The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens influenced scientists who witnessed the event and spurred a new era in physical volcanology.
volcanoes
Posted inNews
Scientists Float a New Theory on the Medusae Fossae Formation
Pumice-like rafts of lightweight material could have carried volcanic debris across an ancient Martian ocean to build one of the most puzzling features on the Red Planet.
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Are We Seeing a New Ocean Starting to Form in Africa?
Although shallow magma storage at Erta Ale volcano hints at a rift-to-ridge transition, the tectonic future of the Afar region is far from certain.
Posted inScience Updates
Messages in the Bubbles
Laacher See volcano is quiet, but gas bubbles rising through the overlying lake are a reminder of its potential hazard. Scientists took a close look at the bubbles to test eruption monitoring methods.
Posted inFeatures
Lessons from a Post-Eruption Landscape
Four decades of research into biophysical responses to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens have vastly improved our understanding of how landscapes react to cataclysmic disturbances.
Posted inFeatures
Planetary Lightning: Same Physics, Distant Worlds
Lightning on Earth needs just a few simple ingredients to generate a spark. Those ingredients exist throughout the solar system and beyond.
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GeoGirls: Confidence Erupts from a Camp at a Volcano
Summer camp at Mount Saint Helens empowers girls with science, confidence, and fun.
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Are Cosmic Rays a Key to Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions?
A combination of relativistic particles and artificial intelligence may provide a new way to forecast when a volcano could erupt.
Posted inNews
The Art of Volcanic Ash Modeling 10 Years After Eyjafjallajökull
The ash plumes from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano in 2010 disrupted air travel in Europe for several weeks. Since then, scientists have developed models to mitigate ash’s impacts.
Posted inScience Updates
Satellite Sleuthing Detects Underwater Eruptions
Satellite data helped scientists locate the volcanic source of a pumice raft floating in the South Pacific Ocean, illustrating their promise in locating and monitoring undersea eruptions.