Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, David Schoolcraft, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. |
The ash fall at Sand Point, Idaho, more than 300 miles northeast of Mount Saint Helens. At the height of the ash fall, even at this distance there was not enough daylight to properly expose film. The car has been covered to protect it from the abrasive ash. Ash continued to fall several days after the eruption had subsided. It damaged or destroyed many agricultural crops downwind from the eruption. However, in the long run the ash provided beneficial nutrients to the soils. Image Credit: David Schoolcraft. NOAA National Geophysical Data Center May 18, 1980 Mount Saint Helens USA volcano An earthquake occurred at 15 32 UT, only seconds before the explosion that began the eruption of Mount St. Helens volcano. This eruption and blast blew off the top of the volcano, reducing its elevation by 396 meters, killed 31 people and caused an estimated property damage of between $0.5 billion and $2 billion. About 53 earthquakes having magnitude larger than 4.5 were located near Mount St. Helens before the main event and eruption. No earthquakes having magnitudes higher than 4.5 were located following the eruption. |
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