from the Meet-me-right-here-cos-I-don't-wanna-go dept.
University of Utah researchers and scientists from Norway have mapped the rising magma column under Mount Rainier that suggest the volcano may be getting ready for an eruption reasonably soon, (for volcanic values of soon).
A Reuters article appearing in Business Insider suggest that the magma flow has reached a pool 5 miles below the peak of the mountain, (which is 2.7 miles high). The pool is roughly 5 to 10 miles wide and about the same depth.
When it does happen, the eruption is expected to be fairly large and sustained, due to the size of this magma pool. The eruption is not guaranteed to vent through Rainier's summit — it may find an easier path elsewhere.
The scientists have been mapping the volcano's plumbing for more than 8 years. But their measurements are showing increased urgency as they get a better picture of the sub-surface magma plume.
The rising magma in Washington's Mount Rainier has been proved beyond doubt according to the University of Utah researchers. They have worked on the project for quite some time and have succeeded in developing images of deep volcanic plumbing that is going to come out in the days to come (the images, not the magma). This is the first time that such a detailed picture of the molten rock of Mount Rainier has been developed. This is also going to give a precise idea to researchers as to where it will come out.
One of the researchers while talking about the development says that the latest image, "captures the melting process that feeds magma into a crustal reservoir that eventually is tapped for eruption. But it does not provide any information on the timing of future eruptions from Mount Rainier or other Cascade Range volcanoes". Their full report is paywalled in Nature.
Mount St. Helens is also getting increased scrutiny.
(Score: 1) by nyder on Sunday July 20 2014, @03:56PM
Back when Mt. St. Helens decide to go boom, I was on Mt. Rainier camping.
Needless to say camping was cut short and we had to drive back thru falling ash, was pretty cool.
Not sure I'll be saying cool after Mt. Rainier blows, but it might not happen in my life time.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Sunday July 20 2014, @05:34PM
Being so much closer to large population centers and major airpors, a large Ranier eruption could be a real devastating event, and s sustained one ever so much worse.
These North Western volcanoes aren't your tame Hawaii or Italian Lava gurglers, they are more like Pinatubo and St Helens boom and Ash and pyroclastic flows.
Digging through other coverage, I find that the magma chamber has one branch extending northeast of Rainier ten miles. And the main chamber is actually offset westward towards the coast a bit.
So I90 or I5. Could be less cool, other than the jaw dropping OMG factor.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Sunday July 20 2014, @06:06PM
Yeah, but it would be worth it all, to destroy Microsoft with ash and fire!
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 3, Interesting) by physicsmajor on Sunday July 20 2014, @08:56PM
South Seattle built on the mud flow from a prior Rainier eruption.
(Score: 1) by captainClassLoader on Monday July 21 2014, @04:53PM
And also, much of Tacoma [pbs.org] is built on the same, or a similar flow.
(Score: 2) by moondoctor on Monday July 21 2014, @03:37AM
yep, those volcanoes are serious.
flying from SF to Seattle one time the pilot was super cool and snaked his way up through them for a tour. Did a great job of lining up amazing views and for us passengers and then dipping a wing and carving around so you could really soak it all in. Shasta and Crater Lake are so cool.
just from looking it really struck me in the gut that if one of them blew it would probably be biblical style.
fun fact: got snowed on by St Helens ash in Montana when i was a kid. the amount of ash and the distance it covered blew my mind.
(Score: 2) by umafuckitt on Sunday July 20 2014, @08:20PM
http://expirebox.com/download/5bdeffde0c139095935f4e5b1efd37bd.html [expirebox.com]