Recent expansion of the Cascades Volcano Observatory geophysical network at Mount Rainier for improved volcano and lahar monitoring

Seismological Research Letters
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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) recently expanded its continuous geophysical monitoring at Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano in Washington state. CVO monitors volcanoes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to characterize volcanic systems and detect unrest. Mount Rainier has a history of large lahar occurrences in the Holocene, including at least one that may not have been associated with volcanic activity. Pierce County, Washington, is one of the areas most at risk from large lahars. In the 1990s, CVO collaborated with Pierce County to install the Rainier lahar detection system (RLDS), an automated system designed to detect large lahars in high‐risk drainages and mitigate hazards to heavily populated areas. The system was designed to detect lahars within 5–10 min of their occurrence and alert authorities of the need to evacuate populated low‐lying areas before lahar arrival. In addition, CVO and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) maintained and expanded a network of seismic and geodetic monitoring stations on and near the edifice to provide adequate volcano monitoring capabilities. Since 2016, CVO has worked to upgrade the existing RLDS and to expand its capabilities into other drainages around Mount Rainier. This expansion includes installation of 25 new broadband seismic stations with many including infrasound along high‐risk drainages, as well as support for equipment upgrades at existing PNSN and CVO volcano monitoring sites. All stations transmit continuous, near‐real‐time data with dramatically improved spatial coverage for volcano monitoring and lahar hazard mitigation compared to the previous system.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Recent expansion of the Cascades Volcano Observatory geophysical network at Mount Rainier for improved volcano and lahar monitoring
Series title Seismological Research Letters
DOI 10.1785/0220240112
Volume 95
Issue 5
Publication Date July 22, 2024
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher Seismological Society of America
Contributing office(s) Volcano Science Center
Description 15 p.
First page 2707
Last page 2721
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Mount Ranier
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