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Mount St. Helens, Washington
Pyroclastic Flow Images
1980-Current

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MSH80_geologists_study_May25_pyroclastic_flow_05-30-80.jpg
Geologist study pyroclastic flow from May 25, 1980 eruption.
USGS Photograph taken on May 30, 1980, by Pete Lipman.
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MSH80_USGS_scientist_examines_pyroclastic_flow_05-30-80.jpg
U.S. Geological Survey scientist examines pumice blocks at the edge of a pyroclastic flow from the May 18, 1980 eruption.
USGS Photograph taken on May 30, 1980, by Donald A. Swanson.
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MSH80_geologist_examines_fumarole_May18_pyro_flow_06-05-80.jpg
U.S. Geological Survey scientist examines fumarole on May 18, 1980 pyroclastic flow.
USGS Photograph taken on June 5, 1980, photographer unknown.
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MSH80_fumarole_on_May18_pyroclastic_flow_06-25-80.jpg
Fumarole on May 18, 1980 pyroclastic flow. Note pick for scale.
USGS Photograph taken on June 25, 1980, by Tom Cascadevall.
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MSH80_fumarole_on_June12_pyroclastic_flow_07-01-80.jpg
Fumarole on June 12, 1980 pyroclastic flow. Note pick for scale.
USGS Photograph taken on July 1, 1980, by Tom Cascadevall.
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MSH80_aerial_June12_pyroclastic_flows_07-13-80_bw.jpg
Aerial view, June 12, 1980, pyroclastic flows. Image shows a 1/2 mile-long tongue and its lobes. Flow deposits overlie an older thin tongue of June 12 deposits. Upper left shows pyroclastic flow deposits (light gray) and debris avalanche deposits (dark gray) from the May 18-19 eruption.
USGS Photograph taken on July 3, 1980, by Pete Rowley.
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MSH80_july_22_pyroclastic_flow_from_crater_07-22-80.jpg
Aerial view, pryoclastic flow emerging from Mount St. Helens' crater.
USGS Photograph taken at 7:01 p.m., on July 22, 1980, by Mike Doukas.
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MSH80_USGS_scientist_at_July22_pyro_flow_07-22-80.jpg
Aerial view, USGS Scientist Don Swanson (in red, center of image) examines fresh pyroclastic flow from the July 22, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
USGS Photograph taken on July 22, 1980, by Mike Doukas.
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MSH80_pyroclastic_flow_USGS_scientist_from_north_08-07-80_bw.jpg
Beginning of pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman.
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MSH80_pyroclastic_flow_from_st_helens_crater_08-07-80.jpg
During the May 18, 1980 eruption, at least 17 separate pyroclastic flows descended the flanks of Mount St. Helens. Pyroclastic flows typically move at speeds of over 60 miles per hour (100 kilometers/hour) and reach temperatures of over 800 Degrees Fahrenheit (400 degrees Celsius). Photographed here, a pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption stretches from Mount St. Helens' crater to the valley floor below.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman.
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Pyroclastic flow sequence, as seen from Johnston Ridge:
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman105.jpg
SEQUENCE: Beginnings of pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 105.
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman108.jpg
SEQUENCE: Beginnings of pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 108.
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman112.jpg
SEQUENCE: Pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 112.
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman113.jpg
SEQUENCE: Pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 113.
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman116.jpg
SEQUENCE: Pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 116.
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman117.jpg
SEQUENCE: Pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 117.
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MSH80_pyro_flow_from_johnston_ridge_08-07-80_Lipman119.jpg
SEQUENCE: Pyroclastic flow from the August 7, 1980 eruption. View from Johnston Ridge.
USGS Photograph taken on August 7, 1980, by Peter W. Lipman, image 119.
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MSH80_pyroclastic_flows_august7_on_july22_09-30-80.jpg
August 7, 1980 pyroclastic flow on top of July 22, 1980 pyroclastic flow.
USGS Photograph taken on September 30, 1980, by Lyn Topinka.
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MSH80_vertical_thermal_image_msh_08-13-80.jpg
Vertical thermal image of Mount St. Helens taken shortly after the August 7, 1980 eruption, using a RS-14A scanner from 15,000 feet, with color calibrated by computer. Blue is coldest and Red is hottest. Image from USGS Professional Paper 1250, Figure 173.
USGS Photograph taken on August 13, 1980.
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MSH80_aerial_pyroclastic_flows_10-04-80.jpg
Aerial view of pyroclastic flows from crater of Mount St. Helens.
USGS Photograph taken on October 4, 1980, by Lyn Topinka.
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MSH80_USGS_scientist_toe_pyroclastic_flow_10-17-80.jpg
U.S. Geological Survey scientist examines pumice blocks at the toe of a pyroclastic flow.
USGS Photograph taken on October 17, 1980, by Terry Leighley, Sandia Labs.
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MSH05_pyroclastic_flows_from_1980_07-13-05.jpg
Aerial view of Mount St. Helens' 1980 pyroclastic flows, as seen 25 years later.
USGS Photograph taken on July 13, 2005, by John Pallister.
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08/04/10, Lyn Topinka