Posted on 10/06/2004 10:18:59 AM PDT by djf
The United States Geological Service has lowered the alert level on Mt. St. Helens from a 3 to a 2.
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Cascades/CurrentActivity/current_updates.html
For a description of the alert levels and schemes,
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Products/Warn/WarnSchemes.html
Alert level has been lowered because quake activity has dropped off.
Don't let your guard down!!
I know. I'm watching the Cedar Flats seismo, and activity has dramatically increased in the last 90 minutes or so.
But the HTW has decreased during that same timeframe.... I wonder if they turn up/down the gain on the seismograms (recalibrate) and that is what we see sometimes when the graphs suddenly change character like that (when it's not reflected on other charts).
Correct - all three graphs are showing increased activity the last hour or so. But my question is, why did this massive dropoff in activity take place PRIOR to the Tuesday eruption? Looking at the charts in the wee hours of Tuesday, the quakes fell off dramatically.
BUMP for amatuer seismo-watchers...
They were talking about lowering it to level 2 when I was driving in to work Tuesday a few hours prior to the steam and ash eruption.
October 6, 2004 9:15 A.M., PDT
Following yesterday morning’s steam-and-ash eruption, seismicity dropped to a low level and has remained low. Low-level tremor observed following the eruption is also gradually declining. Lack of earthquake and rockfall signals suggest that deformation of the uplift area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome has slowed. Brief visual observations this morning from Coldwater Visitor Center showed weak steam emissions from the crater. We infer that the vigorous unrest of the past few days has lessened and that the probability of an imminent eruption that would endanger life and property is significantly less than at any time since Saturday, October 2, when the alert level was raised to Volcano Alert (Level 3). Therefore, we are lowering the alert level to Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2).
Such decreases in the level of unrest, which may reflect a decrease in the rate of magma movement, have been common at Mount St. Helens during eruptions in 1980-86 and also at similar volcanoes elsewhere. Episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months, are possible. We don’t think that the current episode of unrest is over and we expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days and months. Everyone should be aware that escalation in unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the Alert Level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in Alert Level as warranted.
You should see the volcano cam now!
I appears to be just a low cloud cover. The whole region is cloudy, as opposed to the clear skies seen the past few days. In other words, back to normal.
What's the link for the cam, again?
Oh no! What in the world will Greta talk about, then?
I just don't know what to think. It is anyone's guess what this puppy is capable of.
It would be terrible it Mt Saint Helen erupted with damage to life or property.
But damn it, it would suck even worse if it happened under cloud cover! We have cameras up the wazzo and I expect pictures! I expect video! Damn it, 24 hour cable is supposed to have me covered.
If there was a serious eruption, they could probably get film from above the clouds, I doubt cloud cover is much more than 13,000 feet or so.
When it went in 1980, ash went to 60,000 feet. It was quite spectacular.
Sposed to clear up tomorrow, then cloudy on Friday again.
link please???
See above
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