Eruption prediction aided by electronic tiltmeter data at Mount St. Helens

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Abstract

Telemetry from electronic tiltmeters in the crater at Mount St. Helens contributed to accurate predictions of all six effusive eruptions from June 1981 to August 1982. Tilting of the crater floor began several weeks before each eruption, accelerated sharply for several days, and then abruptly changed direction a few minutes to days before extrusion began. Each episode of uplift was caused by the intrusion of magma into the lava dome from a shallow source, causing the dome to inflate and eventually rupture. Release of magma pressure and increased surface loading by magma added to the dome combined to cause subsidence just prior to extrusion.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Eruption prediction aided by electronic tiltmeter data at Mount St. Helens
Series title Science
DOI 10.1126/science.221.4618.1381
Volume 221
Issue 4618
Year Published 1983
Language English
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science
Description 3 p.
First page 1381
Last page 1383
Country United States
State Washington
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