems you’ve gone down to a different route.

  17. #17 codice fiscale inverso
    February 20, 2011

    Sorry, man, but I don’t think so!

  18. #18 MediaWorld
    April 16, 2011

    Nel 1979, a Monaco di Baviera, apre il primo punto vendita MEDIAMARKT. Ed è subito successo. Il suo concept innovativo si espande rapidamente in tutta Europa e nel 1991 arriva anche in Italia con il nome di Media World. Negli anni, coerentemente all’evoluzione dell’azienda, anche il sito si è sviluppato, ampliandosi e crescendo molto. Il punto vendita virtuale diventa in poco tempo il primo sito di elettronica di consumo sia per numero di accessi/anno sia per fatturato. Lo start up di un modello di business unico: “la tecnologia alla portata di tutti”. Il tutto in un’ottica multicanale. “Retailer of the Year” è un concorso, organizzato da Q&A Research & Consultancy, che si tiene ogni anno per valutare la miglior catena di distribuzione in Italia, una per ogni categoria di prodotto (elettronica, telefonia, ecc). Il giudizio è stato espresso dagli oltre 175.000 consumatori che hanno partecipato alla terza edizione italiana del premio. La mission di Media World è di rendere disponibile e accessibile la tecnologia più innovativa al più vasto numero di consumatori. Per questo da noi trovi sempre promozioni speciali e offerte a prezzi unici. Puoi toccare, provare, fare confronti e ottenere risposte complete ed esaurienti. Abiti lontano dai nostri store o preferisci acquistare da casa? Con Media World puoi farlo per telefono con il Remote Shopping e via Web con “Media World Compra on-line”.

  19. #19 Bradford Capelo
    June 30, 2011

    I dont know about Hillary and Onumnut, Onumnut has too many idoit rinos, like Anal Colin Powell, and several finacial advisors, who endorsed Onumnut, that are black smucks who will vote for him again, since he is a Kenyan muslim socialist. Plus I think the muslim will ditch FOOT IN HIS MOUTH Biden, and go with the dyke Hillary. Both are Chicagoians and will make and cut deals to keep going, no matter how stenchy it is. With unemployment climbing another 12,000, especially in the summer months when every able bodied person should be able to get a job on construction, it doesnt bode well as the year progresses. The muslim and democrats stimulas program with hope and change, just will not work. If the dems keep following the marxist and communist plan, there might not be an election, excetive orders again will be in effect.

  20. #20 filtration paper
    November 4, 2011

    Hoi meneer Klaas, Diederik hier. Zou u zo vriendelijk willen zijn mijn anus met een spons schoon te maken svp? Ik zou u erg dankbaar zijn. Mvg, Diederik

  21. #21 ugg boots for sale
    November 14, 2011

    What i do not understood is actually how you are no longer actually a lot more well-preferred than you may be right now. You’re very intelligent. You understand therefore significantly in the case of this matter, made me in my opinion imagine it from so many various angles. Its like women and men are not fascinated unless it’s something to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. Always maintain it up!

  22. #22 runescape wiki runescape wiki
    December 1, 2011

    runescape high alchemy items high alchemy runescape skills calculator runescape tips best item to high alch money guide runescape runescape melee gear good items to high alch max ranged hit calc max hit calc runescape high alch prices best runescape melee armor runescape hit calculator sell runescape account runescape range leveling guide runescape melee guide runescape gold buy runescape items runescape melee weapons selling runescape items play runescape online runescape experience shooting star runescape clan chat runescape runescape