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Originally Posted by jofg
Is this a sign of future activity/trouble for the Pacific Coast? Does this increased activity make it more likely there will be a major "event" in a current, active volcano (Mt. St. Helen's for example) or along a major West Coast / Alaskan fault line? Or is there little geological relationship here?
Just trying to separate the woo-woo warnings from the scientific facts! :roll:
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While the volcanoes are all related to plate movement, these underwater eruptions are from the plate's edge where it is spreading apart. The Cascade volcanoes are the result of the subducting edge of the plate re-melting as it sinks below the Earth's crust. The plate movement is somewhat constant so this doesn't represent an increase in activity.
There have been frequent undersea volcanoes in this region. NOAA and the U of WA researchers are hoping to view one in action. So far, they've gotten there after the fact.