There is an area within the Pacific Ocean called the “Ring of Fire,” that is a region of high volcanic and seismic activity ranging from parts of Asia, to Australia, and to North and South America. Majority of active volcanoes on Earth are located within the Ring of Fire. In fact 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes are located in the Ring of Fire. Within it’s boundary in the Pacific Ocean, the Ring of Fire consist of the Pacific Plate, where it runs along against other plates such as the North American Plate, the Nazca Plate, the Eurasian Plate, the Philippines Plate, the Indo-Australia Plate and other plates. This is known as sebduction and the volcanically and seismically active area nearby is known as a subduction zone. There
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Mount St. Helens is well known for it’s gigantic eruption in 1980. Activity on the mountain began on March 20, 1980 when a magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck. Shortly thereafter, steam began to vent from the mountain and by April, the north side of Mount St. Helens began to grow a bulge. Another earthquake struck on May 18, which caused a debris avalanche that wiped out the entire north face of the mountain. In fact it was the largest debris avalanche in history. Following the avalanche, Mount St. Helens eventually erupted and its pyroclastic flow leveled the surrounding forest and any buildings in the area. Over 230 square miles (500 sq. km.) was affected by the eruption. The heat from Mount St. Helens’ eruption and the force of the avalanche caused the ice and snow on the mountain to melt, which formed lahars. These lahars then poured into the surrounding rivers, such as the Toutle and Cowlitz, led to the flooding of many different areas. Material from Mount St. Helens was also found south in the Columbia River along the Oregon-Washington border.
Another problem associated with Mount St. Helens’ 1980 eruption was the ash it generated. During its eruption, burst of ash rose as high as 16 miles (27 km) and quickly moved east to eventually spread around the world. The eruption killed 57 people, damaged and destroyed more than 200 homes, highways and railroads. Along the way, it destroyed the forest and popular Spirit Lake and killed around 7,000
Mount St. Helens is well known for it’s gigantic eruption in 1980. Activity on the mountain began on March 20, 1980 when a magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck. Shortly thereafter, steam began to vent from the mountain and by April, the north side of Mount St. Helens began to grow a bulge. Another earthquake struck on May 18, which caused a debris avalanche that wiped out the entire north face of the mountain. In fact it was the largest debris avalanche in history. Following the avalanche, Mount St. Helens eventually erupted and its pyroclastic flow leveled the surrounding forest and any buildings in the area. Over 230 square miles (500 sq. km.) was affected by the eruption. The heat from Mount St. Helens’ eruption and the force of the avalanche caused the ice and snow on the mountain to melt, which formed lahars. These lahars then poured into the surrounding rivers, such as the Toutle and Cowlitz, led to the flooding of many different areas. Material from Mount St. Helens was also found south in the Columbia River along the Oregon-Washington border.
Another problem associated with Mount St. Helens’ 1980 eruption was the ash it generated. During its eruption, burst of ash rose as high as 16 miles (27 km) and quickly moved east to eventually spread around the world. The eruption killed 57 people, damaged and destroyed more than 200 homes, highways and railroads. Along the way, it destroyed the forest and popular Spirit Lake and killed around 7,000