25 years of ecological change at Mount St. Helens.

V.H. Dale; C.M. Crisafulli; F.J. Swanson

Treesearch

25 years of ecological change at Mount St. Helens.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

V.H. Dale, C.M. Crisafulli, F.J. Swanson

Year:

2005

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Source:

Science, Vol. 308: 961-962

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Abstract

18 May 2005 marks the 25th anniversary of the massive eruption of Mount St. Helens. This eruption involved diverse geological processes (1) that disturbed forests, meadows, lakes, an drivers (2) (see the figure). A huge landslide and searing flows of hot gases and pumic framents (pyroclastic flows) inundated 60 km² of land, obliterating preexisting ecosystems and landforms. A steam-driven blast left blown-down forest and scorched standing forest over more than 500 km², but deposited generally 1000 km² of live forest and aquatic systems with >5 cm of deposits (2). The initial impression of a lifeless landscape quickly changed as surviving plants and animals reemerged.

Citation

Dale, V.H.; Crisafulli, C.M.; Swanson, F.J. 2005. 25 years of ecological change at Mount St. Helens. Science, Vol. 308: 961-962