volcanic eruption

mount st helens had spewed lava..... I remember it well, I was very young though. But it was all over the news in 1980, when it erupted, and quite a few people died from the explosion.

 

thats what I thought, why is everybody on these boards talking like the damn thing erupted?? all she is doing is stirring right now. You people dont know what an eruption is.

 

I think you really have to have an interest in it to understand what's going on; most people I guess are just getting their info from the news; what you have to do is read the daily reports listed on the Mt. St. Helens website to get a better sense of what is going on. I'm no volconologist or geologist, but from what I understand all that's happened is that magma (lava that's underground) has pushed up and is near the surface; this is enough to melt the glacier in the crater and cause steam to billow out; at the same time, because the magma has expanded the "crater dome" I guess cracks have resulted and this has allowed gas and ask to be vented, hence the appearance of an "eruption". An actual eruption will include rocks flying around and I presume an actual lava flow. That's how I understand it, at least.

They're saying now that the actual eruption might not occur or could transpire months from now, likely with little warning.

 

As far as I understand it the magma/lava is fairly close to the surface, so if there is some sort of eruption, then there should be a lava flow.

 

there was lava flow in 1980 (the last time the volcano erupted).

and to be technical here...... it is called magma underneath the surface, and once it reaches outside the crust, it is called lava.

 

lol right on...bringing me back to earth science. lysey...put down the pipe

 

I just love how people talk shit on user CPs and are not ballsey enough to put their name. you know it takes a bigger person to actually disagree with someone by using their name than someone who does it anonymously. I must be striking a chord here to mr or mrs "10-06-2004 09:38 PM and YOU think you know everything....which is better? "

 

Is this in reference to post #25? Why would someone get riled over that?

Personally, I think that this whole karma thing is bs, and it should be that the originator is automatically identified. That would certainly cut down on its use in a malicious manner.

 

I was just up on St.Helens a month ago. Wish it would have happened then. Bummer. If ya ever make it up to Oregon/Washington, they're all worth checking out. Rainier is my favorite to visit so far.

Anyways, Mt. St.Helens, Mt.Hood, Mt. Rainier have all been considered active volcanoes for quite awhile now even though they're not actively erupting. There is however a lot of activity going on underneath the surface.

 

I have a great viw of Mt St. helens from main st in my town, When the fog lifts anyways. I am only about 20 miles from the Base.

 

I just took a look at the VolcanoCam and it's a beautiful morning out at Mt. St. Helens and the mountain's blowing more steam. Quite a sight.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

 

I do believe that lava has started to extrude from the crater dome. Not quite the eruption that many were hoping for, I guess, but it is a significant geological occurence nonetheless.

 

Hmm... that would be cool if it stayed active... like Mt. Etna in Sicily... as long as nobody is hurt.