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frojack writes:

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.