Was the 18 May 1980 lateral blast at Mt St Helens the product of two explosions?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
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Abstract

The 18 May 1980 lateral blast at Mt St Helens has been interpreted as the product of a single explosion by some stratigraphers and as two closely spaced explosions by others. The stratigraphic evidence that bears on this question is inconclusive; strata change dramatically over short distances and this complexity provides wide latitude for interpretation. Some independent non-stratigraphic evidence, however, suggests that the blast was the product of two explosions or clusters of explosions. The independent evidence comes from eyewitness accounts and photographs, from satellite sensors, and from seismic records. This paper reviews the pertinent evidence, offers a new interpretation, and concludes that the blast was indeed the product of two explosions or clusters of explosions.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Was the 18 May 1980 lateral blast at Mt St Helens the product of two explosions?
Series title Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
DOI 10.1098/rsta.2000.0608
Volume 358
Issue 1770
Year Published 2000
Language English
Publisher Royal Society Publishing
Description 23 p.
First page 1639
Last page 1661
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Mt. St. Helens
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