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Broadband characteristics of earthquakes recorded during a dome-building eruption at Mount St. Helens, Washington, between October 2004 and May 2005: Chapter 5 in A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006
Professional Paper
1750-5
This report is Chapter 5 in A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006. For more information, see: Professional Paper 1750
By: Stephen P. Horton, Robert D. Norris, and Seth C. Moran
Edited by: David R. Sherrod, William E. Scott, and Peter H. Stauffer
From October 2004 to May 2005, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information of the University of Memphis
operated two to six broadband seismometers within 5 to 20
km of Mount St. Helens to help monitor recent seismic and
volcanic activity. Approximately 57,000 earthquakes identified during the 7-month deployment had a normal magnitude
distribution with a mean magnitude of 1.78 and a standard
deviation of 0.24 magnitude units. Both the mode and range
of earthquake magnitude and the rate of activity varied during
the deployment. We examined the time domain and spectral
characteristics of two classes of events seen during dome
building. These include volcano-tectonic earthquakes and
lower-frequency events. Lower-frequency events are further
classified into hybrid earthquakes, low-frequency earthquakes,
and long-duration volcanic tremor. Hybrid and low-frequency
earthquakes showed a continuum of characteristics that varied
systematically with time. A progressive loss of high-frequency
seismic energy occurred in earthquakes as magma approached
and eventually reached the surface. The spectral shape of large
and small earthquakes occurring within days of each other did
not vary with magnitude. Volcanic tremor events and lower-frequency earthquakes displayed consistent spectral peaks,
although higher frequencies were more favorably excited during tremor than earthquakes.
Suggested Citation
Horton, S.P., Norris, R.D., Moran, S.C., 2008, Broadband characteristics of earthquakes recorded during a dome-building eruption at Mount St. Helens, Washington, between October 2004 and May 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1750-5, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp17505.
ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)
Study Area
Publication type
Report
Publication Subtype
USGS Numbered Series
Title
Broadband characteristics of earthquakes recorded during a dome-building eruption at Mount St. Helens, Washington, between October 2004 and May 2005
Series title
Professional Paper
Series number
1750-5
DOI
10.3133/pp17505
Year Published
2008
Language
English
Publisher
U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location
Reston, VA
Contributing office(s)
Volcano Hazards Program
Description
14 p.
Larger Work Type
Report
Larger Work Subtype
USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title
A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006 (Professional Paper 1750)