(Copy) The Volcanic Awakening
Mapping the Mount St. Helens Eruption Events of 1980
The Spark of Destruction
Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington State's Cascade Mountain Range, erupted on March 27, 1980 for the first time in over 100 years creating a 250ft wide crater. This marked the start of a series of volcanic events. The most devastating eruption occurred on May 18, 1980, making it one of the most destructive volcanic disasters in U.S. history. After months of seismic activity and the formation of a prominent bulge on the mountain's north face, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered a massive landslide, the largest ever recorded. This catastrophic event claimed 57 lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and caused over $1 billion in damages.
An Ash Cloud of Chaos
During Mount St. Helens intense nine-hour eruption it sent a 12-mile-high ash cloud into the sky and released 520 million tons of ash. The ash spread across 22,000 square miles, darkening skies and eventually circling the globe within two weeks. It caused widespread disruptions, including crop damage, machinery failures, grounded flights, and months of costly cleanup efforts.
Transformation After the Eruption
The landslide unleashed a lateral blast that flattened forests up to 12 miles away and devastated 230 square miles of the landscape. The eruption dramatically reshaped Mount St. Helens, leaving behind a horseshoe-shaped crater and drastically altering the surrounding topography. The once green, forested area was turned into a barren wasteland, showing the great power of the volcano.
Topography Before and After
The maps on the right shows Mount St. Helens transformation after the 1980 eruption. The contour lines are in 100-meter intervals. Before, it had a symmetrical cone rising above 2,500 meters, with steep, uniform slopes. After, the mountain was replaced by a massive crater, with the north side heavily eroded by the lateral blast and landslide. The surrounding area shows new contours and debris deposits, showing the eruption's dramatic impact on the landscape.
May 18th, May 25th and June 12th, 1980 Eruptions
The map on the left side is showing thickness points of the pyroclastic flow deposits measured in meters. While the map on the right is showing the flow direction of lava based on the axis parallel to the direction of relative displacement. This refers to the path within the rock that follows the flow of lava/magma, or the shift caused by pressure and seismic forces.
July 22nd 1980 Eruption
August 7th 1980 Eruption
October 16-18th 1980 Eruptions
Conclusion
recovery
