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Global Volcanism Program | Image GVP-02859

The highly fractured area on the right side of this 3 May 1980 photo is the renowned N-flank "bulge" of Mount St. Helens. Intense deformation producing northward displacements up to 2.5 m per day and reduction of rock strength by hydrothermal alteration caused the catastrophic collapse of the N flank, triggering the devastating magmatic explosive eruptions of 18 May. Photo by William Melson, 1980 (Smithsonian Institution).

The highly fractured area on the right side of this 3 May 1980 photo is the renowned N-flank "bulge" of Mount St. Helens. Intense deformation producing northward displacements up to 2.5 m per day and reduction of rock strength by hydrothermal alteration caused the catastrophic collapse of the N flank, triggering the devastating magmatic explosive eruptions of 18 May.

Photo by William Melson, 1980 (Smithsonian Institution).

Creative Commons Icon This image is made available under the Public Domain Dedication CC0 license, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Galleries: Craters

Keywords: crater | cryptodome | ash | deposit


St. Helens