Scientists find growing land bulge in Oregon

Reuters ^ | 9-9-05 | Teresa Carson

[george76]

A large, slow-growing volcanic bulge in Eastern Oregon is attracting the attention of seismologists who say that the rising ground could be the beginnings of a volcano or simply magma shifting underground.

Scientists said that the 100 square-mile bulge, first discovered by satellite, poses no immediate threat to nearby residents.

Michael Lisowski, geophysicist at the United States Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington.

The bulge is rising at a rate of about 1.4 inches per year, according to a report issued by the U.S. Geological Survey.

25 miles west of Bend, Oregon.

Lisowski said the unnamed bulge was created because of a big cavity, estimated to be about 4.5 miles below the surface, that is filling with fluid.

The fluid is likely magma, but could also be water. It was described in the report as a lake 1 mile across and 65 feet deep.

South Sister is one of three volcanic peaks called The Three Sisters, which are part of the Cascade mountain range. The range includes four of the 18 most active volcanoes in the United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

[DeSoto]

What's the big deal? Just another Oregonian getting ready to spew hot air and gas while making and ash of herself. Sounds pretty normal if you ask me.

8^)

[P.O.E.]

Maybe the sisters were just jealous of the Grand Tetons and decided to um, "augment"?

[writer33]

It's all over. Bring in the bulldozers and turn Oregon into a parking lot.

:)

[diamond6]

Lets hope there are no more bulges!

[DoughtyOne]

May be somethings... May be nothing...

It's hard to tell what the significance of this is with the lack of historical data.

I used to crack up with all the talk of El Nino this and El Nina that. I should rephrase, I finally got sick and tired of everything attributed to this phenomenon. Heck, we're new to the data gathering game.

[Unam Sanctam]

One can just hear the Dem envirowhackos licking their chops, "Let's see, maybe there'll be another natural disaster. Now how can we blame Bush for this one..."

[Abcdefg]

I had a growing bulge in my britches, but it didn't amount to much. ;^(

[fso301]

I always think of the earth as being like a balloon. Press on it one place and it bulges elsewhere. It stands to reason that following the Indonesian earthquake, something had to give somewhere.

[Holly_P]

Now how can we blame Bush for this one..."

Global warming - everybody knows when things get hot, they expand.

[hophead]

Just a mile east of this "buldge" Pfizer Corp has a recycling factory. Now we know what they are dumping!

[WVNan]

Oil? Wouldn't you just love it if major oil was found in Oregon?

[RTINSC]

You mean the earth is round? I thought it was flat.

[geopyg]

----"Looks like a zipper with a lot of teeth missing. Each tooth that is missing is a volcano. I know there is hot water coming out of the top of Mt. Shasta."----

Bulge? Zipper? Are you SURE it's hot water?

[Holly_P]

Oil? Wouldn't you just love it if major oil was found in Oregon?

And the envirowhacos didn't protest drilling for it?

[Domestic Church]

FYI Ping.

[SteveMcKing]

"Lisowski said the unnamed bulge was created because of a big cavity, estimated to be about 4.5 miles below the surface, that is filling with fluid."

We are able to drill to over 7 miles (well... the Russians do it).

What are we waiting for? Find out what's down there!

[PAR35]

Who would build a state where a natural disaster will occur. We shouldn't use any taxpayer money to rebuild when it is destroyed. The economy will never recover. We will have to abandon our cars. Gasoline will go to $10 a gallon.

(Just trying to sound like a yankee talking about New Orleans).

[DeeOhGee]

Call FEMA! Evacuate the Ducks! and the Beavers! Hurry!