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Mount St. Helens Shoots Steam, Ash

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the no-red-hot-magma-just-yet dept.

Wynken de Word writes "Months after the preliminary signs starting showing, Washington State's Mount St. Helens is sending a plume of steam and ash 7,600 metres into the air as of Tuesday, 17:25 PST. See the U.S. Geological Survey site for more updates and, come daylight, check out the Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam."

40 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. No worries by RileyLewis · · Score: 3, Funny

    This story is just a bunch of hot air.

  2. Ouch! by Wwolmack · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, some people would say steam deserves it, but shooting Ash is just wrong.

    Thanks folks, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waiterbot.

    1. Re:Ouch! by Animekiksazz · · Score: 3, Funny

      Didn't he get shot out of a volcano once, they were fighting in it.. and oh god I've given away that I watched the show.

      *hides*

  3. Amazing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I live less than 50 miles from St Helens, and I heard about this on Slashdot first.

    1. Re:Amazing... by Polybius · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It will be more amazing when Yellowstone blows its top again. I'm sure you will know if you live within 50 miles of that because you will be killed by falling rock. You will also know if you live thousands of miles east due to the rain of ash.

    2. Re:Amazing... by lobsterGun · · Score: 3, Informative

      50 miles??? PAH!!!

      More like 500 miles.

      Linkey 1

      Linkey2

      Geological records indicate that Yellowstone erupts 'calendar like' every 600,000 to 650,000 years. It last erupted 640,000 years ago. It could go any day!

      At most, there's only 10,000 years left!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

  4. Live from Seattle... by ruprechtjones · · Score: 3, Funny

    Woo hoo! I'm watching it right now from my back door! Wait, no I'm not, it's dark here in Seattle.

    What use is it if the thing blows at 5:30pm? The local news needs footage, man!

    --
    Kip Hawley is an idiot.
  5. photo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    my photoblog entry tonight:

    http://www.euphorochrome.com/photoblog/index.php?p =131

  6. Re:Lava flow by geomon · · Score: 4, Informative

    These are andesitic volcanos, not tholiitic.

    The lavas are viscous. Unless you are in the rim of the volcano or are flying over the ridge with an infrared camera you won't see lava from St. Helens.

    --
    "Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
  7. NWCN video by bleu24 · · Score: 5, Informative

    NWCN site has a video the "Take a look inside the crater" http://www.nwcn.com/ link shows... well inside the crater. You have to sign up.

    1. Re:NWCN video by bobdotorg · · Score: 5, Informative

      I have it on good authority that their newest member is:

      email: slash@dot.com
      pass: slashdot

      --
      __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
  8. The question on everyone's mind... by skraps · · Score: 4, Funny

    How close is Mount St. Helens to Redmond?

    --
    Karma: -2147483648 (Mostly affected by integer overflow)
    1. Re:The question on everyone's mind... by Phroggy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Close enough that they would have gotten a dusting of ash in 1980 (as did we in Portland, though I was too young to remember), but not close enough to do cover them in lava.

      --
      $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
      $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
    2. Re:The question on everyone's mind... by CAIMLAS · · Score: 3, Funny

      But what if a large portion of the mountain were ejected in the direction (well, precisely, "at") the MS headquarters? And would there be any way to catalyze such an effect without looking suspicious?

      *reminds self to post as AC

      --
      ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    3. Re:The question on everyone's mind... by yiffyfox · · Score: 3, Informative

      Keep in mind that Mt. Rainier is covered with glaciers and would cause massive mud slides if it erupted.

      http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/text/abtus/ourorg/dem /E MDiv/Mt%20Rainier%20VHRP.htm

      In addition to producing tephra, magmatic eruptions of Mt. Rainier can produce lava flows or pyroclastic flows (fast-moving, hot, lethal avalanches of volcanic fragments and gas). The direct effects of such flows are to be expected on and near the steep flanks of Mt. Rainier, largely within the boundaries of Mt. Rainier National Park.

      Much more far-reaching destruction can result from lahars that originate at Mt. Rainier. Deposits of at least 55 lahars within the last 10,000 years have been identified in the large valleys draining Mt. Rainier.

      Lahars look and behave like flowing wet concrete owing to their characteristically high concentration of entrained sediment (commonly less than or equal to 60 volume percent). Because they are gravity flows, they become channeled into valleys. Led by a steep front charged with boulders, logs and any other available debris, they quickly fill pre-existing channels and spread across the adjacent flood plains, destroying mature forests and any human-made structures in their paths, including bridges, dams, roads, pipelines and buildings.

      The depth and speed of a lahar depend on its size, its sediment concentration and the valley configuration. At Mt. Rainier, most of the large lahars are inferred to have traveled as fast as 50 miles/hr at depths of 100 ft or more in confined valleys and at a lower velocity and lesser depth in the wide, populated valleys of the Puget Lowland. For example, remnant valley-wall deposits indicate that the Electron lahar was approximately 50 ft deep in its passage through the mile-wide Puyallup valley 1 1/4 miles upstream from Orting. However, the Electron lahar was about 180 ft deep 6 miles farther upstream, where the main part of the canyon is only about 1/4 miles wide.

      A critical implication from a hazard-mitigation standpoint is that a massive lahar from Mt. Rainier may occur without the kinds of warning usually associated with an impending eruption.

      One much larger, post glacial, flank-collapse lahar has been identified. Known as the Osceola Mudflow, it occurred about 5,600 years ago and was between 10 and 20 times the volume of the Electron lahar. It originated as a massive collapse of Mt. Rainier's summit and upper northeast flank. The Osceola Mudflow filled valleys of the White River system north and northeast of Mt. Rainier, covered more than 80 sq. mi. of the Puget Lowland, and extended into Puget Sound from what are now the Puyallup and Duwamish River valleys. Considered as "worst-case" or "maximum lahar" (only one lahar of this size is known to have occurred in 10,000 years), lahars of this magnitude have been assigned a recurrence interval of 10,000 years.

  9. Did we actually LEARN anything? by SamMichaels · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This happened before...quite recently in the grand scheme of things. Lives were lost, lives were ruined, towns destroyed. There's a small vial of dust sitting on a shelf in my parents' house.

    I'd be interested in hearing about the new technology since then as well as what they plan to do. Detailed info seems scarce on the geological site.

    1. Re:Did we actually LEARN anything? by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 3, Funny
      I'd be interested in hearing about the new technology since then as well as what they plan to do.

      In the wake of the disastrous 1980 eruption, the government has been stockpiling hundreds of thousands of tons of baking soda in depots all along the Cascade Range.

      The plan to combat future eruptions is to utilize a fleet of C-130 transports to bombard the volcanoes with massive quantities of baking soda. When the blanket of baking soda combines with the acidic volcanic gasses and melting snowcaps, it will expand into a thick layer of foam that will absorb any lava, ash or debris before it can cause problems for the areas below.

      Our government was very careless in 1980 when they didn't do anything to stop the eruption. They've learned their lesson, and this time around they're not going to be caught off guard.

    2. Re:Did we actually LEARN anything? by Kymermosst · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This happened before...quite recently in the grand scheme of things. Lives were lost, lives were ruined, towns destroyed. There's a small vial of dust sitting on a shelf in my parents' house.

      If by "this" you mean today's steam-and-ash explosion, and by "before" you mean the 1980 lateral blast (plinian eruption), you are wrong.

      Relatively, "this" was a firecracker and the 1980 eruption was a stick of dynamite.

      I'd be interested in hearing about the new technology since then as well as what they plan to do. Detailed info seems scarce on the geological site.

      New technology really isn't what's making a difference. GPS clinometers are nice, but keep in mind that in 1980 there was a visible bulge on the side of the mountain before the lateral blast. At the time, nobody figured it'd suddenly fall away and do what it did.

      Specifically, magma with a high gas content was building up inside the mountain due to a plugged vent. It caused visible (to the naked eye) surface deformation on the flank of the hill. Eventually, the slope of this deformation reached a critical point. Finally, coincidentally with a magnitude 5 earthquake, the unstable slope collapsed. This released the pressure on the gas-filled magma, causing instant degassing. Very much like popping the cork on a hot bottle of champaigne.

      What happened today was either a dome collapse or a minor stoppage that was overcome. A very small event.

      Mostly what's changed since 1980 is refined observation and monitoring. Believe me, they are watching for deformation, along with other factors that indicate the character of the eruption sequence. These factors include gas concentrations, surface temperature, lava extrusion rates, seismicity, and others. Instruments to monitor most of these existed in rudimentary form in 1980, they just weren't used like they are today. The huge eruption was a wake-up call: Monitoring and observation are key.

      Today's monitoring instruments are most certainly refined, of course, as technology has progressed. Accuracy has improved quite a bit, and information exchange in the age of the internet and digital communications has improved monitoring quite a bit.

      As for current monitoring technology, geophones that detect low-frequency tremors that indicate rising magma are now emplaced on the mountain and GPS clinometers measure surface deformation on the new dome and sides of the mountain. Regular flyovers also measure surface deformation with LIDAR, sense gas presense of carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds, and measure surface temperature.

      As for what "they" (the USGS is whom I presume you mean) plan to do, I imagine it is sit down and watch, issuing warnings if and when they are needed.

      Disclaimer: I am not a USGS employee, I'm a geek who considered a major in, but took a minor in Geology.

      --
      "Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives" should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
  10. Hey, that's a US volcano. by r00t · · Score: 4, Funny

    Our volcano is blasting stuff 25000 feet up.
    (it sounds more impressive if you use feet)

  11. Pictures by kitzilla · · Score: 5, Informative
    > Has anyone found pictures of the lava flow?

    Probably aren't any yet. Any flow should have been confined to the crater and obscured by ash and steam. The event came just before local sunset. Things may be clearer in the morning.

    The Mt. St. Helens webcam sometimes picks up the infared glow of exposed lava after dark. It went offline Friday, but service was fortunately restored this afternoon -- just hours before St. Helens burped. Check to see whatever can be seen here. My site also has some background on the webcam.

    KPTV has some impressive stills of the ash plume here.

    --
    This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
  12. Mt. St. Helens Video "Adams Peak" by TheWorkz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We did a video last year for the National Film Challenge which is a good depiction of what we thought an eruption should look like. :)
    www.fwstudios.com
    It was a fun video to do and we did it in only about 60 hours. (that is, wrote, rehearsed, edited, and produced)
    -Luke

  13. Well as with any other natural event by SidV · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn Global Warming

    1. Re:Well as with any other natural event by SidV · · Score: 5, Funny

      No No No

      Global warming causes Volcanoes.

      Just like it caused the Tsunami in Indonesia, the Kennedy assasination and male pattern baldness.

  14. Is this about MSFT? by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 3, Funny
    If it were, God (tm) would have smited (smitten?) them already.

    Now, if they get consumed by a volcano, I'm just going to say it was random.

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  15. OMG!!!!1 by zephc · · Score: 4, Funny

    it's blowing red, blue, green and black ash EVERYWHERE!!!

    --
    "I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
  16. Oops by KenSeymour · · Score: 3, Informative

    I guess it would work better as a link.

    Cascades Volcano Observatory

    --
    "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." -- Albert Einstein
  17. Re:OMG! by WormholeFiend · · Score: 3, Funny

    No worries, here's an artist's rendition

  18. I saw it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was flying home from SEA -> SJC this evening and saw the thing happen from 20,000 feet. The ash shot up and within a few minutes was at the same altitude as our still-climbing 737. Within a few minutes the ash was well above our altitude and the Captain came on and stated that it seemed to him to be well above 30,000 feet. Needless to say, we flew well clear of the plume.

    That being said, it was an amazing sight to see this huge jet of ash go so high, so quickly. The late afternoon sun lit it just right and I really wish I had had a camera.

  19. Re:Uh, it's dark outside. by Everleet · · Score: 3, Funny

    Strangely enough, night time in Washington looks exactly like a color bar test signal.

    --
    It's tragic. Laugh.
  20. Dupe! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This was reported 24 years ago!

  21. good photos from Sugar Bowl camera by CRepetski · · Score: 5, Informative
    In case you don't feel like hunting through the USGS website (there's some good stuff in there!) you can cut to the chase:

    http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Eruption04 /Monitoring/plume_in_the_evening_8march05.html

    This has some pretty good photos, as well as a picture with (MS Paint?) editing describing what's what.

    The photos are taken from a remote camera on the mountain that takes a picture every 2.5 minutes. This is as good as it gets.

  22. Re:Lava flow by geomon · · Score: 5, Informative

    That could be hot gas. Look up the words "nueé ardente".

    Andesitic lavas have more water in them than tholiitic. That is why volcanos on or near continental margins explode violently and lavas from island chains only shoot ~30 meters into the air.

    --
    "Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
  23. Re:OMG! by mtrisk · · Score: 3, Funny

    I do believe that is the first time I've seen a South Park screen capture modded up as informative.

    /. never ceases to amaze me!

    --

    Without a proper flamewar, Anonymous was undecided on what shell to run.
  24. Not that exciting by Darth+Cow · · Score: 3, Informative

    I live in Portland, Oregon, so I saw the eruption when it was taking place from my front porch.

    It really wasn't very exciting. It was just a bunch of smoke and steam, around the size of several a few months ago.

    Despite it being the sole story on the local news, nobody is going to die or even be injured. Nobody is going to care after tomorrow.

    The volcano is regrowing a lava dome, and the dome is increasing in size. There's no visible lava, or anything more than the normal pickup truck worth of rock that's been added to the dome every second since October.

    I don't get what the big deal is. It's a bit of smoke, that's all.

  25. Re:Lava flow by commodoresloat · · Score: 3, Funny
    The lavas are viscous.

    Hell yah they are! They will kick your ass!! I saw this one dude got stuck in the lavas and he just fucking melted...

    What?

    Oh. Nevermind.

  26. Premise of article is mistaken by dhirsch226 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Months after the preliminary signs starting showing, Washington State's Mount St. Helens is sending a plume of steam and ash 7,600 metres into the air.

    It's incorrect to imply, as the posting does, that the earlier activity is "preliminary", and that now the real action is going to get going. We are, in all likelihood, in a dome-building phase. It will have natural variation, times of activity and times of quiescence, just as the volcanic system has on a geologic time scale. There is no reason to expect a large explosive event in the near future.

    -David Hirsch Asst. Professor of geology

  27. Not quite as funny... by jd · · Score: 5, Informative
    I was leaving work in Vancouver at the time it blew. It was quite spectacular. The plume was impressively long. By the tail end, you could see the seperation of ash from the steam.


    What is interesting is that there was absolutely ZERO warning. There had been some minor tremors in the hours before, but nothing that would indicate something on this scale.


    Personally, I think someone slipped the volcano some lima beans.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    1. Re:Not quite as funny... by darkpixel2k · · Score: 4, Informative

      I work in the emergency services sector in Skamania County (the county that the mountain is in) and it put us all into a flurry.

      Within 30 minutes they were having emergency meetings to discuss the ashfall, getting all the services (Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement) briefed on what to do, etc...

      After an hour they realized the winds would blow it just past the major population areas of our county and into the neighboring county (Klickitat) to the east.

      Right now Klickitat is getting ashfall like it's snowing...

      --
      There's no place like ::1 (I've completed my transition to IPv6)
    2. Re:Not quite as funny... by jd · · Score: 3, Interesting

      If there's anyone in the building trade in that area, they've got a veritable goldmine coming their way. Volcanic ash can be used to make a cheap, strong concrete that will also set underwater. It's also one of the hardiest, which is good for a northern climate.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  28. Big Deal by ErikTheRed · · Score: 3, Funny

    I used to live in Texas... we saw things like this after every Chili cookoff!

    --

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