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May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption: Stories from USGS Scientists
May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption: Stories from USGS Scientists
May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption: Stories from USGS Scientists

USGS scientists C. Dan Miller, Don Mullineaux, Mike Doukas, Norm Banks, Don Swanson, and Richard Waitt talk about their experiences at Mount St.

USGS scientists C. Dan Miller, Don Mullineaux, Mike Doukas, Norm Banks, Don Swanson, and Richard Waitt talk about their experiences at Mount St.

Mauna Loa Lava Flow, April 2, 1984
Mauna Loa Lava Flow, April 2, 1984
Mauna Loa Lava Flow, April 2, 1984

A USGS scientist walks along a lava flow from the April 2, 1984 Mauna Loa eruption. The scientist stops to observe a standing wave of lava at the end. The lava flow is moving at 64 km/hr (40 mph) towards Hilo, Hawai'i. 
 

A USGS scientist walks along a lava flow from the April 2, 1984 Mauna Loa eruption. The scientist stops to observe a standing wave of lava at the end. The lava flow is moving at 64 km/hr (40 mph) towards Hilo, Hawai'i. 
 

Mount St. Helens in eruption, May 18, 1980
Mount St. Helens in eruption, May 18, 1980
Mount St. Helens in eruption, May 18, 1980

Mount St. Helens erupted catastrophically on May 18, 1980 beginning at 8:32 a.m. USGS geologist Don Swanson photographed and filmed the eruption from about 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., documenting the rising ash column and ground-hugging pyroclastic density currents.

Mount St. Helens erupted catastrophically on May 18, 1980 beginning at 8:32 a.m. USGS geologist Don Swanson photographed and filmed the eruption from about 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., documenting the rising ash column and ground-hugging pyroclastic density currents.

video thumbnail: Mount St. Helens 1980 Ash Cloud as Seen From Space Mount St. Helens 1980 Ash Cloud as Seen From Space
Mount St. Helens 1980 Ash Cloud as Seen From Space
Mount St. Helens 1980 Ash Cloud as Seen From Space

Eruptive activity at Mount St. Helens captured the world’s attention on May 18, 1980 when the largest historical landslide on Earth and a powerful explosion reshaped the volcano. A volcanic ash cloud spread across the US in 3 days, and encircled the Earth in 15 days.

Eruptive activity at Mount St. Helens captured the world’s attention on May 18, 1980 when the largest historical landslide on Earth and a powerful explosion reshaped the volcano. A volcanic ash cloud spread across the US in 3 days, and encircled the Earth in 15 days.