VolcanoCam Movies Archive
Eruption Event Movies and Photograph Sets
The VolcanoCam recorded its first-ever images of Mount St. Helen erupting.
In addition to online Flash movies (providing you have the Flash plug-in
installed in your web browser), we have available 13 sets of VolcanoCam
movies of these eruption events, available for downloading. We also include
the still images used for making the movies. All images are in the .jpg file format. The movies are in the .avi,
.mov, and .wmv file formats.
Download File Format Information
- .AVI File Format - Available at two frame speeds ( 2 fps and 6 fps), in a zipped file.
- .MOV File Format - Available at two frame speeds ( 2 fps and 6 fps), in a zipped file.
- .WMV File Format - Available within a Self-extracting .exe file and in a zipped file.
- .JPG File Format - A complete still image set used to create the movies.
October 01, 2004 Eruption Images |
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October 1, 2004
Shortly before Noon today, Mount St. Helens emitted a plume of steam
and minor ash from an area of new crevasses in the crater glacier south
of the 1980-86 lava dome. The event lasted from 11:57 to 12:21 PDT
and created a pale-gray cloud that reached an altitude of about 9,700
feet (from pilot reports).
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October 04, 2004 Eruption Images |
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October 4, 2004
This morning visitors to Mount St. Helens witnessed a 40-minute-long
steam-and-ash emission starting at 9:43 PDT. Steam clouds carrying
minor ash billowed out of the crater to an altitude of 10,000 to perhaps
12,000 feet. The event did not generate earthquakes or an explosion
signal. We infer that hot rock was pushed up into the glacier, melted
ice, and generated the steam. Part of the vent for today’s and
other steam and ash emissions of the past few days is now covered by
a boiling lake. The emission occurred during a time of gradually increasing
seismicity, which dropped slightly after the emission, but continued
to increase gradually through the afternoon.
Another period of smaller
steam and ash bursts occurred between 2:10 and 2:40 P.M. Visual observations
show that the area of uplift, which includes part of the glacier
and a nearby segment of the south flank of the lava dome, continues
to
rise. We infer that magma is at a very shallow level and could soon
be extruded into the vent or elsewhere in the deforming area. Additional
steam and ash emissions are likely and could occur at any time without
warning. Conditions suggest that there is also an increased probability
of larger-magnitude and more ash-rich eruptions in coming days.
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October 05, 2004 Eruption Images |
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October 5, 2004
This morning the rate of seismicity was at a high, sustained
level when, shortly after 9:00 a.m. PDT, the most vigorous steam and
ash emission of the current period of unrest began. The emission originated
from the same vent as have others this past week, as well as from another
nearby new vent in the intensely deforming area on the south side of
the 1980-86 lava dome. For more than one hour, steam clouds billowed
from the crater. The ash content varied with intensity of steam jetting
from the vent. For the first time, ash content was sufficient that it
was detected by National Weather Service Doppler Radar. Steam and ash
clouds reached about 12,000 feet and drifted north-northeastward. Ash
forecasts warned downwind residents. Media reports indicate that a light
dusting of ash fell in Morton, Randle, and Packwood, Washington, towns
about 30 miles from the volcano. Nearby traffic on U.S. 12 stirred up
the ash, slightly reducing visibility. We have no reports of ash falling
at greater distances.
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October 10, 2004 Eruption Images |
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October 10, 2004
As a result of the intense unrest of the past 11 days, we infer that
magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St.
Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic
changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months.
Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma
movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue
during coming days. Escalation in the degree of 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.
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October 11, 2004 Eruption Images |
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October 11, 2004
Seismic activity remained at a low level overnight. Small earthquakes
(maximum about magnitude 1) continue to occur at a rate of about 1
per 5 to 10 minutes. Visual observations and thermal imaging of the
crater, the 1980-86 lava dome, and the intensely deforming and uplifting
area on the south side of the dome were made yesterday afternoon. Thermal
imaging of the western part of the uplifting area revealed temperatures
of 500 to 600 degrees C on a large pinkish-gray fin of rock and in
nearby fumaroles and cracks. These observations are consistent with
new lava having reached the surface of the uplift. Additional visual
and thermal observations will be made today to further evaluate this
interpretation.
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October 26-27, 2004 - Dancing In The Moonlight (Night Glow Images) |
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October 26-27, 2004
The VolcanoCam has an apparent limited
IR capability. We discovered this when it was found the VolcanoCam was
able to record magma extruding into the crater of Mount St. Helens, begining
around October 10 and 11, 2004.
The full moon of October 26-27, 2004, offers a unique opportunity to
view Mount St. Helens at night, complete with magma visibly extruding
into the crater as captured by the VolcanoCam. Weather conditions were
not ideal so expect the image to be lost
in camera noise as clouds moved through the area. None of the images
in this movie are enhanced to reduce noise. This movie is best observed
from a distance of at least five to six feet away from the computer monitor with the room lights dimmed.
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October 26-27, 2004 - Dancing In The Moonlight - Special Edition |
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Dancing In The Moonlight Enhanced Special Edition Movies
We "enhanced" all
the individual still images in the movie to reduce the noise. While
there were a number of clouds passing through all night long to sometimes
obscure the view, this enhanced version allows you to see the volcano, the
snowline, crater, old dome, steam event and glowing magma under a full
moon.
Our thanks to a VolcanoCam viewer and supporter (who wishes to remain
anonymous) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, who provided assistance
to us in developing the enhanced version. |
October 27, 2004 - On A Low Boil All Day Long |
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October 27, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004, turned out to be a fantastic
day to observe Mount St. Helens. It was a beautiful sunny day between
several days of rain and clouds. More importantly, Mount St. Helens put
on a continuous show of steam. So sit back and enjoy the view under clear
skies and a light wind.
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October 27-28, 2004 - Blinded By The Light (Night Glow Images) |
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October 27-28, 2004
The VolcanoCam has an apparent limited IR capability.
We discovered this when it was found the VolcanoCam was able to record
magma extruding into the crater of Mount St. Helens, begining around
October 10 and 11, 2004.
The full moon of October 27-28, 2004, offers a unique opportunity
to view Mount St. Helens at night, complete with magma visibly extruding
into the crater as captured by the VolcanoCam. In addition, this night
was also a full lunar eclipse. However, by the time the effects of
the eclipse ended around 10:00 pm, the full moon and clear night sky
afforded an extraordinary view of Mount St. Helens as viewed by the
VolcanoCam. Compare these movies to the movies from the previous evening.
None of the images in this movie are enhanced
to reduce noise. This movie is best observed from a distance of at
least five to six feet away from the computer monitor with the room
lights dimmed.
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October 27-28, 2004 - Blinded By The Light - Special Edition |
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Blinded By The Light Enhanced Special Edition Movies
We "enhanced" all
the individual still images in the movie to reduce the noise. Once the
lunar eclipse ends, this enhanced version allows you to see the volcano,
the snowline, crater, old dome, steam event and glowing magma under a
full moon.
Our thanks to a VolcanoCam viewer and supporter (who wishes to remain
anonymous) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, who provided assistance
to us in developing the enhanced version. |
December 17, 2004 - Simmer Time |
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Friday, December 17, 2004, turned out to be a much better
than average winter day to observe Mount St. Helens. It was only the
second day in more than two weeks VolcanoCam viewers were able to view
the volcano. Steady westerly winds and intermittent clouds added variety
while Mount St. Helens put on a continuous show of steam.
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February 02, 2005 - Groundhog Day (Only The Shadows Knows!) |
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On February 02, 2005, Mount St. Helens saw its shadow.
Groundhog Day 2005 was clear and a wonderful viewing day for observing
Mount St. Helens. We were treated with an ash event in the middle of
the afternoon. You are also able to see the new dome for the first time
in a VolcanoCam movie. The new dome is now visible above and behind the
old dome.
The USGS reports the old dome took six years to build up to a volume
of some 97 million cubic meters. The new dome has only been growing since
October 11, 2004 and is already 44 million cubic meters in volume.
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March 08, 2005 |
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Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - Tuesday, March
08, 2005, turned out to be a roller coaster day for the Mount St. Helens
VolcanoCam and Mount St. Helens.
The network connection to the VolcanoCam had failed the previous Friday
and Forest Service telecommunications experts were hard-pressed to
locate the failure point. All communications (telephone, computer and
the VolcanoCam link) were down between the Coldwater Ridge Visitor
Center and the Johnston Ridge Observatory, with the rest of the world.
The network connection was restored around 1:30 pm PST.
Four hours later ...
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