USGS addresses uptick in seismic activity at Mount St. Helens

Since the beginning of February, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has monitored approximately 350 earthquakes under Mount St. Helens, a notable increase in seismic activity. On Tuesday, June 18, the USGS unveiled its findings.

On May 18, 1980, the largest volcanic eruption in American history occurred as Mount St. Helens blew its top in Washington, spreading 540 million tons of ash across 22,000 square miles of the United States. The blast and resulting ash killed 57 people and caused around $1 billion in damage.

So, 44 years after its last major eruption, is Mount St. Helens due for another catastrophic eruption? Geologists with the agency don’t think that it is likely.

USGS officials said that the increase in seismic activity is likely due to the arrival of additional magma inside the volcano. It’s a process they call “recharge,” and it’s a common occurrence for this geological feature.

Geologists said this process can play out for years without an eruption, so there’s no need to worry about it right now as they continually monitor the activity for abnormalities.

The USGS maintains that there are no signs the mountain will blow anytime soon. The agency asserts that “short-term increases in earthquake rates are common at Mount St. Helens,” providing examples of increases in seismic activities over the past four decades.

The agency said that there are no significant changes found and that there is no change to alert levels at this time. The USGS the mountain’s activity “remains at normal, background levels of activity,” and said that most of the earthquakes monitored by them are likely too small to be detected by any person on the ground.

If individuals are worried about it, the USGS assures people that it’s constantly keeping a close eye on the volcano and will issue alerts as needed.