Volcano hazards in the Mount Hood region, Oregon

W. E. Scott; T. C. Pierson; S. P. Schilling; J. E. Costa; C. A. Gardner; J. W. Vallance; J. J. Major

doi:10.3133/ofr9789

Volcano hazards in the Mount Hood region, Oregon

Open-File Report 97-89

By: W. E. Scott, T. C. Pierson, S. P. Schilling, J. E. Costa, C. A. Gardner, J. W. Vallance, and J. J. Major

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr9789

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Document: Report (pdf)
Plate: Of 1997 (pdf)
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Abstract

Mount Hood is a potentially active volcano close to rapidly growing communities and recreation areas. The most likely widespread and hazardous consequence of a future eruption will be for lahars (rapidly moving mudflows) to sweep down the entire length of the Sandy (including the Zigzag) and White River valleys. Lahars can be generated by hot volcanic flows that melt snow and ice or by landslides from the steep upper flanks of the volcano. Structures close to river channels are at greatest risk of being destroyed. The degree of hazard decreases as height above a channel increases, but large lahars can affect areas more than 30 vertical meters (100 vertical feet) above river beds. The probability of eruption-generated lahars affecting the Sandy and White River valleys is 1-in-15 to l-in-30 during the next 30 years, whereas the probability of extensive areas in the Hood River Valley being affected by lahars is about ten times less. The accompanying volcano-hazard-zonation map outlines areas potentially at risk and shows that some areas may be too close for a reasonable chance of escape or survival during an eruption. Future eruptions of Mount Hood could seriously disrupt transportation (air, river, and highway), some municipal water supplies, and hydroelectric power generation and transmission in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.

Study Area

Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Volcano hazards in the Mount Hood region, Oregon
Series title	Open-File Report
Series number	97-89
DOI	10.3133/ofr9789
Year Published	1997
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location	Reston, VA
Contributing office(s)	California Volcano Observatory, Volcano Science Center
Description	Report: ii, 14 p., 1 Map: 41.57 x 27.15 inches
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Other Geospatial	Mt. Hood Region
Online Only (Y/N)	Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N)	Y
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page