This GOES-West animation shows the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, which occurred 36 years ago today on May 18, 1980. The blast, which blew off nearly 1,000 feet of the mountain top, killed 57 people, sent volcanic ash across the Northwest, and caused forest fires and flooding. The visible satellite imagery shows the massive eruption in the western part of the Cascade range. A large pyroclastic plume of smoke and ash can be seen following the eruption. NOAA scientists and researchers use geostat

On March 27, 1980, a series of volcanic explosions and pyroclastic flows began at Mount St. Helens in Skamania County, Washington, United States. A series of phreatic blasts occurred from the summit and escalated until a major explosive eruption took place on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 am. #geology #science #minerals #nature #crystals #geologyrocks #geologist #rocks #mineral #rockhound #crystal #earth #fossil #paleontology #mineralspecimen #mineralsforsale #landscape | Geology Science Official