Posted on 09/26/2004 7:59:57 PM PDT by BCrago66
U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington
University of Washington Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, Seattle, Washington
Seismic activity at Mount St. Helens has changed significantly during the past 24 hours and the changes make us believe that there is an increased likelihood of a hazardous event, which warrants release of this Notice of Volcanic Unrest. The swarm of very small, shallow earthquakes (less than Magnitude 1) that began on the morning of 23 September peaked about mid-day on 24 September and slowly declined through yesterday morning. However, since then the character of the swarm has changed to include more than ten larger earthquakes (Magnitude 2-2.8), the most in a 24-hr period since the eruption of October 1986. In addition, some of the earthquakes are of a type that suggests the involvement of pressurized fluids (water and steam) or perhaps magma. The events are still occurring at shallow depths (less than one mile) below the lava dome that formed in the crater between 1980 and 1986. The cause and outcome of the earthquake swarm are uncertain at this time. Several causes are possible, but most point toward an increased probability of explosions from the lava dome if the level of current unrest continues or escalates. During such explosions the dome and crater floor are at greatest risk from ballistic projectiles, but the rim of the crater and flanks of the volcano could also be at risk. Explosions would also be expected to produce ash clouds that drift downwind at altitudes up to several thousand feet above the crater rim. Landslides and debris flows from the crater that are large enough to reach the Pumice Plain are also possible. Such events occurred at Mount St. Helens between 1989 and 1991.
We continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates as warranted, whether activity escalates or returns to background levels.
Daily updates of earthquake data and other information can be found on the WORLD WIDE WEB at URL:
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Cascades/CurrentActivity/current_updates.html and http://www.pnsn.org/HELENS/welcome.html
Webicorder and spectrograph archives for this sequence - from the PNSN
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Mount St. Helens Swarm Activity
Special information statement of Sep 24, 2004 10am PDT U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington
University of Washington Dept. of Earth and Space Sciences, Seattle, Washington
Since about 2 am PDT on the morning of 09/23 an earthquake swarm has been occurring at MSH. Through 5 P.M. PDT about 200 small (less than magnitude 1) earthquakes have been located at Mount St. Helens and many smaller events have also been recorded through this morning. The earthquakes are occurring at shallow depths (less than 1 kilometer, or 1/2 mile) mostly under the lava dome that formed between 1980 and 1986. Such earthquakes are common at St. Helens, but a swarm with this many earthquakes has not been recorded for several years, most recently on November 3-4, 2001. The probability of small landslides and debris flows in the crater may be enhanced during these periods. Such events could affect areas several kilometers (miles) north of the crater on the Pumice Plain. The probability of small steam explosions that hurl rocks a few hundred meters (yards) may also be increased during periods with increased shallow earthquakes. The cause of such shallow swarms is uncertain, but may reflect increased ground water levels with the onset of autumn rain.
Prior to the 2001 swarm, the last period of increased earthquake activity at Mount St. Helens occurred in the spring and summer of 1998 when hundreds of earthquakes per month, most smaller than M=2, were detected at depths as great as 9 kilometers (6 miles). An intrusion of magma, or molten rock, deep under the volcano and resulting increased gas pressure in the conduit that leads to the lava dome likely caused this increase in earthquakes. The current swarm is different in that the events are typically much smaller and shallower. We see no evidence that an intrusion of magma similar to that of 1998 is underway. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional Updates as warranted.
Daily updates of earthquake data and other information can be found on the WEB at URL: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/CurrentActivity
Webicorder and spectrograph archives for this sequence - from the PNSN
The end times are upon us.
Here's the URL referened in the alert in linkable form:
http://www.pnsn.org/HELENS/welcome.html
Yet something else the enviro-wackos will blame on the President.
What are we waiting for - the Nov. 2nd elections?
"Very soon, I will bring you the story of how the Bush Administration, and possibly Karl Rove himself, have been trying to force the eruption of Mount St. Helens to distract Americans from the upcoming debates.
While we don't have any actual proof yet, our producers and research assistants are working hard to bring this story to you as soon as we can. I'm Dan Rather. Courage."
its all bushs fault.
see bush was drilling a evil oilwell on a fault line and started the earthquakes. then cheney called haliburtan to make the volcano erupt so as to get more gov contracts rebuilding wash state inferstructure.
its all a conspiricy by the man!!
And you point is..........?
OK you made your point. I did search the word "mount" but I evidently made some kind of mistake. Thanks for all the effort, but next time it would be easier to just say, "duplicate post."
ping to y'all
Reminds me of one blue-sky theory I heard years ago about man's destruction. The idea was that crude oil in the earth's crust allowed the tectonic plates to slide more freely against each other. By pumping all of the oil out, we lose this natural lubrication and increase the frequency and severity of earthquakes.
Stupid, I know, but there have been stupider ideas...
This could get interesting.
Who knows. Alaska's had some humdingers.
There goes our CO2 allowance for the year.
Well, time will tell. Will be interesting to see if the geometry of the lava dome changes significantly over the next few days. But it seems rather unusual that she'd be up to sing again this soon.
Could this have even the tiniest bit to do with the comet that's to pass nearby? The hurricanes too for that matter?
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