Posted on 05/06/2016 11:09:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Beginning March 14, 2016, a number of small magnitude earthquakes have occurred beneath Mount St. Helens, at a depth between 2 and 7 km (1.2 to 4 miles). Over the last 8 weeks, there have been over 130 earthquakes formally located by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and many more earthquakes too small to be located. The earthquakes have low magnitudes of 0.5 or less; the largest a magnitude 1.3. Earthquake rates have been steadily increasing since March, reaching nearly 40 located earthquakes per week. These earthquakes are too small to be felt at the surface.
The earthquakes are volcano-tectonic in nature, indicative of a slip on a small fault. Such events are commonly seen in active hydrothermal and magmatic systems. The magma chamber is likely imparting its own stresses on the crust around and above it, as the system slowly recharges. The stress drives fluids through cracks, producing the small quakes. The current pattern of seismicity is similar to swarms seen at Mount St. Helens in 2013 and 2014; recharge swarms in the 1990s had much higher earthquake rates and energy release.
No anomalous gases, increases in ground inflation or shallow seismicity have been detected with this swarm, and there are no signs of an imminent eruption. As was observed at Mount St. Helens between 1987-2004, recharge can continue for many years beneath a volcano without an eruption. For more information, see the Activity Updates for Volcanoes in CVO Area of Responsibility and Earthquake Monitoring at Mount St. Helens.
I lived in San Diego, CA the last time she blew. Had her ash all over my car from THAT far away!
Yikes!
Quick! Somebody call Pierce Brosnan!
Was the mountain named for a saint Helen? Or multiple saint Helens? And if so, did she have an explosive personality?
They feel The Donald’s presence.
San Andreas fault ‘locked, loaded and ready to roll’ with big earthquake, expert says
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-andreas-fault-earthquake-20160504-story.html
Especially since he will be holding 2 rallies here in the state on Saturday...
Great gif!
I live 45 miles from Mt. St. Helens. I spend a lot of time in the National Forest that surrounds it.
I think I met her once. Her name wasn’t Helen.
I trust a lot of trees have grown back and the area looks pretty normal now (other than the fact that the top part of the mountain is missing).
Named by Capt. George Vancouver after Alleyne Fitzherbert, the Baron St. Helens, British Ambassador to Spain.
Nothing in the wikipedia article except a reference to "consummate prudence and his quiet, polished manners" and numerous British titles. Of which, the titles "member of the privy counsel", "Senior Privy Counselor", and "a lord of the bedchamber", leave me fearing to dig any further.
I live on the East side of the Cascades and finally got to go see it about a year ago. You still see all the fallen trees that look like match sticks. There is a lot of vegetation and flowers but not many big trees.
Here is a link that shows lots of pictures of what it looks like today
This is what it looked like as it came over where I live.
Sounds like a ‘sneaker’ is in the works..
Or is it just part of the Ring of Fire and the gradual process of the Earth getting facelifts and popping zits the old fashioned way?
Wow, that is SCARY.
It has to be caused by all the fracking going on up there!
Interesting. This / these swarms sure fit the pattern. There is no reason I can think of that the magma chamber will not “recharge” as long as these signs continue. I’ll keep my eyes turned to the north.
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