Cascades Volcano Observatory
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The U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory strives to serve the national interest by helping people to live knowledgeably and safely with volcanoes in WA, OR, and ID.
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Mount St. Helens’ 1980 Eruption Changed the Future of Volcanology
If scientists armed with today's monitoring tools and knowledge could step back in time to the two months before May 18, 1980, they would have been able to better forecast the forthcoming devastating eruption.
Earthquakes occur in Mount Rainier's hydrothermal system.
While the seismicity represents a temporary uptick in activity, Mount Rainier remains at normal, background levels of activity.
Field guides provide history and context for your next field trip to Mount St. Helens
Exposures in valleys surrounding Mount St. Helens reveal records of diverse geologic processes including debris avalanche, lahar, huge water wave on a nearby lake, pyroclastic density currents (surge and flow), tephra fall, lava flow, growth of domes, and past glaciation.