Cateyes_small
Reputation: 2173

Could a significant earthquake set off Mt. Rainier?

When I was a kid, I would have nightmares about this exact scenario, and then there would be this wall of lava headed towards my house to entomb us just like at Pompeii.

So, I know the wall of lava (or heck, even mud) won't reach my little apartment in North Seattle, but I've always wondered about the possibility of earthquake-volcano chain reactions.

Asker's Favorite

  • Bodin_small
    Reputation: 148

    I'm glad you don't suffer from those dreams now. When I was a kid I dreamed of wolves attacking my house and ... well, I digress.

    This is really a great question. And the proof is that some scientists say earthquakes can affect volcanic eruptions and some say no way . If we can't agree, then I guess I really have no right to give you a "yes" or "no" answer. Ok, enough of a disclaimer; now I can tell you what I think...

    There is some statistical evidence that there were more eruptions after large Chilean earthquakes in 1906 and 1960. But the mechanism by which this "triggering" might happen isn't clear. There's also lots of anecdotal evidence of particular eruptions following certain earthquakes. But such stories suggesting correlation are not entirely convincing, nor do they demand causality . However,  it sure seems plausible that shaking from seismic waves can jostles magma and make it move around--and rise toward the surface if it is so inclined. But it takes magma time to work it's way to the surface. So the difficulty in observing earthquake-triggered eruptions, then (according to me) is that there are likely to be variable delays between the triggering earthquake and the ensuing eruption. Drawing the connection between any given earthquake and some ensuing eruption is uncertain.

    I also think that as our capabilities to monitor both ground motion from earthquakes and the deformational processes that precede eruptions, we will be able to x-ray this whole process and answer this question concretely.

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2 Other Answers

  • Gaptw8_small
    Reputation: 32

    Earthquakes only seem to be good for minor residual eruptions (if not the other way around as O my captian correctly noted), such as the one on the Big Island in 1868 when the largest historic earthquake (estimated between 7.5 and 8.1) occurred beneath the south flank of Mauna Loa Volcano on April 2. This eruption did so little damage that it seems that earthquake-induced-eruption might in fact be a good way to "defuse" a potentially dangerous volcano.

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  • Spaceship_small
    Reputation: 1812

    It's more like the other way around.... if Mt. Rainier goes off, will there be earthquakes? YES!

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