Posted on 10/28/2005 5:37:23 PM PDT by george76
Central Oregon, in an area covered by forest, is a growing bulge in the terrain that eager scientists say could be the beginnings of a volcano.
The bulge covers 100 square miles and is rising at a rate of 1.4 inches a year. The shape resembles a dome...
Geologists say the bulge represents a unique opportunity to study what could be a volcanic formation in its earliest stages...
The bulge, in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area -- named after three volcanic peaks -- was detected in March 2001 by a geologist using a new imaging technology called radar interferometry, which uses satellites to measure changes in Earth's surface.
Since the discovery, scientists have set up additional measuring equipment. Geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey have made annual surveying treks to the site, which is not accessible by car.
A report on the latest findings is expected this month.
Larry Chitwood, geologist for Deschutes National Forest, which includes the area, said the rise probably began in 1997 and has risen about a foot.
The cause of the rise is a matter of speculation.
Chitwood theorizes that a body of magma, or molten rock, could be gathering in a chamber several miles below the surface.
There is no way to know the shape of the mass, he said, but the size of the bulge indicates that it would be quite large, equivalent to a lake one mile across and 65 feet deep.
...magma could be rising at a rate of 10 feet a year.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.standard.net ...
Too bad it's not located in downtown Portland.
From the measurements of the rates of change it would appear we might well have extinguished ourselves before this volcano emerges.
Maybe they should put up an oil derrick and start drilling - help the process along so to speak.
At least they could then have cameras rolling to film it when it erupts.
Been up in that area near Bend, years ago. Beautiful area, but lots of volcanic stuff. They have some cool ice caves you can go down in. A mysterious river that bubbles up out of nowhere. Suppose geologicaly we are eons away from an eruption but am sure the vulcanologists are drooling over something like this.
What is considered an early stage here?
How long till it could shoot lava out, 10000 years, 1000 years or next week?
Any geologists here know whether this is likely to be a "traditional" volcano or could it represent the movement of a caldera volcano?
We visited a couple of active volcanoes when we lived in Japan in the 1950s. I still remember the smell of sulfur.
Eugene....could use a good steam cleaning too....
Amen to that, bro! Portland is crawling with those slimy creatures we call liberals! I'm so lonely! :)
Isn't there a story of a volcano in Mexico that popped up after only a few days, in a farmers field? In the 1950's??
snicker....
you made my day!
The mountains in the Cascade range are Mt Hood/Mt Rainier, St Helen's type "classic" volcanoes. Even those that blew their top - like the volcano that became Crater Lake - are believed to be classic sharp piles of ash.
Different kind of lava than in Hawaii.
Very cool.
20's I think.
It's a sad day for America indeed.
Paracutin.
"Is that a magma chamber in your lithosphere or are you just happy to see me?"
best post of the week
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