http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1100955980155870.xml
After more than a month of nonstop lava flow, Mount St. Helens continues to squeeze immense volumes of molten rock to the surface, in what has become a remarkably stable eruption.
Scientists studying the volcano said Friday that the steady outpouring of lava is showing no signs of slowing.
"Dome growth, once it starts, can go on for weeks, months, years, even decades," said Willie Scott, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
If the current growth rate continues, researchers estimate that within a decade Mount St. Helens could regain the size it had before the catastrophic 1980 eruption, in which the entire north side of the mountain collapsed, leaving a barren U-shaped crater. It is conceivable that within two years the rapidly-growing dome could push above the level of the south rim of the crater and become visible from Portland, Scott said.
As it stands, the new dome stretches 2,000 feet along the crater floor, and its highest point has risen 750 feet since the uplifting began in September.
Watch out Lassen Peak, Mt. St. Helens has the capability of growing to be the largest mountain in the continental U.S. Whatever it starts to do, i hope i can ride the Plains of Abraham trail (trail at the base of the volcano) again before i die.
After more than a month of nonstop lava flow, Mount St. Helens continues to squeeze immense volumes of molten rock to the surface, in what has become a remarkably stable eruption.
Scientists studying the volcano said Friday that the steady outpouring of lava is showing no signs of slowing.
"Dome growth, once it starts, can go on for weeks, months, years, even decades," said Willie Scott, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
If the current growth rate continues, researchers estimate that within a decade Mount St. Helens could regain the size it had before the catastrophic 1980 eruption, in which the entire north side of the mountain collapsed, leaving a barren U-shaped crater. It is conceivable that within two years the rapidly-growing dome could push above the level of the south rim of the crater and become visible from Portland, Scott said.
As it stands, the new dome stretches 2,000 feet along the crater floor, and its highest point has risen 750 feet since the uplifting began in September.
Watch out Lassen Peak, Mt. St. Helens has the capability of growing to be the largest mountain in the continental U.S. Whatever it starts to do, i hope i can ride the Plains of Abraham trail (trail at the base of the volcano) again before i die.
