Mt. St. Helens 40th Anniversary with Randy Spydell

Science is a core element of what guides our lives on Planet Earth. Right now, a tiny virus has had a worldwide influence on many things for us -- work, play, school, EUREKA! programs, the Library, permits for rafting the Grand Canyon, travel by aircraft, and on and on.
Forty years ago on May 18,1980; a different science event had a smaller, but notable influence on parts of America. Focused on a relatively small mountain in SW Washington state, Mt. St. Helens, there was a moderate volcanic eruption. At 08:32 PDT that Sunday morning, a relatively small (magnitude 5.1) earthquake loosened an unstable portion of the north side of the mountain, causing an unusual, laterally directed blast and then a relatively strong vertical volcanic eruption from that mountain.
The May 18 eruption caused some serious devastation of forests, a dramatic change in a lake to the north of the mountain, and over $1 billion in damage to roads, bridges, farms, ranches, homes and other areas (over $3 billion in 2020) as well as the death of 57 people.
Scientists watch events all the time -- weather, sea level, stream flow, earthquakes, and many other things that may affect our lives. They had been watching the earthquake activity and measuring a series of other events beginning in late March 1980 in the area surrounding Mt. St. Helens. Randy Spydell was among the first dozen USGS scientists to show up in SE Washington then to begin detailed assessments, primarily focusing on safety and the extent of the possible eruption. He'll give a brief talk explaining a bit about volcanoes, some specific details of Mt. St. Helens, and show some photos of the dramatic change of that landscape in 1980. Face masks and a change in air quality were parts of that dangerous event.