Mt. Fitzherbert

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift southeastward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

Crews did not go the field yesterday because of inclement weather. No field work is planned for today.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:11 | Permalink

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift eastward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

The new GPS station on the southern part of the new dome (uplifted glacial ice, rock debris, and new lava) shows continued southward motion—about 10 m since October 28; a station near the summit of the old dome shows continued slow northward motion.

Crews did not go the field yesterday because of inclement weather. No field work is planned for today for the same reason.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 14:08 | Permalink

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift south to southeastward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

The new GPS station on the southern part of the new dome (uplifted glacial ice, rock debris, and new lava) shows continued southward motion—about 6 m in the past 36 hours; a station near the summit of the old dome shows continued slow northward motion. GPS, LIDAR, and photogrammetric measurements, in combination with visual observations over recent days suggest that the dome complex is spreading outward at its margins similarly to the expected behavior of a viscous lava flow.

Crews did not go the field yesterday because of inclement weather. No field work is planned for today for the same reason.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:57 | Permalink

• Scientists edge closer to predicting volcanic eruptions 2004-Oct-29 00:47 from The Seattle Times

  Scientists monitoring Mount St. Helens got a lot of things right over the past month, as they scrambled to figure out what the restless volcano would do.

  They said lava would probably reach the surface, and it did. They said not to expect anything like the catastrophic eruption of May 18, 1980, and so far, all of the outbursts have been modest.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:00 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift southward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

Preliminary reduction of LIDAR data from October 14 indicates that the volume increase of the new dome (uplifted glacial ice, rock debris, and new lava) was approximately 11 million cubic meters at that time, giving a growth rate of about 7 cubic meters per second.

Crews had a productive day in the field yesterday. Work included installation of two new GPS stations to measure ground deformation on the surface of the growing dome, geologic observations and sampling, collection of oblique stereophotos for tracking growth of the new dome, thermal-infrared mapping to determine temperature distribution in the new and old (1980-86) domes, a gas-measurement flight, and telemetry maintenance. Results include the following: the new GPS station on the southern part of the new dome shows motion downward and to the southeast; a station near the summit of the old dome has moved northward about 7 cm since October 20; thermal imaging showed an elongate band of elevated surface temperature, locally as great as 775º C along the west face of the new dome coincident with the area of exposed newly extruded lava; gas-emission rates measured yesterday are similar to recent previous measurements (SO2 about 250 tons per day, CO2 about 300 tons per day, H2S about 2 tons per day); samples of dome rock similar in appearance to the rock of the older dome were collected from two localities in the vicinity of the exposed new lava. In the aggregate, the above results indicate that the character and rise of magma is continuing as it has over tha past few weeks. The visible steam plume is caused by condensation of moisture in the cold air above the hot dome.

No field work is planned for today.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:55 | Permalink

• Does river foretell eruptions of Mount St. Helens? After the Kalama turns white, residents say, volcano acts up 2004-Oct-25 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  KALAMA RIVER -- Forget the seismometers.

  The global positioning systems, infrared cameras -- chuck all that new-fangled gadgetry, too.

  For out here, along this wild, winding stream, the locals know something the scientists don't: Sometimes, this river speaks. And when it comes to Mount St. Helens, its waters tell the future.

• Experts Discuss Health Impacts Of Volcanic Fallout 2004-Oct-28 05:59 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  SEATTLE -- When Mount St. Helen [sic] erupted in 1980, it created a living laboratory for scientists -- notably specialists in volcanoes, affected forests, river systems, wildlife -- and human health

  But health experts "looked in the wrong place. We basically missed the boat," Dr. Dorsett D. Smith said Wednesday during a discussion of volcano health effects at the 70th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:56 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift southwest from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

Samples of the new dacite lava collected on 20 October are mostly similar chemically and texturally to lava erupted during the late period of dome growth in the 1980's (1984-1986). This is consistent with slow rise, degassing, and cooling of magma within the volcano's conduit. However, a minor component of the 10/20/04 sample has textures and mineral compositions indicative of rapid ascent of magma from a region at greater depth and greater temperature (900º C).

Crews did not go to the field yesterday, but field work including geologic and thermal-imaging observations, a gas-measurement flight, and telemetry maintenance is under way.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:22 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift north to northwestward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

Crews did not go to the field yesterday, but field work is planned for tomorrow and Thursday if the weather improves.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 14:26 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift northeastward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

Yesterday field crews were able to make brief geological and thermal-imaging observations and to install an additional GPS receiver. Thick steam clouds obscured much of the new lava dome, but some changes were apparent since the last observations on 21 October. A small apron of warm ash and blocks that fell from the dome lies on newly fallen snow on its west side and a small stream of melt water flows from a nearby area of intensely deformed glacier ice. A new GPS instrument was slung by helicopter and placed on a large boulder just north of the 1980-86 lava dome. It will aid in detecting any crater-wide deformation. Initial analyses were made over the weekend of samples of the new lava dome that were collected on 20 October. They show that, since lava first appeared on 11 October, it has been rising more easily from depth and not spending much more than a few days at shallow levels before being extruded onto the surface. Reviews of several lines of evidence confirm that the average rate of volume change between late September and mid-October of the deformed area and new lava dome was about 8 cubic meters (10 cubic yards, or a typical dump truck full) per second. A substantial part of that change must be magma, which suggests a rate similar to that of many other lava-dome-building eruptions.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 14:00 | Permalink

• New Lava Lobe On Mount St. Helens Is 'Huge' 2004-Oct-22 06:06 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle/Associated Press

  SEATTLE -- The new lobe on the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater has grown to roughly the size of an aircraft carrier.

  After getting a good look into the crater, U.S. Geological Survey scientists said the new feature is about 900 feet long, 250 feet wide and 230 feet high.

• Weather hampers Mount St. Helens monitoring 2004-Oct-24 10:07 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/NW Cable News

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Rain and clouds Saturday again hampered efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor the restless Mount St. Helens volcano.

  Due largely to low clouds, a remote-control monitoring plane has not been an immediate help to scientists, but it shows promise. Poor viewing conditions with rain were forecast throughout the weekend.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:44 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift southeastward to eastward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

No field work was possible yesterday owing to poor weather. Today field crews will attempt to make geological and thermal-imaging observations and to take aerial photographs for use in estimating the rate of growth of the new lava dome and the deforming area.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:40 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift eastward from the volcano. Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

No geological or thermal-imaging observations were possible yesterday owing to poor weather. No field work is planned for today, but missions are being planned for Sunday.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:14 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift eastward from the volcano.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the near term.

In spite of deteriorating weather conditions yesterday, geological and thermal-imaging observations were possible and indicated that both the area of uplift and the new lava extrusion have grown noticeably since viewed on the previous day. The area of uplift and intense deformation continues to move southward and is nearing the crater wall. Intense steaming prohibited detailed estimates of dimensions, but the new lava extrusion, which has a volume of about 2 million cubic yards, displayed a new protrusion that had a maximum temperature of about 650 degrees C (1200 degrees F).

Any field work today will be limited to maintenance of telemetry systems.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:47 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift southeastward from the volcano.

In the past 24 hours, seismicity has decreased somewhat and remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. Last night, glow from this new lava was intermittently visible on the U.S. Forest Service web camera. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor.

Yesterday was a busy day in the field. Geological and thermal-imaging observations confirmed that both the area of uplift and the new lava extrusion have increased in size noticeably since last seen on October 14. The area of uplift and intense deformation continues to move southward and is nearing the crater wall. About 1 foot of new snow with a light dusting of ash covers much of the uplift, except for the new lava extrusion, which is steaming heavily. The new lava extrusion, which occupies the western part of the uplift, is now about 900 ft long by 250 ft wide and 230 ft high and has a volume of almost 2 million cubic yards. Its maximum temperature is about 600 degrees C (1100 degrees F). Rock samples from the new lava extrusion were collected from a helicopter by using a bucket slung on a 100-ft line. The samples look like typical Mount St. Helens lava, called dacite. Further detailed analyses of the samples will help to answer questions about the character of the magma driving the eruption and how it relates to lava erupted in the 1980s.

A gas-sensing flight detected low levels of the volcanic gases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide, which is consistent magma continuing to rise from depth.

Test flights of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which will hopefully be used for monitoring the crater area in the future, were conducted yesterday close to the Johnston Ridge Observatory. More tests are scheduled for today if weather conditions permit.

Field crews will attempt to obtain additional geological and thermal-imaging observations today. Other work will continue on maintenance of instrumentation and improving our telemetry systems.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:27 | Permalink

• Dome continues to grow at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-20 18:45 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  SEATTLE — Scientists got their first good look at Mount St. Helens Wednesday after the clouds cleared up, revealing a snow covered volcano still steaming and the new dome growing slowly but steadily.

  Clouds and fog had obscured the crater since before last weekend, but the clearing allowed scientists to calculate and confirm the new dome was growing in size and that new lava was still pushing up to the surface.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 21:42 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift to the west and southwest from the volcano.

In the past 24 hours, seismicity has decreased somewhat and remains at a low level compared to that observed early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. Last night, glow from this new lava was intermittently visible on the U.S. Forest Service web camera. The overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor.

Poor weather yesterday again prevented geological observations. When last seen during an overflight on October 14, estimated dimensions of the new lava extrusion were approximately 110 x 70 meters (360 x 230 ft) in length and height and about 18 m (58 ft) in width. The maximum temperature recorded on October 14 during the last successful overflight of the crater area, was 761 degrees C (1400 degrees F).

Today, weather conditions have improved considerably and field crews are flying this morning to obtain new photographs, video, thermal images, and other data. Preliminary reports from the field indicate that the new lava dome has increased in width since October 14 and much of the fin-shaped lava spine described earlier has collapsed. Some ash likely related to small avalanches from the spine and possibly small ash emissions is visible on snow inside the crater. A vigorous steam plume is rising to approximately 10,000 feet above sea level.

A gas measurement flight is planned for later in the day. Other field crews are conducting maintenance on instrumentation and improving our telemetry systems.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:14 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky. Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift to the northwest, north, and northeast from the volcano.

In the past 24 hours, seismicity has not changed significantly and remains at a low level overall. Continuing storm noise explains some of the higher background signal observed. We have no new Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements to report. Poor weather yesterday again prevented geological observations.

The current level and character of seismicity are consistent with a continuing rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding the surface extrusion of lava. Low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor.

When weather conditions improve, we will continue geologic observations, thermal imaging, and making improvements in telemetry systems.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:55 | Permalink

• St. Helens continues to build lava dome 2004-Oct-18 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  Mount St. Helens continued the slow process of building a new lava dome in its crater yesterday with still more lava pushing to the surface, geologists reported.

• Lava dome continues building on Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-17 16:53 from KGW (ch.8) Portland/NW Cable News

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continued over the weekend, scientists said, indicating that lava remains quietly pushing into the crater.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:50 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky. Although considered less likely at this time, the current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift to the east and then to the north and northeast later this afternoon.

Seismicity has not changed significantly and remains at a low level overall. Continuing storm noise explains some of the higher background signal observed. We have no new Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements to report. Poor weather yesterday prevented geological observations.

The current level and character of seismicity are consistent with a continuing rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding the surface extrusion of lava. Low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor. When weather conditions improve, we will continue geologic observations, thermal imaging, and making improvements in telemetry systems.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:46 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Under current conditions, small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if they are triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. Such lahars pose negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel upstream of the SRS. Owing to weather and stream-flow conditions at this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky. Although considered less likely at this time, eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that any ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today will drift northeastward to eastward later in the day.

Seismicity has increased slightly in the past 24 hours, but remains at a low level overall. Some of the higher seismicity is due to storm noise. Overnight, rainfall triggered a small debris flow that flowed north from the crater and changed rapidly to muddy streamflow within 5 km of the volcano. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements continue to indicate only minor deformation of the northern part of the 1980-86 lava dome and no deformation of the outer flanks of the volcano. Poor weather yesterday prevented geological observations.

The current level and character of seismicity are consistent with a continuing rise of magma driving uplift of the crater floor and feeding the surface extrusion of lava. Low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor.

Field crews will not be out in today's poor weather. When weather conditions improve, we will continue geologic observations, thermal imaging, and making improvements in telemetry systems.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:58 | Permalink

• Mount St. Helens' Fin May Be Splitting 2004-Oct-16 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  SEATTLE - The stone "fin" on the new lava lobe inside the crater at Mount St. Helens seems to be starting to split.

  The fin, which is about 200 feet tall and 300 feet wide, is building on the new lava dome, which is about 1,600 feet in diameter and 400 feet high, U.S. Geological Survey geologist Tina Neal said Friday.

• Mount St. Helens fin may be splitting 2004-Oct-16 12:42 from NW Cable News/Associated Press

  SEATTLE — The stone "fin" on the new lava lobe inside the crater at Mount St. Helens seems to be starting to split.

  The fin, which is about 200 feet tall and 300 feet wide, is building on the new lava dome, which is about 1,600 feet in diameter and 400 feet high, U.S. Geological Survey geologist Tina Neal said Friday.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 12:30 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Under current conditions, small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if they are triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. Such lahars pose negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people working or recreating along the river channel upstream of the SRS. Furthermore, due to weather and stream-flow conditions at this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky. Although considered less likely at this time, eruptive activity could also evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that any ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today will drift east-southeastward to eastward later in the day.

During the past 24 hours, seismicity has remained at a low level. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements continue to indicate only minor deformation of the northern part of the 1980-86 lava dome and no deformation of the outer flanks of the volcano. Poor weather yesterday limited geological observations to a few time-lapse pictures from the video camera at Sugar Bowl and brief views from Johnston Ridge Observatory. Parts of the area of uplift and new lava dome visible from those points were higher than when last seen on 14 October.

Our recent observations are consistent with ongoing rise of magma driving the uplift and feeding the surface extrusion of lava. Low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor.

Today, field crews will continue geologic observations, thermal imaging, and improvements in telemetry systems if weather conditions permit.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 12:22 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. Under current conditions, small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if they are triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. Such lahars pose negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people working or recreating along the river channel upstream of the SRS. Furthermore, due to weather and stream-flow conditions at this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky. Although considered less likely at this time, eruptive activity could also evolve into a more explosive phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that any ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today will drift southeastward.

During the past 24 hours, seismicity has remained at a low level. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements continue to indicate only minor deformation of the northern part of the 1980-86 lava dome and no deformation of the outer flanks of the volcano. A gas-sensing flight yesterday found conditions unchanged from Wednesday with a low flux of sulfur dioxide and no detectable carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide. Yesterday's geological observations and thermal imaging of the new lava dome indicate continued slow extrusion of lava. In addition, the surrounding uplifting and intensely deforming area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome and adjoining glacier continues to broaden.

Our recent observations are consistent with ongoing rise of magma driving the uplift and feeding the surface extrusion of lava. Low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that the lava reaching the surface is gas poor.

Today, field crews will continue geologic observations, thermal imaging, and improvements in telemetry systems.

We continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 11:21 | Permalink

• Mount St. Helens' other big news -- a growing glacier 2004-Oct-15 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS -- While earthquakes, steam and lava are getting all the attention on Mount St. Helens these days, the volcano's most unusual feature could be the icy epitome of slow motion that has sprouted on its flanks in the last two decades: its glacier.

• Mount St. Helens oozing new lava 2004-Oct-15 08:37 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/Associated Press

  SEATTLE — Scientists were gearing up Friday to see what's inside Moun St. Helens' crater where new lava continues to ooze, expanding the growing rock formation behind the volcano's old lava dome

• More Lava Emerges On Crater Floor 2004-Oct-14 05:55 (Update: 2004-Oct-15 06:09) from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- More new lava emerged on the crater floor of Mount Saint Helens Thursday, expanding the growing rock formation behind the volcano's old lava dome and emitting a red glow at night.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:58 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low level today. Today's visual observations and thermal imaging of the crater were focused on the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome and the new lobe of lava in the western part of that area. The area of both the uplift and the new lobe of lava have increased slightly since yesterday. Yesterday's gas-sensing flight detected low levels of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, but no carbon dioxide. Abundant steam continues to rise from the area of lava extrusion to the crater rim, from which it is being dispersed downwind. Measurements taken yesterday of flow-rate and temperature in streams draining the crater showed no significant change from late September values.

Other field work today included a gas-sensing flight (data not yet reduced), downloading GPS data, and servicing GPS stations.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show that any ash clouds will drift south-southeastward this evening and southeastward tomorrow morning. Magma continues to be at a very shallow level and is extruding onto the surface and forming a new lobe of the lava dome. Small emissions of steam and ash are possible. Reflection onto steam clouds of incandescence or glow from the hot rock and gases will be visible at night from some locations.

Lava-dome growth is a dynamic process and, as we observed in the mid-1980s, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of activity over periods of days to weeks, or even months. We expect fluctuations in the level of eruptive activity to continue. Escalation could occur suddenly. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Under current conditions, small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could be triggered if hot material from the new lava extrusion swiftly melts glacier ice. Such lahars pose negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), but could pose a hazard to people working or recreating along the river channel upstream of the SRS. Furthermore, due to weather and stream-flow conditions at this time of year, it is not unusual for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations of sediment that turn the water murky.

There will no longer be daily media briefings at the Headquarters of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A media briefing will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Castle Lake Viewpoint in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. However no additional such briefing are planned until conditions warrant them. Beginning tomorrow, we will release only one daily update, at approximately 11 a.m. Tomorrow's update will contain information regarding media contacts with the Joint Information Center.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 18:32 | Permalink

• Mount St. Helens adds to new dome 2004-Oct-14 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  Mount St. Helens continued to reveal its inner self yesterday as additional glowing lava pushed to the surface in the volcano's crater.

• Slow Eruption Makes Mount St. Helens Glow At Night 2004-Oct-14 05:55 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Molten rock rising inside Mount St. Helens is giving the volcano an eerie red glow at night.

• New St. Helens dome producing eerie glow 2004-Oct-14 08:23 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — The ongoing dome-building eruption at Mount St. Helens has produced glowing red lava that can be seen in nighttime aerial views of the peak, scientists say.

• Mount St. Helens' lava dome grows steadily 2004-Oct-14 08:01 from The Seattle Times

  Molten rock continued to punch through the crater of Mount St. Helens yesterday, adding to a new lava dome and holding out the prospect of prime sightseeing, as long as the weather remains clear.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:29 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low level overnight, little changed from yesterday. Wednesday's visual observations and thermal imaging of the crater focused on the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome and on the new lobe of lava in the western part of that area. The areas of both the uplift and the new lobe of lava are still increasing. Temperatures of almost 700 degrees C were measured in parts of the new lobe, from which ash-rich jets rose tens of meters. Abundant steam continued to rise from the area of lava extrusion to the crater rim, where it dispersed southwestward in strong winds.

Other field work on Wednesday included a gas-sensing flight (data not yet reduced), downloading GPS data, and observations of water flows and temperatures in streams draining the crater. Today's fieldwork will include a thermal imaging flight, geologic observations, and instrument maintenance.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show light north to northwesterly winds this morning. Any ash clouds will drift generally south to southeastward.

Magma continues to be at a very shallow level and is extruding onto the surface and forming a new lobe of the lava dome. Incandescence or glow from the hot rock will likely be visible intermittently from north of the volcano, or possibly from other vantage points if the right cloud conditions exist.

Lava-dome growth is a dynamic process and, as we observed in the mid-1980s, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of activity over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of eruptive activity to continue. Escalation could occur suddenly or with very little warning and may include explosive events. We continue therefore to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:24 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low level today, maintaining the slight increase that occurred last night. This morning's visual observations and thermal imaging of the crater were focused on the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome and the new lobe of lava in the western part of that area. The area of both the uplift and the new lobe of lava have increased slightly since yesterday. Temperatures of almost 700 degrees C were measured in parts of the new lobe, from which ash-rich jets rose tens of meters. Abundant steam continued to rise from the area of lava extrusion to the crater rim, from which it was dispersed southwestward by strong winds.

Other field work today included a gas-sensing flight (data not yet reduced), downloading GPS data, and observations of water flows and temperatures in streams draining the crater.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show variable wind directions tonight, but generally northerly. Any ash clouds will drift southward this evening and southeastward tomorrow morning.

Magma continues to be at a very shallow level and is extruding onto the surface and forming a new lobe of the lava dome. Incandescence or glow from the hot rock will likely be visible intermittently from north of the volcano, or possibly from other vantage points if the right cloud conditions exist.

Lava-dome growth is a dynamic process and, as we observed in the mid-1980s, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of activity over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of eruptive activity to continue. Escalation could occur suddenly or with very little warning. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 18:27 | Permalink

• Dome-building eruption creates eerie red glow at St. Helens Update: 2004-Oct-13 12:50 from The Seattle Times

  SEATTLE — The ongoing dome-building eruption at Mount St. Helens could last for days, weeks or months, and nighttime views of the peak now include a red glow from lava surfacing at nearly 1,300 degree Fahrenheit, scientists said today.

  Clouds also can reflect the glow of red-hot stone, geologist Tina Neal of the U.S. Geological Survey told a news conference.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:28 | Permalink

• Lava makes it out top of volcano 2004-Oct-13 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  MOUNT ST. HELENS -- For the first time in 18 years, lava has broken the surface of this restless volcano, pushing its way out Monday afternoon in an inky gray spine of crystallized molten rock from what scientists are calling a new lava dome.

• St. Helens erupts politely, hints show may get livelier 2004-Oct-13 08:12 from The Seattle Times

  After 2½ weeks of rumbling, burping buildup, lava finally punched through to the surface at Mount St. Helens early yesterday. But it happened so quietly even scientists didn't realize it at first.

• Mount St. Helens Steaming 2004-Oct-13 08:31 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Mount St. Helens was steaming Mondayfrom glowing lava in the crater of the volcano.

• Lava spotted in new Mount St. Helens dome 2004-Oct-13 07:57 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — Weeks after Mount St. Helens first showed signs of activity, scientists confirmed Tuesday that hot molten rock had reached the surface of the crater, creating a new lava dome with the emergence of magma into the crater.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:45 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low, but slightly increasing level overnight. Yesterday's visual observations and thermal imaging of the 1980-86 lava dome, the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the dome, and the new lava extrusion first seen on October 11 were hampered by steam clouds. Conditions appeared similar to those of October 11, with high temperatures (up to 600 degrees C) around the fin-shaped lava extrusion in the western part of the uplift. The area of high temperature appears to have increased in size. Abundant steam continued to rise from the fin area to the crater rim, from which it was dispersed southeastward by strong winds.

A new instrument array was lowered onto the uplifting area on October 12 by helicopter. It contains telemetered seismic, GPS, and tilt instruments, as well as a microphone. It will provide critical information on rate of movement of the uplift as well as a close-in seismic station, which is proving useful in interpreting very small seismic events that do not appear at more distant stations. Today, field crews will take new thermal images of the crater floor and dome, make gas-sensing measurements, perform routine maintenance of GPS sites, and take hydrological measurements.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show generally northerly winds. Any ash clouds will drift southward to southeastward.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past two and one-half weeks and recent observations, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level and is extruding onto the surface. Incandescence from hot rock or gases reflects off steam clouds and is visible from north of the volcano. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:20 | Permalink

• Lava reaches surface at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-12 15:54 KING (ch.5) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — Weeks after Mount St. Helens first showed signs of acvtivity, scientists confirmed Tuesday that hot molten rock had reached the surface of the crater.

  A fin of rock, about 20 meters high, 40 meters long and as much as 1,100 degrees Farhenheit has punctured the surface, according to USGS scientists Tina Neal.

• Magma Reaches Surface At Mt. St. Helens 2004-Oct-12 KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  MT. ST. HELENS - Volcanic rock has flowed to the surface of Mount St. Helens' crater, creating a new lava dome after weeks of seismic activity, a geologist said Tuesday.

  Scientists had known for days that magma or molten rock was nearing the surface, as a bulge grew on the south side of the existing 1,000-foot lava dome and the increasingly hot rock gave off steam as it met water and ice in the crater. The bulge is now considered a new lava dome, the scientists said.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 18:25 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low, but gradually increasing level today. This morning's visual observations and thermal imaging of the 1980-86 lava dome, the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the dome, and the new lava extrusion first seen yesterday afternoon were hampered by steam clouds. Conditions appeared similar to those of yesterday afternoon, with high temperatures (up to 600 degrees C) around the fin-shaped lava extrusion in the western part of the uplift. The area of high temperature appears to have increased in size. Abundant steam continued to rise from the fin area to the crater rim, from which it was dispersed southeastward by strong winds.

A new instrument array was lowered onto the uplifting area this afternoon by helicopter. It contains telemetered seismic, GPS, and tilt instruments, as well as a microphone. It will provide critical information on rate of movement of the uplift as well as a close-in seismic station. Other field work concentrated on improving satellite and radio telemetry systems.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show variable wind directions tonight, but generally northerly. Any ash clouds will drift southwestward to southeastward.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past two and one-half weeks and recent observations, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level and is likely extruding onto the surface. As last night, incandescence from hot rock or gases could reflect off steam clouds and be visible from north of the volcano. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 18:16 | Permalink

• Lava breaks surface at Mount St. Helens Updated: 2004-Oct-12 14:06 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  SEATTLE -- Magma that has been rising inside Mount St. Helens finally pushed its way to the surface Tuesday and formed a new lava dome just behind the existing one in the volcano's crater, after weeks of earthquakes and steam eruptions.

  The quakes subsided as the new lava emerged and cooled in the open air, suggesting molten rock from deep inside the Earth had found the path of least resistance by going around the old dome, said hydrologist Jon Major with the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash.

• Magma Reaches Surface, Lava Dome Growing 2004-Oct-12 05:59(Update: 11:08) KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Officials with the U.S. Geological Survey said magma has reached the surface at Mount St. Helens, and a lava dome is growing in the crater of the volcano.

  Thermal imaging showed part of a bulge on the south side of the dome-shaped rock formation had heated to 932 to 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit, scientists said. The surface of that part of the dome also appeared to be broken up.

• Lava breaks surface at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-12 12:31 (update) from The Seattle Times

  After two-and-a-half weeks of rumbling and burping, Mount St. Helens has disgorged magma, marking the start of what could be a long period of dome-building.

  This morning, scientists reported a piece of solidified lava protruding from the dome that has been building in the volcano's crater. Infrared instruments measured the temperature of the new rock at 900 to 1100 degrees, said U.S. Geological Survey geologist Tina Neal.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 15:13 | Permalink

• Lava breaks surface at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-12 11:33 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- A new lava dome is growing on Mount St. Helens, with volcanic rock reaching the surface of the crater after weeks of seismic activity, scientists said Tuesday.

• Lava reaches surface at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-12 12:24 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — Weeks after Mount St. Helens first showed signs of acvtivity, scientists confirmed Tuesday that hot molten rock had reached the surface of the crater.

  A fin of rock, about 20 meters high, 40 meters long and as much as 1,100 degrees Farhenheit has punctured the surface, according to USGS scientists Tina Neal.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:05 | Permalink

• St. Helens hot under the collar 2004-Oct-12 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A massive loaf of rock bulging from Mount St. Helens' crater is spreading rapidly and growing piping hot -- signs that upchurning molten rock is nearing the volcano's surface, scientists say.

  Thermal imaging of the ever-growing bulge on the south side of the volcano's lava dome for the first time has shown "significantly heated areas" ranging from 200 to 300 degrees Celsius -- about 400 to 570 degrees Fahrenheit, U.S. Geological Survey scientists said yesterday.

• Mount St. Helens releases more steam 2004-Oct-12 04:30 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Mount St. Helens vented more steam Monday as new thermal images revealed that parts of the lava dome in its crater are piping hot, a sign that magma continues to rise within the volcano.

• Temperatures soar in Mount St. Helens' crater 2004-Oct-12 07:08 from The Seattle Times/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS — New thermal images reveal that parts of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater are piping hot, and scientists are seeing signs that magma continues to rise.

  Scientists said an area on the south side of the old dome, where a large uplift of rock has been growing, appears perforated as if magma has been hammering at the surface.

• Mount St. Helens' magma on the rise, say scientists 2004-Oct-12 07:09 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — New thermal images reveal that parts of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater are piping hot, and scientists are seeing signs that magma continues to rise.

• St. Helens Crater Heating Up 2004-Oct-12 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  MT. ST. HELENS - New thermal images reveal that parts of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater are piping hot, and scientists are seeing signs that magma continues to rise.

• Glacier Grows In St. Helens' Crater 2004-Oct-12 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  MT. ST. HELENS - While earthquakes, steam and magma are getting all the attention on Mount St. Helens these days, the volcano's most unique feature could be the icy epitome of slow motion that has sprouted on its flanks in the last two decades: its glacier.

• Drone To Be Sent Over Mount St. Helens' Crater 2004-Oct-12 05:59 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Scientists hope to use an unmanned drone loaded with instruments Tuesday to fly over Mount Saint Helens and take measurements from the crater, which has been steaming and deforming dramatically since the volcano rumbled to life again last month.

  Researchers Monday night were still awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to make the flight, which would use an unmanned craft called the Silver Fox.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:32 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low level overnight. Small earthquakes (maximum about magnitude 1) continue to occur at a rate of about 1 per 5 to 10 minutes. Visual observations and thermal imaging of the crater, the 1980-86 lava dome, and the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the dome were made yesterday afternoon. Thermal imaging of the western part of the uplifting area revealed temperatures of 500 to 600 degrees C on a large pinkish-gray fin of rock and in nearby fumaroles and cracks. These observations are consistent with new lava having reached the surface of the uplift. Additional visual and thermal observations will be made today to further evaluate this interpretation.

A gas-sensing flight yesterday measured fluxes of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide that are similar to or slightly smaller than those measured on 7 October. The next gas-sensing flight is scheduled for tomorrow.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds this morning will remain northwesterly. Any ash clouds will drift south-southeastwardly to southeastwardly.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past two weeks and yesterday's observations, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level, and perhaps at the surface. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:19 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low level today. Currently small earthquakes (maximum about magnitude 1) are occurring at a rate of about 1 per 5 to 10 minutes. Visual observations and thermal imaging of the crater, the 1980-86 lava dome, and the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the dome were made during the afternoon. The western part of the uplifting area appears to be the most actively deforming site and was the source of a brief steam and emission about 16:00 that drifted southeastward. A dusting of ash on new snow in that sector suggests that similar minor ash emissions also occurred last night. A steam plume originating on the deforming area continues to rise above the crater rim and drift to the southeast. Scientists also conducted a gas-sensing flight. Results will be available tomorrow as will results of thermal imaging.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past two weeks, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds this evening will remain northwesterly. Any ash clouds will drift south-southeastwardly to southeastwardly.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 21:36 | Permalink

• Mount St. Helens releases more steam 2004-Oct-11 08:02 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Mount Saint Helens gave off more steam Monday morning, with a small cloud drifting up from the crater as the sun started to rise.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:11 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismicity overnight remained at a low level similar to October 10. Small earthquakes (about magnitude 1) have continued at a rate of about 1 per 5 to 10 minutes.

Viewing conditions were very clear most of October 10, and fresh snow had fallen to the level of the crater floor north of the dome. A USGS field crew noticed a thin ash deposit on the snow in the crater and just beyond the crater rim, trending southeast from the active area.

A steam plume rose to crater rim level or slightly above all day on October 10, heading to the southeast. USGS field workers described the plume as “lazy”—no gas thrust or notably vigorous convection was observed. The plume was clean, with no noticeable ash or blue/orange haze. The odor of H2S was noted at the crater breach, but not elsewhere.

Helicopter field crews were at work on Sunday October 10. A telemetered webcam was placed at Sugarbowl and GPS data were downloaded.

The thermal imaging crew made an excellent video of the uplifted area of the south crater floor. The western portion of the the uplift was steaming over a large diffuse area. Maximum measured surface temperatures were 200-300 deg. C. The thermal imaging crew judged the uplifted area to have grown since it was last seen on the 7th.

No gas observations were made on October 10.

Rockfall deposits were not seen on or around the uplifted area, perhaps indicating a lull in its growth or deformation.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 18 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, oreven months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

The weather forecast for the next several days is favorable for fieldwork and observations. Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds today will remain north-northwesterly. Any ash clouds will drift south- southeastwardly to southeastwardly.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:03 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity remained at a low level today. Currently small earthquakes (about magnitude 1) are occurring at a rate of about 1 per 5 to 10 minutes. Very small earthquakes are occurring at a rate of about 1 per minute. Visual observations and thermal imaging of the crater, the 1980-86 lava dome, and the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the dome were made during the early afternoon. The deforming area has increased in area by about 10 percent since last seen on 7 October. Estimate of change in height awaits further analysis. A steam plume originating at vents on the deforming area is rising above the crater rim and drifting to the southeast. A dusting of ash on new snow high on the volcano suggests that minor ash emission may be occurring intermittently. Installation of a remotely controlled video camera provided by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory began late in the day at Sugar Bowl, which lies at the eastern side of The Breach, the open north end of the 1980 Crater.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 11 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds early this evening will remain northwesterly. Any ash clouds will drift south-southeastwardly to southeastwardly.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 19:12 | Permalink

• Mount St. Helens puffs out new steam cloud 2004-Oct-10 09:32 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Mount St. Helens shot off a new cloud of steam Sunday just as scientists arrived for another day of monitoring the rumbling volcano.

  The billow of dark steam rose at dawn from an area of the crater where a large upwelling of rock has been growing rapidly. The plume rose several hundred feet above the 8,364-foot volcano, and light wind slowly blew it toward the south and southeast.

• Media enthralled by science and drama of Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-10 00:00 from The Seattle Times

  The visuals are hard to beat: In the foreground, the broad valley still covered with ash and mud from the May 18, 1980, blast. Beyond it, Mount St. Helens steaming almost on cue.

  Since the volcano stirred to life last month, reporters and photographers have rushed to its flanks in droves. St. Helens' rumblings have been chronicled around the world.

• Earthquake activity ramps up at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-10 18:24 from KING (ch.5) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. - Earthquake activity has increased at Mount St. Helens, but scientists said Saturday there was no reason to raise the volcano's alert level. Scientists said earthquake activity had been low until Friday, indicating molten rock was moving upward with little resistance. By Saturday, however, quakes of magnitude 2.4 were occurring every one to two minutes, they said.

• St. Helens Blows Off A Little More Steam 2004-Oct-10 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  MT. ST. HELENS - Mount St. Helens shot off a new steam emission Sunday morning just as scientists arrived for another day of monitoring the rumbling volcano.

  Lights winds slowly blew the white plume south and southeast after the burst around 7 a.m.

• New Steam Emission From Mount Saint Helens 2004-Oct-10 07:53 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT SAINT HELENS -- Mount St. Helens shot off a new steam emission Sunday morning just as scientists arrived for another day of monitoring the rumbling volcano. Lights winds slowly blew the white plume south and southeast after the burst around 7 A-M. Scientists have not yet determined whether the steam cloud that rose several hundred feet above the mountain contained any ash. Sunday morning's emission follows an increase in earthquake activity over the past two days. Overnight however, quakes of magnitude 1 or less were occuring one every minute.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:43 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity has decreased slightly over the past 20 hours to low levels, similar to those observed during the evening hours of October 7. Earthquakes continue to occur at a rate of about 1 per minute, but most have magnitudes of 1.0 or less. With the improving weather, a gas measuring flight is planned within the next two days.

Additional analysis of lidar and photographs of the intensely uplifting area on the south side of the lava dome suggests that the total volume change represented by the deformation between late September and October 6 is about 16 million cubic meters (21 million cubic yards). The average rate of change is about 2 million cubic meters per day (2.6 million cubic yards per day). If this figure represents the rate of intrusion of magma into shallow levels of the dome and(or) underlying crater floor, it is an intrusion rate about twice that measured during dome-building eruptions at Mount St. Helens in the 1980s. Cartographers with the USGS office in Denver are working to develop precise volume change estimates for the uplifted area from stereo airphotos acquired between 1 and 5 October.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 17 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds early this morning will be from the north-northwest. Any ash clouds will drift to the south-southeast.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:30 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity has remained at a moderate, but variable rate. Currently earthquakes up to magnitude 2 are occurring at a rate of about 1 every two to three minutes minutes. No visual observations of the crater, the 1980-86 lava dome, or the intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the dome were possible today due to low clouds. No scientists worked in the field today.

Additional analysis of lidar and photographs of the intensely uplifting area on the south side of the lava dome suggests that the total volume change represented by the deformation between late September and October 6 is about 16 million cubic meters (21 million cubic yards). The average rate of change is about 2 million cubic meters per day (2.6 million cubic yards per day). If this figure represents the rate of intrusion of magma into shallow levels of the dome and(or) underlying crater floor, it is an intrusion rate about twice that measured during dome-building eruptions at Mount St. Helens in the 1980s.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 11 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds early this evening will remain westerly becoming northwesterly later. Any ash clouds will drift eastward (tonight) and southeastward (early tomorrow morning).

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 18:00 | Permalink

• Tourists flowing into area to view volcano 2004-Oct-09 00:01 from The Seattle Times

  CASTLE ROCK, Cowlitz County — Waitress Sandy Gibson slides a plate of blueberry pancakes and hot syrup across the table while a pair of locals sip their morning coffee at the Rose Tree Restaurant. It's almost 7 a.m., still too early for the morning breakfast crowd. But Gibson, looking up at the clock behind the counter, knows it's coming.

• "Loaf" rises higher than Mount St. Helens dome 2004-Oct-09 00:01 from The Seattle Times

  "The Loaf" in Mount St. Helens' crater continues to cook, rising 10 to 30 feet in the preceding 24 hours, geologists said yesterday.

  The top of the new bulge is now slightly higher than the lava dome built up by a series of eruptions in the mid-1980s, said Jake Lowenstern, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) volcanologist.

• Lava dome still growing at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-08 14:40 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — Part of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater has risen 10 to 30 feet in the past day, on top of 250 feet in the past week, U.S. Geological Survey scientists said Friday.

• St. Helens Crater Floor Bulges Another 30 Feet Friday 2004-Oct-09 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  VANCOUVER, WASH. - Part of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater has risen 10 to 30 feet in the past day, on top of 250 feet in the past week, U.S. Geological Survey scientists say.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:29 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity leveled off overnight after rising gradually for most of yesterday (10/08), with earthquakes up to magnitude 2.4 presently occurring at a rate of about 1 every two minutes. No visual observations of the crater and dome were possible yesterday due to low clouds and rain. Acoustic Flow Measurement (AFM) data showed no evidence of lahars occurring overnight. Field work yesterday was limited to observations of river flows and installation of a satellite dish near Coldwater Visitor Center for telemetry of seismic, GPS, and other data. Measurements from recent photographs and LIDAR (an acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging) show that, as of 10/07, the intensely deformed and uplifted area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome is about 1300 feet (N-S) by 1600 feet (E-W) with a maximum uplift of about 300-400 feet.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 15 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show that winds in the early morning will remain westerly and any ash clouds will drift east-northeastwards. Today's press conference will be held at the Headquarters office of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest at 10:30 a.m.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:11 | Permalink

• Crater Floor Bulging At Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-08 12:07 (Update: 12:16) from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  VANCOUVER, Wash. -- An area on the floor of Mount St. Helens continued to bulge Friday, a sign that magma was pushing up inside the volcano. U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist Jake Lowenstern said the bulge rose another ten to 30 feet in the past since Thursday, on top of a 250-foot uplift in the past week.

• St. Helens Crater Floor Bulges Another 10-30 Feet Friday 2004-Oct-08 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  VANCOUVER, WASH. - An area on the floor of Mount St. Helens continues to bulge, a sign that magma continues to push up inside the volcano.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 14:24 | Permalink

• 'The skids are greased,' says one watching scientist 2004-Oct-08 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  The vents are open, the dome is building and the mountain continues to percolate. And some time, someday, maybe soon, Mount St. Helens could purge a column of ash miles into the atmosphere -- an outburst that could rival even that of the infamous blast of 1980. Or so says the latest round of scientific theories about the ever-changing powder keg that is St. Helens.

• Crater's "Loaf" rises 100 feet on St. Helens 2004-Oct-08 00:00 from The Seattle Times

  MOUNT ST. HELENS — Part of Mount St. Helens' crater has risen an additional 100 feet in the past few days, more evidence of change in the volcano as it enters a new period of activity.

  Scientists call this uplifted area "the Loaf." It is a fractured zone that underlies glacier ice and part of the crater's lava dome, and it now has risen a total of about 250 feet in the past week, according to the U.S. Geological Survey

• Lava dome continues to grow at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-08 07:57 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/KGW (ch.8) Portland/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. – Part of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday but earthquake activity remained low, indicating molten rock is moving upward with little resistance, scientists said.

• Predictions For Mount St. Helens Change 2004-Oct-07 16:54 (Update: 2004-Oct-08 06:07) from KOMO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Scientists said the earthquakes and explosions at Mount St. Helens could lead to an eruption as powerful as the one in 1980, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:40 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity continues to be at a low to moderate rate with an overall trend of slightly decreasing energy release over the past 24 hours. Earthquakes are occurring at a rate of 1 to 2 per minute with the largest magnitudes about M1.5. Yesterday field crews reported a new vent near the two that have been present for several days. They also reported that there has not been noticeable additional uplift of the south part of the dome and adjacent glacier in the past 24 hours.

Gas-sensing and thermal imaging flights occurred late yesterday afternoon and we are awaiting those results. There will be limited work in the field today due to the poor weather. Field crews today will mostly work on enhancing data links between field stations and the Cascades Volcano Observatory.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past many days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show that winds during the morning will be from the south-southwest and any ash will drift north-northeast. The National Weather Service is forecasting a weather front that could bring more than 1 inch of rain to the mountains. We anticipate that such intense rain could trigger small to moderate debris flows in the crater that may flow out onto the Pumice Plain.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:21 | Permalink

• Revised St. Helens Forecast Warns Of Larger Eruption 2004-Oct-07 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  MT. ST. HELENS - Scientists announced Thursday that they are once again refining their prediction about the future of Mt. St. Helens, and that volcano has entered a new eruptive phase.

• Scentists: Crater floor continues to rise at Mount St. Helens Update: 2004-Oct-07 11:07 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Part of Mount St. Helens' crater floor has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday during a stretch of low seismic activity, a sign that magma is moving upward without much resistance at the volcano, scientists said Thursday.

• Lull on Mount St. Helens may not last for long Update: 2004-Oct-07 11:29 from The Seattle Times

  VANCOUVER, Wash. — Magma forcing its way to the top of Mount St. Helens has forced a bulge up to 100 feet higher since Tuesday, bringing the festering deformity as high or higher than the old lava dome inside the crater, scientists said this morning.

• Crater Floor Continues To Rise At Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-07 16:54 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Part of Mount St. Helens' crater floor has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday while earthquake rates have been low, signs that magma is moving upward without much resistance, scientists said Thursday.

• New Blast At Mount St. Helens Posted: 2004-Oct-07 05:47
  Update: 2004-Oct-07 10:29 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Ash or steam was spewing from Mount St. Helens Thursday morning, the latest sign of restlessness at the volcano. Helicopter video showed what appeared to be ash shooting from the crater about 10 a.m.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 20:47 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Seismic activity has been at a low to moderate rate today, with earthquakes of magnitude 1 to 2 occurring at a rate of about 1 per minute. Visual observations of the vents and the area of intense uplift on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome suggest that there has not been noticeable additional uplift in the past 24 hours. However, a new steam vent opened overnight to join the two that have been present for several days. Steaming from the vents generates a cloud that rises above the south side of the lava dome and extends a variable distance toward the crater rim.

Gas-sensing and thermal imaging flights are underway late this afternoon and results will be available later. Crews are also downloading GPS data and completing some work on seismic stations.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 11 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds this evening will be westerly and any ash clouds will drift east-northeastward. By tomorrow morning the winds will shift more to the south and any ash will drift more northerly.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 20:25 | Permalink

• Mount St. Helens vents steam, ash 2004-Oct-07 14:43 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/KGW (ch.8) Portland

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. – New steam bursts and a part of the crater that has risen 250 feet show that Mount St. Helens is not going to sleep anytime soon. Steam venting and uplift of the crater indicate that magma is on its way, say USGS scientists.

  After a lull of seismic activity since Tuesday's big steam blast, Mount St. Helens began spitting out periodic bursts of steam, rock and ash out of its crater Thursday morning at a lower but more frequent level.

• Mt. St. Helens' Crater Floor Continues To Rise 2004-Oct-07 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  MT. ST. HELENS - Scientists announced Thursday that they are once again refining their prediction about the future of Mt. St. Helens, and that volcano has entered a new eruptive phase, similar to the type of activity buildup that we saw back in 1980.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 15:05 | Permalink

• St. Helens keeps us all guessing 2004-Oct-07 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer

  Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Maybe next week, next month, next decade.

  When or if the mountain will blow again keeps scientists guessing, as Mount St. Helens took a nap, if not a fitful doze, yesterday after a Tuesday morning blast that spewed its largest plume in at least 18 years.

• Fire under ice may transform Mount St. Helens' crater glacier 2004-Oct-07 00:00 from The Seattle Times

  MOUNT ST. HELENS — It is more than 500 feet thick in some places, like a layer cake of ice, rock and snow, flowing in two directions as it wraps around the lava dome in the middle of Mount St. Helens' massive crater.

• Lull on Mount St. Helens may not last for long 2004-Oct-07 07:53 from The Seattle Times

  MOUNT ST. HELENS — The earthquakes that have shaken Mount St. Helens for nearly two weeks calmed down significantly yesterday, and scientists said they think the ascent of rock-cracking magma toward the volcano's surface has slowed or stopped.

• Scientists lower alert level at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-07 08:05 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/NW Cable News/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. — Scientists have lowered the alert level for Mount St. Helens, saying earthquake activity was down to the lowest level since before the volcano started venting steam last week.

• Steam Burst, More Quakes At Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-07 05:47 from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Seismic activity ramped up a bit at Mount Saint Helens, with earthquakes growing during the night, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:42 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

The low rate of seismic activity of the past day increased slightly overnight. Earthquakes are presently occurring at a rate of about 1 to 1.5 per minute with maximum magnitudes of about 1.0. Late yesterday afternoon scientists were able to get brief views of the vents and the area of intense uplift on the south side of the 1980- 86 lava dome. They saw only weak puffs of steam coming from vents. They were able to confirm that the top of the area of intense uplift is at or slightly above the highest point on the lava dome, which suggests that some uplift has occurred during this period of low seismicity. They were also able to observe areas affected by the small lahars that spilled out of the crater and onto the Pumice Plain during the rainstorm in the early morning of 6 October. Lahars flowed a short distance toward both Spirit Lake and the North Fork Toutle River.

Today, field crews will continue to harden GPS sites for the approaching winter, do a gas-sensing flight, take thermal images of the dome and crater floor and make geological observations.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 11 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation of unrest could occur suddenly and perhaps lead to an eruption with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show that winds this morning are southwesterly and any ash will drift to the northeast.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 08:27 | Permalink

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

The low rate of seismic activity that followed yesterday's steam and ash emission continued through last night, but rose slowly between about 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., before leveling off at a slightly higher level. Earthquakes are presently occurring at a rate of about one per minute with a maximum magnitude of about 1.0. No thermal observations were possible today owing to low clouds and rain, but late this afternoon scientists were able to get brief views of the vents and the area of intense uplift on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome. They saw only weak puffs of steam coming from vents. They were able to confirm that the top of the area of intense uplift is at or slightly above the highest point on the lava dome, which suggests that some uplift has occurred during this period of low seismicity. They were also able to observe areas affected by the small lahars that spilled out of the crater and onto the Pumice Plain during last night's rain storm. Lahars flowed a short distance toward both Spirit Lake and the North Fork Toutle River. Another crew worked on installation of broad-band seismometers on the lower flanks of the volcano.

Information received today indicates that a light dusting of ash from yesterday's event affected the eastern part of Mount Rainier National Park, about 70 miles north-northeast of Mount St. Helens.

As a result of the intense unrest of the past 10 days, we infer that magma is at a very shallow level. During times of unrest, Mount St. Helens and similar volcanoes elsewhere typically go through episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months. Such changes are in part driven by variations in the rate of magma movement. We expect fluctuations in the level of unrest to continue during coming days. Escalation in the degree of unrest and perhaps an eruption could occur suddenly or with very little warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. Therefore, we continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined with eruption models, show winds this evening will remain westerly and any ash clouds will drift eastward to northeastward.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 19:52 | Permalink

• Mt. St. Helens Calms Down; Alert Level Lowered 2004-Oct-06 from KOMO (ch.4) Seattle

  VANCOUVER - It looks like Mt. St. Helens might be taking a breather.

  Scientists lowered the alert level for Mount St. Helens on Wednesday, saying they are less worried about an explosive eruption and that occasional steam blasts and possibly releases of fresh volcanic rock could last for weeks or months.

• Mount St. Helens quiets down 2004-0ct-06 17:30 from KING (ch.5) Seattle/NW Cable News registration required

  MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Wash. - Government scientists said Wednesday that the danger of a strong Mount St. Helens eruption at any moment has passed, but warned the mountain could continue venting steam and volcanic rock for several weeks.

• Scientists drop alert level at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-06 16:30 from The Seattle Times

  VANCOUVER, Wash. — Earthquakes on Mount St. Helens increased slightly today after a marked stillness overnight, but the quakes are still so slight that scientists here believe the volcano has entered a lull after more than a week of building eruptions.

• Quake Activity Increases At Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-06 06:06 (Updated: 2004-Oct-06 15:20) from KIRO (ch.7) Seattle

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- The University of Washington reports that earthquake activity is starting to pick up again at Mount St. Helens.

  Activity dropped off after Tuesday's steam burst, leading the U.S. Geological Survey to lower the alert level at the volcano to Level Two from the highest level, Level Three. They say an eruption is no longer imminent.

• Scientists drop alert level at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-06 11:11 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Scientists dropped the alert level for Mount St. Helens on Wednesday, saying occasional steam blasts and possibly some eruptions of fresh volcanic rock could last for weeks or months.

  "We no longer think that an eruption is imminent in the sense of minutes or hours," Willie Scott, a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash., said after scientists reported a lower level of seismic activity at the mountain.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 19:50 | Permalink

Another update at the Cascade Range Current Update page announcing the lowering of the threat level to Alert Level 2.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:40 | Permalink

• Scientists drop alert level at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-06 09:47 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Scientists dropped the alert level for Mount St. Helens on Wednesday, saying occasional steam blasts and possibly some eruptions of fresh volcanic rock could last for weeks or months.

  "We no longer think that an eruption is imminent in the sense of minutes or hours," Willie Scott, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said after announcing the alert level had been lowered to level two, down from level three, the highest level.

• Alert level lowered on Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-06 09:52 from KING (Ch.5) Seattle/PNW Cable News [registration required]

  MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Wash. - Small earthquakes continued overnight at Mount St. Helens. But the level of seismicity is lower than in recent days.

  The volcano's period of relative quiet prompted geologists to lower the alert level predicting an eruption to 2 from 3, it's highest level. An eruption, possibly a very sudden one, is still possible, however.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 10:10 | Permalink

• More steam, ash likely at Mount St. Helens 2004-Oct-06 08:31 from The Seattle Post-Intellegencer/Associated Press

  MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. -- Weeks or months of occasional steam blasts and possibly some eruptions of fresh volcanic rock and ash are the most likely scenario at Mount St. Helens, scientists say.

• Volcano may puff away for weeks, even years 2004-Oct-06 00:00 from The Seattle Times

  CASTLE LAKE VIEWPOINT, near Mount St. Helens — With three explosions of steam and ash in less than a week, Mount St. Helens appears to have entered a restless new stage that could last weeks, months or possibly years, scientists said yesterday.

• Mount St. Helens still shaking 2004-Oct-06 06:36 from KING (Ch.5) Seattle/PNW Cable News [registration required]

  MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Wash. - Small earthquakes continued overnight at Mount St. Helens. But the level of seismicity is lower than in recent days. Scientists are watching closely to see if there will be another steam burst or perhaps a larger eruption of the volcano.

• New blast may be just start 2004-Oct-06> from The Portland Oregonian

  VANCOUVER -- With its third and by far most dramatic blast in four days, Mount St. Helens on Tuesday was declared by U.S. officials to be remaking itself and that the release of churning, ash-laden plumes may well become routine in the coming weeks or months.

• Clues point to eruption 2004-Oct-05 from The Columbian Vancouver, Wash.

  Geologist Willie Scott was discussing overnight activity on Mount St. Helens when he got sidetracked Monday by a volcanic interruption.

  The volcano released a burst of steam about 9:47 a.m., just as Scott was briefing reporters about Sunday night's release of steam and ash. Scientists didn't want to label Monday morning's steam emission as an eruption because, unlike earlier events on Friday and Sunday, it involved little or no ash. Monday morning's steam plume was followed by two others at 2:15 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.

• Communities Prepare For St. Helens Ashfall 2004-Oct-06 from KOMO (Ch.4) Seattle

  RANDLE, WASH. - Outside the Highway Junction Thrift Store, a thin film of gritty ash coated the bottom of a Mount St. Helens coffee mug.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 09:40 | Permalink

Another update at the Cascade Range Current Update page.

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 07:36 | Permalink

• Ash, Steam Burst From Mount St. Helens KIRO (Ch.7) Seattle
  Updated 2004 Oct 05 16:45
• Ash From Eruption Falls Northeast Of Volcano KIRO (Ch.7) Seattle
  Posted: 2004 Oct 05 09:56
  Updated 2004 Oct 05 16:55

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 21:50 | Permalink

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 21:35 | Permalink

• KIRO (Ch.7) Seattle
• KOMO (Ch.4) Seattle
• KING (Ch.5) Seattle Registration required
• NW Cable News Registration required

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:47 | Permalink

• Cascade Volcano Observatory home page
• News and current events, Cascade Volcano Observatory (USGS)
• Cascade Range Current Update
• Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN)
• PNSN Current, Recent, and Old NEWS - Special Reports and Press Releases
• Volcano Cam from the US Forest Service

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:29 | Permalink

My intent with this page is to provide a clearning house for links to the current activity at Mt.St.Helens. I'm new to this, so excuse the myriad of changes that will happen as I figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Please send me any links of interest that you may come across, whether for permanent sites or for news reports. I'm not going to be able to do this all alone. Thanks.

(Disclaimer— I have no association with anyone or any organization, and speak only for myself. Links and quotes are provided for information only.)

Posted by Raoul Ortega at 13:25 | Permalink