Cascade Range Current Update |
U.S. Geological Survey, Vancouver, Washington
University of Washington, Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, Seattle, Washington
CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE
MOUNT ST. HELENS VOLCANO (CAVW#1201-05-)
SUMMARY: The pause in lava dome growth continues, and all our monitoring instruments show trifling or nil volcanic-related activity. This pause, which began in late January 2008, was recognized by absence of measurable growth among successive fixed-camera images, nearly quiescent seismicity, and the absence of tilt signals that might characterize extrusion of lava from the conduit. We continue to monitor closely for evidence of renewed extrusion or other activity. The new lava dome remains hot in places; thus, it is capable of producing hot avalanches or small steam explosions that could cause hazardous conditions in and around the crater. Sudden melting of snow and ice could send small lahars onto the Pumice Plain and perhaps down the Toutle River as far as the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS). Ash clouds from explosions could affect aircraft. RECENT OBSERVATIONS: There was no field work done at Mount St. Helens this week. There was no significant seismicity, with only four very small earthquakes located near the volcano by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. There were no tilt changes associated with this activity. The U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.
INFORMATION:
For additional information, background, images, and other
graphics:
For seismic information:
For a definition of alert levels:
For a webcam view of the volcano:
Telephone recordings with the latest update on Mount St. Helens
and phone contacts for additional information can be heard by
calling: OTHER CASCADE VOLCANOES All other volcanoes in the Cascade Range are all at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams in Washington State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry, and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake, Mount Shasta, and Lassen Peak in northern California.
USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, the Pacific Northwest
Seismograph Network at the University of Washington, and the
USGS Northern California Seismic Network and Volcano Hazards
Team in Menlo Park, California, monitor the major volcanoes in the
Cascade Range of northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
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