Posted on 09/30/2004 7:53:41 AM PDT by Michael Goldsberry
SEATTLE - The flurry of earthquakes at Mount St. Helens intensified further Thursday, and scientists warn that a small or moderate blast could spew ash and rock as far as three miles from the crater in the next few days.
The volcano began rumbling last week, and by Wednesday earthquakes ranging from magnitude 2 to 2.8 were coming about four times a minute, possibly weakening the lava dome in the crater of the 8,364-foot mountain, the U.S. Geological Survey (news - web sites) said.
The quakes continued to strengthen early Thursday with several exceeding magnitude 3, according to the Web site of the Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network.
Still, scientists did not expect anything like the mountain's devastating eruption in 1980, which killed 57 people and coated towns 250 miles away with ash.
Few people live near the mountain, which is in a national forest about 100 miles south of Seattle. The closest structure is the Johnston Ridge Observatory, about five miles from the crater.
The heightened alert has drawn a throng of sightseers to observation areas. Dawn Smith, co-owner of Eco Park Resort west of the mountain, told The News Tribune of Tacoma, "It's just been crazy the past couple of days."
A sign in front of the business reads, "Here we go again."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
It was named by British explorer George Vancouver to honor his friend, Alleyne Fitzherbert, the British Ambassador to Spain. The title of Fitzherbert was Baron St. Helens.
It's a better name than Mount Fitzherbert, I guess.
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/description_msh.html
Mount St. Helens was named for British diplomat Alleyne Fitzherbert (1753-1839), whose title was Baron St. Helens. The mountain was named by Commander George Vancouver and the officers of H.M.S.Discovery while they were surveying the northern Pacific coast from 1792 to 1794.
I'l go out on a limb and predict a Mount Helen Thomas eruption before November 2.
LAVA
flows out of her huge hideous orifi
whenever any open--especially the gaping one just under her nose.
The picture of Mt. St. Helens, as of 9:59:01 PT showed an enormous BUG on it!
Save us all! Eruptions of Huge Insects are coming!!!!
While I agree that volcanoes seem to attract "gawkers," it is also true that people have "hurricane parties" when there is an approaching hurricane. Others of the unlucky ones who refuse to leave usually die.
COOL! I've been wondering for years about the name, "St. Helens." Leave it to the Freepers to come up with the answer. Thank you.
Thank you, also, for the information on the name of Mt. St. Helens. It's amazing how much knowledge Freepers have. CBS should have as many talented researchers. (In their pajamas.)
Sooooooo? Who's starting the pool? I've got Thursday night (tonight) at 9:15pm eastern. Heh, heh, heh...
St. Helens was named after some British dude...
Wasn't Mount Adams named after our 2nd President? I thought some guy tried to make it a "Presidential Range" but didn't succeed, except for Mount Adams?
It's my understanding that Mount Adams was named by Vancouver for another famous lord. The only volcano he didn't name was Glacier Peak, which is too far into the Cascades to be seen from Puget Sound. The sound, by the way, was named for Peter Puget, who was one of Vancouver's officers.
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/Historical/volcano_names.html
I remember about Peter Puget - just like Vancouver named Whidbey Island after Master Joseph Whidbey. ;0)
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