May 18th marks
the 35th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. In
commemoration, the U.S. Geological Survey–Cascades Volcano Observatory opens
its doors to the news media and public on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from
10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. for a one-day open house.
Visitors can talk to
volcanologists about their research, learn about the May 18, 1980 eruption of
Mount St. Helens, and watch videos of the changes that have occurred inside the
crater over the past 35 years. Scientists will demonstrate monitoring
equipment such as thermal imaging, earthquake detection, and how to track
ground deformation by satellite. See what a remote volcano monitoring
station looks like and watch a scientific “spider” do its job. A robotic
arm will be operating in the sediment laboratory and scientists will be on hand
to talk about how they collect and process sediments, and how rivers respond to
dam removal.
Learn more about landslides and volcanic hazards including
whether or not you live in a hazard zone. There will be hands-on science
activities and you can have your picture taken in front of a green screen that
places you in the crater of an exploding volcano. Continuing a USGS–CVO
open house tradition, visitors are invited to bring their mystery rock to be identified
by a geologist.
What:
Open House at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
When:
Saturday May 2, between 10:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m.
Where:
1300 SE Cardinal Ct., Building 10, Suite 100, Vancouver, WA
98683 (located on the east side of Vancouver, WA, in the Columbia Tech
Park)