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Report on St. Helens (United States) — 13 December-19 December 2006


St. Helens

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 December-19 December 2006
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2006. Report on St. Helens (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 December-19 December 2006. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (13 December-19 December 2006)

St. Helens

United States

46.2°N, 122.18°W; summit elev. 2549 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Data from deformation-monitoring instruments showed that during 13-19 December the lava dome at Mount St. Helens continued to grow. Seismicity continued at low levels, punctuated by M 1.5-2.5 and occasionally larger earthquakes. Observations were hindered due to inclement weather during most of the reporting period, but on 18 December, a steam plume rose several hundred meters above the rim and was visible from the Portland area, about 80 km away.

Geological Summary. Prior to 1980, Mount St. Helens was a conical volcano sometimes known as the Fujisan of America. During the 1980 eruption the upper 400 m of the summit was removed by slope failure, leaving a 2 x 3.5 km breached crater now partially filled by a lava dome. There have been nine major eruptive periods beginning about 40-50,000 years ago, and it has been the most active volcano in the Cascade Range during the Holocene. Prior to 2,200 years ago, tephra, lava domes, and pyroclastic flows were erupted, forming the older edifice, but few lava flows extended beyond the base of the volcano. The modern edifice consists of basaltic as well as andesitic and dacitic products from summit and flank vents. Eruptions in the 19th century originated from the Goat Rocks area on the N flank, and were witnessed by early settlers.

Sources: Associated Press, US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO)