VOLCANO MADNESS: Re: [Geology2] Recent Mount Rainier Earthquakes No Cause for Alarm (We’re Doomed Edition)

Monday, October 17, 2011

Re: [Geology2] Recent Mount Rainier Earthquakes No Cause for Alarm (We’re Doomed Edition)

Mt. Rainier is unique amongst the Cascade volcanoes for the fact that its greatest threat to mankind does not require an eruption at all and could be triggered by this swarm if any of the quakes gets big enough or if the quakes in the aggregate have the same effect.

On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 7:18 PM, Victor Healey <vic.nospam@gmail.com> wrote:

http://thesunbreak.com/2011/10/17/recent-mount-rainier-earthquakes-no-cause-for-alarm-were-doomed-edition/

Recent Mount Rainier Earthquakes No Cause for Alarm (We're Doomed Edition)
by Michael van Baker on October 17, 2011

Recent Mount Rainier earthquakes (Image: The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network)
There's been a "swarm of earthquakes" around Mount Rainier reports KING 5. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network has this comparison of quake frequency over time, so you can eyeball that and place your bets as to whether this means anything. Mount Rainier is the home of "hot fluids" that circulate and move stress around, so it's not uncommon for there to be activity:

In an average month, 1-5 well-located, high-frequency earthquakes are recorded near the summit of Mt. Rainier. In addition, small swarms of 5-10 earthquakes over a 2-3-day time period sometimes occur.

That being the case, it's either nothing or the mountain is stirring itself to bury us all. The TacomaNews Tribune quotes our favorite seismologist Steve Malone saying:

…data shows at least seven earthquakes in two weeks. He says there are frequently earthquakes around Rainier, averaging several each month, and that recent activity shouldn't cause alarm.

BUT WHAT IF IT DOES?!