Videos

On October 11, 2004, spines of solid, but still hot, lava punctured the surface of the deformed glacier, initiating a new dome-building phase of activity in the crater of Mount St. Helens. By late October, a larger whaleback-shaped extrusion of solid lava (called a spine) emerged from the crater floor.

After two weeks of increasing seismicity, Mount St. Helens began erupting on October 1, 2004. The first of several explosions shot a plume of volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere. Four additional steam and ash explosions occurred through October 5, and three produced noticeable fallout of fine ash downwind.

Following unrest that began on September 23, 2004 and the steam and ash eruptions in early October, extrusion of solid magma typified the 2004-2008 eruption at Mount St. Helens. The magma is unusually gas poor and crystal rich.  Several meters of pulverized, variably sintered rock commonly coat the emergent lava spines, lending them a smooth appearance.

On October 1, 2004, an explosion in the crater of Mount St. Helens sent ash and water vapor several thousand feet into the air. It was the dramatic beginning of an eruption that continued for the next 3+ years. The explosion fractured Crater Glacier and hurled rocks for at least one-half mile across the western half of the glacier and the 1980-1986 lava dome.

(March 2, 2004, 11:48:17 to 23:08:42) Late 2003 through early 2004 marked a period of heightened eruptive activity at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō (Miklius and others, 2006) on Kīlauea Volcano's east rift zone, with lava frequently spilling from vents within the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater.

Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit, and sporadic spatter bursting from tall hornito to left. Heaving pond of lava between camera and vent. Hand-held camera, so a bit shaky. Note especially the symmetrical burst from hornito at about 15 seconds. Noise is reasonable facsimile of the real thing, emphasizing the treble.

Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit, taken from same place as other video and also hand-held. Note the spatter rampart under construction by the falling spatter. Helicopter noise for first several seconds.

Video Presentation and Discussion

Featuring the award-winning USGS video Molten Paradise-Kilaea Volcano by Stephen Wessells, introduced and discussed by Robert I. Tilling, Volcanologist

See-

Lava pours out from under crust at front of advancing breakout. See still taken at 0607:33 today.

Lava emerges from under crust along side of breakout on steep slope. Listen to creaking sounds, about halfway through video, as crust flexes and breaks. See still taken at 0610:15 today.

Lava appears from under crust and drops into depression at front of advancing breakout. Width of blob of lava that appears is about 30 cm.

This clip lasts 30 seconds and so is a large file, but it shows such notable dynamics at flow front that it might be worth it to some of you patient ones. The active stream is 50-75 cm wide. Note, early on, how sliding crust plows into lava.

Lava issues from breached tube and quickly disappears over old sea cliff. Note that center of stream stands above margins. See still taken at 0545 today.

Same cascade as in first clip, but viewed more from side to see lava falling down cliff and spreading across surface of lava delta. Similar view to still image taken at 0548 today.

Surging cascade on steep cliff face. Note that surges override part of cascade next to cliff, which is slowed by friction with the cliff.

Lava in channeled breakout from nearby tumulus flowing rapidly down steep slope before spreading out on flat ground. Same channel as shown in last two stills for today. Width of channel, about 2 m.

Gushing start of cascade shown in image taken at 0553. Lava comes from crusted flow to right. Width of flowing lava, about 1 m.

Downstream from first clip about 2 m. Same as shown in image taken at 0554.

Two strands of flowing lava come together to form single cascade on upper part of old sea cliff at Highcastle. Still taken at 0546 shows same scene.

Spreading and advancing breakout, the same as that shown in 0545 still image for today. Width of view, about 2 m.

Closer view of spreading and advancing breakout shown above. Width of view, about 0.6 m.