Small Erruption at Mt Saint Helens

[VTBoy]

There was small erruption at Mt Saint Helens today, I am surpised it wasn't on any national news station. It is the largest in the last few years.

[Lurker]

Go over to GLP!! It made BIG headlines over there. I am sure that pretty soon they are gunna be saying that the government is suppressing the news.

[01101001]

There was small erruption at Mt Saint Helens today, I am surpised it wasn't on any national news station. It is the largest in the last few years.
ABC (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=563339)
MSNBC (http://msnbc.msn.com/ID/7132927/)

[Spacewriter]

Also on CNN.com...

it was an ash eruption...

[beskeptical]

Well the local news decided to broadcast live for several hours. :roll: Guess it wasn't much of a news day.

Actually, it was nice to have the helicopters and other live shots. The web cam had a peek of things under the cloud cover but the cover prevented the plume from being seen on the cam and here in town. The helicopter had really nice views of glowing red dome cracks.

My thoughts on these types of volcanoes is why, after solidifying and cooling off would the center of the volcano still remain the path of least resistance for new lava. You'd think it would be hard to blow the channel free once the magma became solid rock. I guess it must just not adhere to the channel walls always leaving a crack for the built up pressure to get its foot in the door so to speak.

[Spacewriter]

Well, the main heat source is under the center; lava by its nature is brittle and can break easily. It also melts easily. So, you get enough heat and pressure, something's gonna give -- usually in the middle (but not always).

[Jpax2003]

Well, the main heat source is under the center; lava by its nature is brittle and can break easily. It also melts easily. So, you get enough heat and pressure, something's gonna give -- usually in the middle (but not always).IIRC, Mt. St. Helens blew sideways in 1980 since center up wasn't the path of least resistance.

[Spacewriter]

Well, the main heat source is under the center; lava by its nature is brittle and can break easily. It also melts easily. So, you get enough heat and pressure, something's gonna give -- usually in the middle (but not always).IIRC, Mt. St. Helens blew sideways in 1980 since center up wasn't the path of least resistance.

Absolutely correct.

[beskeptical]

Well, the main heat source is under the center; lava by its nature is brittle and can break easily. It also melts easily. So, you get enough heat and pressure, something's gonna give -- usually in the middle (but not always).IIRC, Mt. St. Helens blew sideways in 1980 since center up wasn't the path of least resistance.

Absolutely correct.Correct but not complete. There was an earthquake that triggered a massive landslide and the entire flank of the mountain collapsed. THEN the volcano blasted laterally. I do believe the landslide was the equivalent of popping the cork but the pressure from the magma and gases did not push out the side of the volcano per se.

[Spacewriter]

Good point. Thanks for expanding on that.