GeoSeismic Labs Reports: Early Edition

All information reported here is based upon data collection and analysis using procedures that are considered "experimental" and might be of a shocking nature to some individuals. Read and use at your own risk!

SAN JACINTO FAULT ALERT: Wrightwood to Anza, CA

Mount St. Helens Eruption Update:

U.S. Geological Survey, Vancouver, Washington
University of Washington, Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network, Seattle, Washington

Mount St. Helens Volcano, November 29, 2004 9:30 am PST (1730 UTC)

Current status is Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code ORANGE

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens 
continues, and is accompanied by intermittent emissions of steam 
and ash. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes 
in the level of activity can occur over days, weeks, or even 
months. Increase in the intensity of eruption could occur suddenly 
or with very little warning and may include explosive events that 
produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. 
Small lahars (volcanic debris flows) could suddenly descend the 
Toutle River valley if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction 
of hot rocks with snow or glacier ice. These lahars pose a 
negligible hazard below the Sediment Retention Structure (SRS) 
but could pose a hazard to people along the river channel 
upstream of the SRS. At this time of year, it is not unusual 
for rivers draining the volcano to contain high concentrations 
of sediment that turn the water murky.

Although considered less likely at this time, the 
current eruptive activity could evolve into a more explosive 
phase that affects areas farther from the volcano and sends 
significant ash thousands of feet above the crater where it 
could be a hazard to aircraft and to downwind communities.

Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show 
that ash clouds that rise high above the crater rim today 
would drift southward early in the day and eastward later.

Seismicity remains at a low level compared to that observed 
early in this unrest. The current seismicity is consistent 
with a continuing, slow rise of magma driving uplift of the 
crater floor and feeding a surface extrusion of lava. The 
overall low rates of seismicity and gas emission suggest that 
the lava reaching the surface is gas poor, thereby reducing 
the probability of highly explosive eruptions in the 
near term.

Recent observations: Three earthquakes between magnitude 2.6 
and 2.8 occurred last evening and early this morning amidst 
the ongoing sequence of smaller (mostly less than M1.5) 
earthquakes. Along with Saturday’s M3.1 event and similar-sized 
earthquakes that occurred in mid-November, they represent 
nothing unusual in the expected sequence of events accompanying 
lava-dome growth. A full slate of field work is underway 
today. Hopefully the approaching rain and snow will hold 
back until tonight. Winds are calm and there is very little 
steaming, so conditions are ideal for various types of 
activities. Thermal- imaging and gas-sensing measurements, 
visual and photographic observations, collection of ash 
samples from the volcano’s outer flanks, and repairs to 
communications systems are all planned.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington 
continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue 
additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

Telephone recordings with the latest update on Mount St. 
Helens and phone contacts for additional information can 
be heard by calling:

Media (360) 891-5180

General public (360) 891-5202

OTHER CASCADE VOLCANOES

All other volcanoes in the Cascade Range are all at normal 
levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, 
Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, and Mount Adams in Washington 
State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry, 
and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake, Mount Shasta, 
and Lassen Peak in northern California.

USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, the Pacific Northwest 
Seismograph Network at the University of Washington, and 
the USGS Northern California Seismic Network and Volcano 
Hazards Team in Menlo Park, California, monitor the major 
volcanoes in the Cascade Range of northern California, 
Oregon, and Washington.

The Latest Eruption Update for the Unrest at Mt. Saint Helens, WA

Definition of Alert Levels

Mount St. Helens Satellite Imagery

For additional information, background, images, and other graphics, please visit:

Pacific Northwest Seismic Network

Caution: You may need to refresh the displayed page in order to view the latest live Volcano-Webcam.

Links to Phenomena Associated with Earthquakes Worldwide

Earthquake Lights: Kobe Earthquake in Japan 1995

Recent Infrasonics Associated with Deep
Crustal Resonant Frequency Activity along
the Pacific and North American Plate Boundary

Eastern California Shear Zone
CA/NV Border/Eastern Sierras/Yellowstone
Tectonic and Volcanic Activity

How Volcanoes Work

Yellowstone Swarm Report: 2004

Volcanoes of Canada

Living With a Restless Caldera:Long Valley, California

Adobe Hills Volcanic Field

Summary of Holocene eruptive activity and probable greatest hazards from future eruptions at volcanic centers in California

Eruptions from the Inyo chain about 600 Years ago: sequence of events and effects in the Long Valley Area

Long Valley Tilt Meters

ERS radar interferometry reveals strain transient in the Eastern California Shear Zone

USGS California Tiled 2 Degree Maps

USGS California Quarternary Fault and Fold Database Maps

Graphic: Map of Volcanic Hazard Zones for California

San Jacinto Fault Zone Advisory
GeoSeismic Labs of California
Hesperia, California

(Click here to view MT ULF REPORTS published last month).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 1, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a long period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 0.65 Hz (-67.00 dBv) for Baja California and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. Also, there were several periods with strong geomagnetic oscillation which was associated with the Southern San Andreas fault zone at San Gorgonio Pass begining shortly after the small earthquake epicentered near the Amboy Volcanic field. that came on the heels of my report yesterday about anomalies related to the Mission Creek branch of the Southern San Andreas Fault Zone near the Morongo Valley and indicating a high crustal stress region in between the ECSZ and the plate boundary along the San Andreas fault zone
(click here to see spectrogram).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 2, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a long period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 0.95 Hz (-68.32 dBv) for the Salton Sea region and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. Also, the strong geomagnetic oscillations continued for the Southern San Andreas fault zone and intensified during the past 24 hours. Micro quakes epicentered near the Amboy Crater were very active and indicate that the ECSZ is at an extremely high stress level from Ridgecrest to Indio, CA. However, the main focus of my analysis is along the Southern San Andreas fault zone from the Cajon Pass to Indio, CA then north to the Garlock fault and east to the Ludlow fault. When there is such a high level of deep crustal stress you can expect to see many smaller secondary faults begin to show signs of activity. Currently an area east of Ludlow is indicating that faults in the region are reacting to the dangerously high crustal stress in the region of the ECSZ/Mojave Desert block.
(click here to see spectrogram).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 3, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a long period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 0.71 Hz (-67.09 dBv) for the Gulf of California region and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. Also, the strong geomagnetic oscillations continued for the Southern San Andreas fault zone.
(click here to see spectrogram).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 4, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a long period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 0.93 Hz (-68.04 dBv) for the Salton Sea region and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. The strong geomagnetic oscillations seem to have decreased to near background levels.
(click here to see spectrogram).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 5, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a long period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 1.60 Hz (-70.48 dBv) for Central California and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. The CRF (Crustal Resonant Frequency) has abruptly shifted towards the north and appears to be related to a transfer of stress into the Cascades region. A similar shift was observad on October 2, 2004.
(click here to see spectrogram).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 6, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a long period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 1.67 Hz (-73.39 dBv) for Central California and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. Infrasonics at the upper level spectral region included the Central California Sierra Nevada Mountains NE of Fresno, CA and the Cucamonga fault near Upland, CA.
(click here to see spectrogram).

MT ULF UPDATE: November 7, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 1.61 Hz (-71.83 dBv) for Central California and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary including the Pacific Northwest Cascades. A significant increase in seismic activity occurred after the arrival of a CME induced shockwave that was registered at 18:31 UTC, less than an hour prior to a M3.2 earthquake epicentered near the summit of the Mt. Rainier volcano at 19:23 UTC. Also, activity associated with a geothermal center at the Salton Sea along the Plate boundary increased during the same time period. The geomagnetic field at last check (03:00 UTC) was negative and indicating that a major to severe geomagnetic storm was still in progress.

A.  Energetic Events
Begin  Max  End  Rgn   Loc   Xray  Op 245MHz 10cm   Sweep
 0138 0145 0151  0696 N10W06 C3.2  Sf 120    72                     
 0254 0254 0254                       490                           
 1542 1606 1615  0696        X2.0     42000  4600   II/IV           
 1658 1659 1732                       430    180                    
 2323 2326 2328  0696        C1.6     2300

At best, this is only going to add to the high levels of crustal stress along the Pacific and North American Plate boundary currently being disturbed by the arrival of the CME(solar shockwave) at 18:31 UTC.

M1.6 2004/11/07 21:28:16 UTC 33.175N 115.620W d:4.5 km ( 1 mi) ENE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M1.4 2004/11/07 21:10:17 UTC 33.202N 115.612W d:4.7 km ( 3 mi) NNE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M2.0 2004/11/07 20:45:31 UTC 33.163N 115.613W d:5.3 km ( 1 mi) ESE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M2.0 2004/11/07 20:44:18 UTC 33.181N 115.617W d:1.7 km ( 1 mi) ENE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M1.6 2004/11/07 20:43:02 UTC 33.181N 115.612W d:4.4 km ( 2 mi) ENE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M1.6 2004/11/07 19:47:11 UTC 33.171N 115.621W d:3.3 km ( 1 mi) E of Obsidian Butte, CA
M1.7 2004/11/07 19:46:54 UTC 33.246N 115.615W d:3.1 km ( 5 mi) NNE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M1.9 2004/11/07 19:25:17 UTC 33.173N 115.630W d:3.0 km ( 0 mi) ENE of Obsidian Butte, CA
M1.4 2004/11/07 19:24:35 UTC 33.168N 115.619W d:3.1 km ( 1 mi) E of Obsidian Butte, CA

M3.2 2004/11/07 19:23:59 UTC 46.843N 121.756W d:1.6 km ( 14 mi) ENE of Ashford, WA

MT ULF UPDATE: November 8, 2004

Note: The San Jacinto Fault Alert continues to be in effect. There was a period with strong deep crustal infrasonic resonant harmonic energy with a peak at 1.09 Hz (-68.50 dBv) for Southern California and further north along the Pacific and North American plate boundary. A small earthquake was epicentered near Barstow, CA and appears to be associated with the current measured level of harmonics associated with high crustal stress within Southern California and the Mojave Desert block. The earthquake was also epicentered between key fault segments(Calico and Blackwater) that act as conveyors of ECSZ stress nucleating towards the Garlock fault and the Ridgecrest to Olancha Peak region of the Owens Valley and Southern Sierras, including the Coso Volcanic center and Lake Isabella. The geomagnetic field at last check (08:00 UTC) was still negative and indicating that some recovery was in progress from yesterday's Solar shockwave that created a major to severe geomagnetic disturbance in the local field (Kp index reading = 8). The ULF Mean Average continues to be quite anomalous over the past several days.

M3.7 2004/11/09 06:44:04 UT 35.035N 116.909W d:4.3 km ( 13 mi) NNE of Barstow, CA