Researchers are planning to set off a series of explosions throughout Mount St. Helens, the Washington volcano that erupted in 1980.
Researchers are planning to set off a series of explosions throughout Mount St. Helens, the Washington volcano that erupted in 1980 with devastating results.
Their purpose is to get a greater sense of how its mysterious underground chambers operate.
Among their top priorities is to create a map of the magma feeders that serve the erupting mountain.
It’s hoped their discoveries will help better predict potentially catastrophic events and provide insights into how they happen.
Thus far, about 70 large seismographic devices have already been placed around the area.
35 hundred additional, smaller devices will soon be installed on nearby roads and trails.
They will measure the vibrations caused by the manmade explosions placed in 24 locations, which have been designed to mimic the force of a magnitude-2 earthquake.
Once they have an idea of ground depth and chamber locations, they’ll move onto the next phase, which involves measuring the electromagnetic field.
The exploration and experiments are expected to go on for two years.
Once all of the data is collected and analyzed a 3D model of Mount St. Helens will be constructed, further bolstering their ability for successful volcanic research.
