Mount Rainier Seismicity Information
Cascade Volcano Locations and 4,000 year Eruption Summary
In addition to locating regional earthquakes, the
Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN),
in cooperation with the
Cascades Volcano Observatory, is also
responsible for monitoring seismic activity at
volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest. The PNSN currently
operates seismometers on or near several other Cascade
volcanoes. Click a volcano name on the above menu to go
directly to its PNSN webpage.
NEWS
Background Seismicity at Mt. Rainier:
In an average month, 1-5 well-located, high-frequency
earthquakes are recorded near the summit of Mt. Rainier.
In addition, small swarms of 5-10 earthquakes over a
2-3-day time period sometimes occur.
All of these earthquakes are shallow, with most locating near
sea level (~4 km below the summit), and
are interpreted by Moran (1997) to be occurring in response
to stresses associated with the circulation of hot fluids
beneath Mount Rainier. These fluids are thought to be the
source for the hot springs and steam vents found at the
summit and at various points within Mount Rainier National
Park (e.g. Frank, 1995).
CURRENT MOUNT RAINIER SEISMICITY:
Updated whenever new events are located near Mt. Rainier!
Debris Flows and Lahars on Mt. Rainier
1981-1996 MOUNT RAINIER SEISMICITY:
OTHER MOUNT RAINIER-RELATED LINKS:
Mount Rainier References (Seismicity Related):
Frank, D., Surficial extent and conceptual model of
hydrothermal system at Mount Rainier, Washington,
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 65,
p. 51-80, 1995.
Malone, S. D., A. Qamar, and C. Jonientz-Trisler,
Recent seismicity at Mount Rainier, Washington (abstract),
Seismological Society of America with Progams, v. 62,
p. 25, 1991.
Moran, S. C., Three-dimensional P-wave velocity
structure in the Greater Mount Rainier Area,
Ph.D. Thesis, University of Washington, Seattle,
170 pp., 1997.
National Research Council, Mount Rainier:
Active Cascade volcano, National Academy Press,
114 pp., 1994.
Norris, R. D., Seismicity of rockfalls and
avalanches at three Cascade Range volcanoes:
Implications for seismic detection of hazardous mass
movements, Bulletin of the Seismological Society
of America, v. 84, p. 1925-1939, 1994.
Swanson, D. A., S. D. Malone, and B. A. Samora,
Mount Rainier: A Decade Volcano, EOS Trans. AGU,
v. 73, pp. 177, 185-186, 1992.
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