Mt. St. Helens Rockfall Plumes Draw Notice

AP via WFMY ^ | 11/22/2005

[ncountylee]

Vancouver, WA -- "It's a nice sunny day and we're having the first couple of rockfalls that we've had in a while that are putting little dust plumes over the crater rim," said U.S. Geological Survey geologist Seth Moran at the agency's Cascade Volcano Observatory here, about 50 miles south of the mountain that erupted to deadly effect in May 1980.

Seismic activity has continued at low levels, Moran said.

The white plume floating above the peak was raising concerns locally.

"When rockfalls go down they kick up a dust plume and people can see it, especially from Portland," Moran said.

Overcast weather had hidden the mountain for weeks.

"Any time you go through a pause" during which the mountain is not visible, people notice activity more when the peak comes back into view, Moran said.

Mount St. Helens rumbled back to life in September 2004 after years of quiet. In October a flow of molten rock reached the surface, marking a renewal of domebuilding activity that had stoppped in 1986.

The 1980 eruption killed 57 people, flattens forests and sent a river of hot mud and ash down the Toutle River Valley.

USGS and the University of Washington continue to monitor the mountain.

Scientists say a more explosive eruption, possibly dropping ash within a 10-mile radius of the crater, is possible at any time.

[HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath]

I thought the environmentalist had this pollution spewing monster under control.

[LasVegasMac]

first couple of rockfalls that we've had in a while that are putting little dust plumes over the crater rim

Has the EPA filed a law suit?

LVM

[Strategerist]

I think the volcano-pollution jokes stopped being funny about...wait, they never were funny.

[festus]

Nope. Aren't you on the fax list ? Only man made pollution causes bad things to happen in the environment. Even if its dwarfed by natural pollution. /sarc

[sageb1]

In 1980 we lived in Minneapolis. My husband had to drive to Montana or North Dakota. He came back with ash covering his car.

As a sidenote, around the same time I remember being under a tornado watch and singing "She Has Betty Davis Eyes" with my then 3-yr. old son.

[pookie18]