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Americans wait as volcano boils
BBC News ^ | BBC News

Posted on 10/04/2004 12:39:15 PM PDT by anonymoussierra

Pressure continues to build inside Mount St Helens, one of the US's deadliest volcanoes, but fears of an imminent eruption are receding. Geologists detected tremors in the crater and higher levels of gases in the air at the weekend and issued a level three alert.

They have since discussed lowering the state of alert.

Steam which rose from St Helens on Friday stirred fears of an eruption like that of 1980 which killed 57.

The most recent eruption came in 1986.

On Sunday, a tremor began which lasted about 25 minutes but it was gentler than a shuddering recorded on Saturday, which continued for nearly an hour.

"Right now, we're thinking it's about a 70% chance that it will erupt and a 30% chance that it just might go back to sleep," US Geological Survey geologist Tom Pierson told NBC's Today show on Monday.

'Weeks, not days'

Geologists have predicted that if an explosion does occur it will be on a far smaller scale than 1980.

Mr Pierson said that pressure was still mounting within the volcano.

Geological Survey crews observed a shift in the crater floor and on part of the 1,000-foot (300-meter) lava dome, which keeps down magma.

"Cracks are opening up so we know something is pushing up close to the surface right now," said Mr Pierson.

Experts discussed lowering the alert on Sunday.

Peter Frenzen of the US Forest Service, which looks after the immediate area, remarked that the volcano "reserved the right to change its mind".

Bill Steele at the University of Washington's seismology lab in Seattle warned that the activity in St Helens could go on for weeks.

"No one is predicting it as a sure thing," he said.

Evacuation

The volcano's level of seismic activity has prompted officials to evacuate hundreds of visitors from the nearest visitor centre - the Johnston Ridge Observatory, five miles (8km) away.

On Sunday, crowds gathered along a park road about 8.5 miles (14 km) from the mountain to wait and watch.

People lit barbecues and entrepreneurs sold hot dogs and coffee.

One viewer this weekend described the power exercised by the phenomenon.

"I just stare at it and stare at it - it's too awesome to leave," said Barbara Jardin, 53, of Camas.

On Friday, the volcano spewed a plume of steam and ash several thousands of feet into the sky.

When Mount St Helens erupted on 18 May 1980, the upper third of the mountain was blown off.

Gray ash buried towns and cities across the Pacific North-west, and forests and meadows were devastated.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: america; mtsthelens
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God Help America persons!
1 posted on 10/04/2004 12:39:17 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: anonymoussierra; risk; knighthawk

America


2 posted on 10/04/2004 12:39:55 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: anonymoussierra

It's Bush's fault!

NeverGore :^)


3 posted on 10/04/2004 12:40:08 PM PDT by nevergore (“It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.”)
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To: anonymoussierra

Thanks for the kind sentiments, but it's no sweat. Not much anyone can do about it anyway, and we've had worse happen to the state of Washington. When Piniella left for Tampa Bay, for example... (Baseball joke).


4 posted on 10/04/2004 12:41:34 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: nevergore

Thank you


5 posted on 10/04/2004 12:41:58 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: Billthedrill

Thank you


6 posted on 10/04/2004 12:42:50 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: anonymoussierra

Hopefully people who live close to Mt. St. Helens will take heed except for those crazy observers who continue to flock there.


7 posted on 10/04/2004 12:43:08 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: nevergore; hchutch

But I don't wanna land in New York City
Don't wanna land in Mexico (no no no!)
Don't wanna land in Three Mile Island
Don't wanna see my skin a-glow (no no no!)

Don't wanna land in Comanche Skypark
Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no no no!)
Don't wanna land in San Juan Airport
Or the Yukon Territory (no no no!)

Don't wanna land San Diego
Don't wanna land in Buzzard Bay (no no no!)
Don't wanna on no Ayatollah
I got nothin' more to say!


8 posted on 10/04/2004 12:46:26 PM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
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To: areafiftyone

"Hopefully people who live close to Mt. St. Helens will take heed except for those crazy observers who continue to flock there." Thank you what is "flock" what is "heed" Thank you Be strong America!
"St. Helen" (Sw. Helena)Konstatin mother.


9 posted on 10/04/2004 12:47:54 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: areafiftyone
Hopefully people who live close to Mt. St. Helens will take heed except for those crazy observers who continue to flock there.

We've all got to die sometime.

After the close look at old age I have had these past few weeks boiling hot lava doesn't look like such a bad way to go.

10 posted on 10/04/2004 12:49:09 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (There is no Chaos. Only very complicated Order. (Presenting Lady Snuggles of the Lethal Yew in PJ's!)
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To: Poohbah

Thank you


11 posted on 10/04/2004 12:50:32 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Thank you


12 posted on 10/04/2004 12:52:30 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: anonymoussierra
Heed means pay attention

Flock means a large group like a flock of tourists or tourists going there in a large group (we say flocking)

13 posted on 10/04/2004 12:52:34 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: areafiftyone

Thank you


14 posted on 10/04/2004 1:00:53 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: anonymoussierra; areafiftyone
>Hopefully people who live close to Mt. St. Helens will take heed except for those crazy observers who continue to flock there
>>Thank you what is "flock" what is "heed"

He was trying to
subliminally coerce
you to worship her . . .





15 posted on 10/04/2004 1:01:53 PM PDT by theFIRMbss
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To: anonymoussierra

You are most welcome! :-)


16 posted on 10/04/2004 1:03:21 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: anonymoussierra
Americans wait as volcano boils

I got me a stick and some marshmallows. Who brought the chocolate and graham crackers?

17 posted on 10/04/2004 1:05:31 PM PDT by Teacher317
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To: theFIRMbss

thank you


18 posted on 10/04/2004 1:05:51 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: Teacher317

Thank you


19 posted on 10/04/2004 1:06:33 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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To: theFIRMbss

What is "subliminally" thank you


20 posted on 10/04/2004 1:08:13 PM PDT by anonymoussierra
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