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Steam-blast (phreatic) eruption from the summit crater of Mount St....
Steam-blast (phreatic) eruption from the summit crater of Mount St....
Steam-blast (phreatic) eruption from the summit crater of Mount St....
Steam-blast (phreatic) eruption from the summit crater of Mount St....

Steam-blast eruption from summit crater of Mount St. Helens. Aerial view, April 6, looking southwest, showing a roiling, gray-brown, ash-laden cloud that envelops and almost completely hides an initial fingerlike ash column, and an upper white cloud formed by atmospheric condensation of water vapor in the convectively rising top of the eruptive column.

Steam-blast eruption from summit crater of Mount St. Helens. Aerial view, April 6, looking southwest, showing a roiling, gray-brown, ash-laden cloud that envelops and almost completely hides an initial fingerlike ash column, and an upper white cloud formed by atmospheric condensation of water vapor in the convectively rising top of the eruptive column.

View looking west of Mount St. Helens' summit after several small e...
View looking west of Mount St. Helens' summit after several small e...
View looking west of Mount St. Helens' summit after several small e...
View looking west of Mount St. Helens' summit after several small e...

View looking west of Mount St. Helens' summit after several small explosive eruptions. The smaller of the two pit craters was formed first on March 27. Subsequent eruptions opened the farther crater.

Ash-covered summit of Mount St. Helens. Aerial view looking north-n...
Ash-covered summit of Mount St. Helens. Aerial view looking north-N...
Ash-covered summit of Mount St. Helens. Aerial view looking north-N...
Ash-covered summit of Mount St. Helens. Aerial view looking north-N...

Ash covered snow is a result of wind direction, resulting in left portion of cone free of ash while the right portion is covered. Snowstorms later covered these ash layers, which in turn were covered by new ash. The result was many alternating layers of snow and ash.

Ash covered snow is a result of wind direction, resulting in left portion of cone free of ash while the right portion is covered. Snowstorms later covered these ash layers, which in turn were covered by new ash. The result was many alternating layers of snow and ash.

View from the northwest of a phreatic eruption on Mount St. Helens ...
Phreatic eruption on Mount St. Helens pre-May 18, 1981
Phreatic eruption on Mount St. Helens pre-May 18, 1981
Crater in Mount St. Helens summit, aerial view looking east....
Crater in Mount St. Helens summit and ash (swath of dark) distribut...
Crater in Mount St. Helens summit and ash (swath of dark) distribut...
Crater in Mount St. Helens summit and ash (swath of dark) distribut...

An east-west fault across middle of summit area and an uplift or bulge on upper north flank of the volcano are also visible in this photo.

Upper cone of Mount St. Helens before the May 18, 1980 eruption; no...
Upper cone of Mount St. Helens before the May 18, 1980 eruption; no...
Upper cone of Mount St. Helens before the May 18, 1980 eruption; no...
Upper cone of Mount St. Helens before the May 18, 1980 eruption; no...

Although seismic activity began under Mount St. Helens on March 20, this overflight showed no unusual features except numerous tracks of earthquake-triggered snow avalanches. No evidence of fracturing of summit area was detected during careful visual observations on the afternoon of March 24, 1980.

Although seismic activity began under Mount St. Helens on March 20, this overflight showed no unusual features except numerous tracks of earthquake-triggered snow avalanches. No evidence of fracturing of summit area was detected during careful visual observations on the afternoon of March 24, 1980.

Mount St. Helens before the May 18, 1980 eruption. View from the no...
Mount St. Helens before May 18, 1980 eruption
Mount St. Helens before May 18, 1980 eruption
Mount St. Helens before May 18, 1980 eruption

Before the devastating May 18, 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens was considered to be one of the most beautiful and most frequently-climbed peaks in the Cascade Range. Spirit Lake was a vacation area offering hiking, camping, boating, and fishing.

Before the devastating May 18, 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens was considered to be one of the most beautiful and most frequently-climbed peaks in the Cascade Range. Spirit Lake was a vacation area offering hiking, camping, boating, and fishing.

November 1979 Pauahi Eruption
November 1979 Pauahi Eruption
November 1979 Pauahi Eruption
November 1979 Pauahi Eruption

The November 16, 1979, eruption near Pauahi Crater was a brief, one-day event on the upper East Rift Zone. It was preceded by two months of increased seismic activity, summit inflation, and lava erupting from fissures west of, within, and east of the crater.

The November 16, 1979, eruption near Pauahi Crater was a brief, one-day event on the upper East Rift Zone. It was preceded by two months of increased seismic activity, summit inflation, and lava erupting from fissures west of, within, and east of the crater.

Summit region (Kalama age–1479 to 1720 C.E.) of Mount St. Helens lo...
Summit region (Kalama age–1479 to 1720 C.E.) of Mount St. Helens lo...
Summit region (Kalama age–1479 to 1720 C.E.) of Mount St. Helens lo...
Summit region (Kalama age–1479 to 1720 C.E.) of Mount St. Helens lo...

Summit region (Kalama age–1479 to 1720 C.E.) of Mount St. Helens looking northeast. Spirit Lake and Mount Adams in background. September 28, 1979.

Aerial photo of Mount St. Helens volcano, pre-1980 eruption
Aerial photo of Mount St. Helens volcano, pre-1980 eruption
Aerial photo of Mount St. Helens volcano, pre-1980 eruption
Aerial photo of Mount St. Helens volcano, pre-1980 eruption

Before the eruption of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens' elevation was 2,950 m (9,677 ft). View from the west, Mount Adams in distance. S. Fork Toutle River is valley in center of photo.

Mount Adams elevation is 3,745 m (12, 286 ft). Mount St. Helens was the smallest of five major volcanic peaks in Washington State.

Before the eruption of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens' elevation was 2,950 m (9,677 ft). View from the west, Mount Adams in distance. S. Fork Toutle River is valley in center of photo.

Mount Adams elevation is 3,745 m (12, 286 ft). Mount St. Helens was the smallest of five major volcanic peaks in Washington State.

Worm Complex on the southeast flank of Mount St. Helens—Middle Kala...
Worm Complex on the SE flank of Mount St. Helens—Middle Kalama lava...
Worm Complex on the SE flank of Mount St. Helens—Middle Kalama lava...
Worm Complex on the SE flank of Mount St. Helens—Middle Kalama lava...

Worm Complex on the southeast flank of Mount St. Helens—Middle Kalama lava flows in center of image. Photo from September 28, 1979. Click to view larger image.

Goat Rocks age eruptive deposits (Mount St. Helens), Floating Islan...
Goat Rocks age eruptive deposits (Mount St. Helens), Floating Islan...
Goat Rocks age eruptive deposits (Mount St. Helens), Floating Islan...
Goat Rocks age eruptive deposits (Mount St. Helens), Floating Islan...

Studebaker Ridge formed during the Tertiary geologic time period (65 million to 2.6 million years ago). The pyroclastic surge from the May 18, 1980 eruption destroyed the trees on the ridge.

East Dome erupted during Sugar Bowl time (C.E. 850-900) east flank ...
East Dome erupted during Sugar Bowl time (C.E. 850-900) east flank ...
East Dome erupted during Sugar Bowl time (C.E. 850-900) east flank ...
East Dome erupted during Sugar Bowl time (C.E. 850-900) east flank ...

East Dome erupted during Sugar Bowl time (C.E. 850-900) east flank view of Mount St. Helens. Kalama age (erupted about 1535) andesite flows surround dome.

Mount St. Helens prior to the May 18, 1980 eruption
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens one year prior to the May 18, 1980, catastrophic eruption, showing glaciers at the summit.

Mount St. Helens one year prior to the May 18, 1980, catastrophic eruption, showing glaciers at the summit.

September 1977 Kalalu/Puu Kauka Eruption
September 1977 Kalalu/Puu Kauka Eruption
September 1977 Kalalu/Puu Kauka Eruption
September 1977 Kalalu/Puu Kauka Eruption

The September 1977 eruption of Kīlauea began after nearly two years of dormancy, with activity breaking out on September 13 along a 3.5-mile-long fissure system between the prehistoric cones of Kalalua and Puʻu Kauka.

The September 1977 eruption of Kīlauea began after nearly two years of dormancy, with activity breaking out on September 13 along a 3.5-mile-long fissure system between the prehistoric cones of Kalalua and Puʻu Kauka.

Three Fingered Jack (2390 m or 7840 ft) is a volcanic peak in centr...
Three Fingered Jack (2390 m or 7840 ft) is a volcanic peak in centr...
Three Fingered Jack (2390 m or 7840 ft) is a volcanic peak in centr...
Three Fingered Jack (2390 m or 7840 ft) is a volcanic peak in centr...

Three Fingered Jack (2390 m or 7840 ft) is a volcanic peak in central Oregon near Mount Bachelor and the Three Sisters. Black Butte is in the background.

Mount Konocti on the western shore of Clear Lake, California
Mount Konocti on the western shore of Clear Lake, California
Mount Konocti on the western shore of Clear Lake, California
Mount Konocti on the western shore of Clear Lake, California

Mount Konocti, a mostly dacitic composite cone, on the western shore of Clear Lake, California. Thurston Lake is in the foreground.

HVO scientists measured vertical offsets (note brown-colored soil) ...
HVO scientists measured vertical offsets (note brown-colored soil) ...
HVO scientists measured vertical offsets (note brown-colored soil) ...
HVO scientists measured vertical offsets (note brown-colored soil) ...

The magnitude-7.7 earthquake caused a nearly continuous zone of ground cracking and faulting for about 25 km (15 mi) along the south flank inland of Halapē.

Fractures caused by slumping of the ground during a magnitude-7.7 e...
Fractures caused by slumping of ground during mag-7.7 Nov. 29, 1975.
Fractures caused by slumping of ground during mag-7.7 Nov. 29, 1975.
Fractures caused by slumping of ground during mag-7.7 Nov. 29, 1975.

Fractures in Crater Rim Road, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, caused by the November 29, 1975, earthquake beneath the south flank of Kīlauea Volcano. Only a few meters (yards) from Kīlauea's summit crater (out of sight left of guardrails), large sections adjacent the crater wall slumped toward the crater, forming these fractures.

Fractures in Crater Rim Road, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, caused by the November 29, 1975, earthquake beneath the south flank of Kīlauea Volcano. Only a few meters (yards) from Kīlauea's summit crater (out of sight left of guardrails), large sections adjacent the crater wall slumped toward the crater, forming these fractures.

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