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There are about 1,340 potentially active volcanoes Around the world, excluding those at the bottom of the ocean. About 170 of them are in the United States and its territories, and only three have shown an activity since the country's foundation. One of these three is Mont St. Helens, the Most active volcano In the waterfall range in the state of Washington, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The most catastrophic eruption at Mount St. Helens occurred in the spring of 1980. It was accompanied by an earthquake of magnitude 5+ and an avalanche of debris which swept the pieces of the top of the volcano on his side. The number of deaths has reached 57, making it the deadliest eruption in the history of the United States. For this reason, scientists closely monitor St. Helens, alerting the public when another eruption could be imminent. Recently, the USGS announced that there had been an unusual seismic activity. Read the rest to find out more about their recent conclusions.

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On October 30, the USGS posted on X that the volcano had seen a slight increase in earthquakes . "Most are small (less than M1.0) and have not felt on the surface," they wrote. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

There were 40 to 50 earthquakes per week between August and September, compared to the average of 11 that the volcano saw each month since it stopped in 2008. From mid-July to 30 October, there were more than 400 earthquakes on the site, the X continuous thread . The largest recent earthquake was a Magnitude 2.4 August 27, according to the USGS.

Fortunately, the USGS is not worried. "The volcano remains at normal (green) background levels," they concluded.

However, it should be noted that the USGS ranks Mont St. Helens as a "very high threat". After Kilauea in Hawaii, it is the second volcano on the agency's list of volcanoes that meet the specifications. The evaluation is based on the potential risk of a volcano for people and goods, therefore a volcano without a living person nearby would be a low threat, while one surrounded by cities is a high threat.

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Scientists can generally predict when a volcano bursts because there are warning signs. According to the USGS, the usual precursors include Increased frequency and intensity Felt earthquakes, notable steam or new areas of hot soil, swelling of the ground surface and several other factors. These warnings can occur for weeks, months and years before an eruption; Sometimes no eruption takes place at all.

Fortunately, the USGS did not identify any problem at Mount St. Helens in addition to the rise in earthquakes: "No change has been detected in the deformation of the soil, volcanic gas or thermal emissions at Mount St . Helens or other volcanoes from Cascade beach. "

Instead, the agency explains that earthquakes are probably associated with "pressurization of the Magma transport system". It is believed that this is caused by the arrival of the additional magma.

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Mount St. Helens is not the only volcano that recently made things happen. The Caldera de Long Valley in California and the Flegrei campi in southern Italy have also experienced an increase in seismic activity. These volcanoes are classified as supervolcans, which means that the volcano once had an eruption of magnitude 8; Such eruptions distribute the material to more than 240 cubic miles from the original site.

Fortunately, scientists believe that the two areas are currently safe. In a recent study published in the journal Scientists progress , scientists from California Institute of Technology have concluded that the earthquakes of Caldera de Long Valley are probably due to this return to calm .

THE Activity at Campi Flegrei , on the other hand, is probably caused by Bradyseism, when the earth rises or falls due to the garnish or emptying of the underground magma rooms. To be safe, the Italian government designs places where it could evacuate the more than 500,000 people who live in the region if necessary.

Although there is no sign that an eruption at Mount St. Helens is imminent, many scientists think that there will be another eruption in our life. However, the eruption would probably be smaller than the 1980 explosion and closer to that which occurred from 2004 to 2008, which had a significant lack of explosive events.

But since the area around Mount St. Helens had a estimated population 12,083 in 2019, by Nowsweek , it is always better to be prepared.

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