March 8, 2005

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological Survey

The Ongoing, Mind-blowingThe Ongoing, Mind-blowingEruption of Mount St. HelensEruption of Mount St. Helens

Dan DzurisinDan DzurisinOn behalf of colleagues at the USGS Cascades Volcano ObservatoryOn behalf of colleagues at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory

Geological Society of the Oregon Country (GSOC) meetingGeological Society of the Oregon Country (GSOC) meetingPortland State UniversityPortland State University

November 17, 2006November 17, 2006

whaleback

Let’s skip right to the good stuffLet’s skip right to the good stuff

1980-19861980-1986lava domelava dome

2004-20062004-2006lava domelava domeFeb. 22, 2005Feb. 22, 2005East arm,East arm,

Crater GlacierCrater Glacier

West arm,West arm,Crater GlacierCrater Glacier

If this doesn’t quicken your pulse, check that you have one

It started on a quiet September morning…It started on a quiet September morning…

September 23, 2004September 23, 2004

SEP webicorder (on 1980-1986 lava dome)SEP webicorder (on 1980-1986 lava dome)

……with an earthquake swarm…with an earthquake swarm…

September 24, 2004September 24, 2004

……that didn’t stop!that didn’t stop!

09/24

09/25

09/26

09/27

09/28

09/29

09/30

PDT

Within a few days, several earthquakes were occurring Within a few days, several earthquakes were occurring per per minuteminute……

September 29, 2004

……and a large welt was rising on the south crater floor.and a large welt was rising on the south crater floor.Eight days after the first earthquakes…Eight days after the first earthquakes…

By October 1…

October 1, 2004

Mount St. Helens’ first eruption of the 21st century was underway!

Seismic Amplitude, September 20, 2004 – January 5, 2005Seismic Amplitude, September 20, 2004 – January 5, 2005

No

tic

e o

f v

olc

an

ic u

nre

st

(9/2

6)

USGS and PNSN provided timely information and hazards USGS and PNSN provided timely information and hazards assessmentsassessments

to partner agencies and the publicto partner agencies and the public

Tre

mo

rS

tea

m a

nd

As

hS

tea

m a

nd

As

h

Ste

am

an

d A

sh

Vo

lca

no

ad

vis

ory

(9

/29

)

Tre

mo

r

Ste

am

an

d A

sh

Vo

lca

no

ale

rt (

10

/2)

Vo

lca

no

ad

vis

ory

(1

0/6

) On October 11, 2004, the first new lava emerged and the dome-buildingphase of the eruption was underway

The eruption sparked intense interest The eruption sparked intense interest from the media and publicfrom the media and public

USGS scientists provided daily press briefings at CVOUSGS scientists provided daily press briefings at CVOuntil a joint information center was set up atuntil a joint information center was set up at

USFS Gifford Pinchot National Forest Headquarters USFS Gifford Pinchot National Forest Headquarters

CVO kept its attention focused on the volcano…CVO kept its attention focused on the volcano…

October 7, 2004 The welt grew at a prodigious rate(That’s a BIG helicopter)

Until, on October 11…Until, on October 11…

2004 welt2004 welt 1980-1986 dome1980-1986 dome

October 11, 2004October 11, 2004

……a hot (775°C, 1430°F) lava spine a hot (775°C, 1430°F) lava spine emergedemerged

November 4November 4

In late October, a whaleback-shaped extrusion appeared

A time-lapse camera on Sugar Bowl Dome records the whaleback’s growth

(sometimes)

Scientists are using a combination of time-tested and innovative techniques to study the eruption

Helicopter mounted Helicopter mounted FLIR and video moduleFLIR and video module

““Spider” – helicopter-slingableSpider” – helicopter-slingablevolcano-monitoring stationvolcano-monitoring station

There are several species of spider……and they’re evolving!

MARV Lander - Brain child ofMARV Lander - Brain child ofMarvin Couchman, USGS/CVOMarvin Couchman, USGS/CVO

Marvin

We’ve placed spiders on the 1980-1986 dome……and on the new dome……including some places even a volcanologist wouldn’t go

““Whale rider”Whale rider”spiderspider

In the process, we’re learning a lot about …In the process, we’re learning a lot about …

February 22, 2005February 22, 2005

Eruptionmechanics

1980-1986 dome1980-1986 dome

Volcano-glacierinteractions

Dome-buildingprocesses and hazards

““Fault gouge” is dome rock pulverized by Fault gouge” is dome rock pulverized by earthquakesearthquakes

“Bathtub rings”record dome growth

Why bother?(So what?)

Volcano Studies: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st

Century• Radar-interferometry satellites can monitor most of the world’s

volcanoes at centimeter-scale accuracy with high spatial resolution and virtually complete areal coverage

• Networks of continuous sensors, including seismometers, GPS, strainmeters, and tiltmeters, can maintain constant vigilance even at long-dormant volcanoes. In the United States, EarthScope (USArray, PBO, SAFOD, InSAR?) is the most ambitious and promising Geoscience initiative ever undertaken.

• Autonomous, self-organizing sensor networks can provide essential real-time information that is spatially and temporally dense in areas otherwise inaccessible for reasons of logistics or safety. Such networks can trigger event-driven data acquisitions by Earth-observing satellites, thus supporting continuous global surveillance of hundreds of dangerous volcanoes. USGS/CVO, WSUV, and NASA are developing a prototype system for deployment at Mount St. Helens.

• By monitoring volcanoes more thoroughly using a combination of old-school and 21st century techniques, scientists might be able to anticipate the onset of shallow volcanic unrest, intensify monitoring, and provide longer term warnings of impending eruptions.

Something EXTRAORDINARY is happening at Mount St. Helens.Something EXTRAORDINARY is happening at Mount St. Helens.The volcano’s last 2 quiescent periods lasted 123 years (1857-1980) and The volcano’s last 2 quiescent periods lasted 123 years (1857-1980) and 18 years (1980-2004). Past inter-eruption periods have lasted for several 18 years (1980-2004). Past inter-eruption periods have lasted for several

millennia.millennia.We’re living in interesting times.We’re living in interesting times.

This is This is notnot

THE END!THE END!