Mount St. Helens Volcano - Current Update

CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Friday, February 17, 2012 12:08 PM PST (Friday, February 17, 2012 20:08 UTC)

CASCADE RANGE VOLCANOES
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Activity Update: All volcanoes in the Cascade Range are at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams in Washington State; and Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Volcano, and Crater Lake, in Oregon.

Recent Observations: Volcano seismicity remained at background levels at all Cascade volcanoes. Three regional earthquakes occurred this past week, all of which showed up well on the PNSN webicorders. On Monday, 2/13, there was a M5.6 (13:07:02 PST) in northern California, on Tuesday, 2/14, there was a M6.0 (19:31:20 PST) off the coast of Oregon, and on Wednesday, 2/15, there was a M4.7 (22:37:34 PST) off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. No observed changes occurred at the volcanoes in association with these regional events.

On February 9th, 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey announced the establishment of the USGS California Volcano Observatory, or CalVO, headquartered within existing USGS facilities in Menlo Park, Calif. CalVO has responsibility for research, monitoring, and assessing hazards for all of the potentially active volcanoes in California and coordinating with local and State emergency managers to prepare for renewed volcanic activity. Previously, the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington was responsible for responding to volcanic unrest at some northern California volcanoes. For updates on activity and monitoring information for the California Cascade volcanoes please visit the following sites:

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/calvo/
http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/special/California_Nevada.php

The U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory and the University of Washington continue to monitor the Washington and Oregon volcanoes closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

For other inquiries please call 360 993-8973.

For additional information, background, images, and other graphics: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov

For seismic information on Oregon and Washington volcanoes: http://old.pnsn.org/WEBICORDER/PNSN/welcome.html

For a definition of alert levels: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Cascades/CurrentActivity/volcano_warning_scheme.html

For a webcam view of Mount St. Helens: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

For additional information, background, images, and other graphics: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov

For seismic information on Oregon and Washington volcanoes: http://old.pnsn.org/WEBICORDER/PNSN/welcome.html

For seismic information on California volcanoes: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/special/California_Nevada.php

For a definition of alert levels: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Cascades/CurrentActivity/volcano_warning_scheme.html

For a webcam view of Mount St. Helens: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/


Source: Cascade Range Current Update



Information courtesy of ...
U.S. Geological Survey, Vancouver, Washington
University of Washington, Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network, Seattle, Washington
USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
Cascade Range Current Update
USGS Alert-Notification System for Volcanic Activity
Volcano Observatories: Alaska
Volcano Observatories: Cascades
Volcano Observatories: Hawaii
Volcano Observatories: Long Valley
Volcano Observatories: Mariana Islands
Volcano Observatories: Yellowstone