Giant Rock Growing in Mount St. Helens' Crater

An anonymous reader writes to mention a CNN article about the huge geological formation growing in Mount St. Helens' crater. From the article: "The fin-shaped mass is about 300 feet tall and growing 4 feet to 5 feet a day, said Dan Dzurisin, a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. The rock in the crater began growing last November, steadily moving west and pushing rock and other debris out of its way as it goes." Scientists think the mountain will eventually replace the lave dome blown out by the original 1980 eruption.

Comments

Will the volcano have another major eruption?

[SeaFox]

"Given the way things are going now, there's no hint of any sort of catastrophic eruptions," USGS geologist Tom Pierson said. "At any time, however, things can change."

I hate quotes like that in news stories. They amount to "there's nothing happening right now, and I dont know if anything is going to happen, as the situation could change as soon as I finish telling you everything is fine". An eight-year-old could have offered us as much insight.

Re:Will the volcano have another major eruption?

[ZSpade]

The fin-shaped mass is about 300 feet tall and growing 4 feet to 5 feet a day

Just what exactly is your definition of "nothing heppening right now"? Geologically, 5 feet a day is pretty rapid change.

Re:Just reassuring locals

[anubi]

Yeh, it makes me think of the physics behind Old Faithful.

Except we get lava, not hot water.

I think we all know how a "relaxation oscillator" works, and Mt. St. Helens sure looks like the physical implementation of one to me.

The difference is the volcano has the phase change difference of the liquid lava forming a dense rock upon cooling which introduces a significant chaotic factor into the dwell time, so no one knows just when its gonna cycle.

Not the thing for a good night's sleep.