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« Ask Alan Boyle (science editor for MSNBC.com) your questions on science in mainstream media | Main | Monday Musings: Iceland, Chilean volcanoes and the SI/USGS Update »

Mt. Baker Volcano Research Center Update

Category: BakerCascadesMBVRCUnited StatesVolcanic ResourcesVolcano researchWashington
Posted on: March 7, 2010 8:39 PM, by Erik Klemetti


Mt. Baker in the northern Cascades of Washington.

One of the best websites dedicated to any volcano is the Mt. Baker Volcano Research Center - hosted by Western Washington University. I've talked about it before, but David Tucker and his associates have put together an excellent resource on this (at least in my opinion) woefully underappreciated Cascade volcano.

There is a pile of news from the MBVRC and I thought I'd pass it along.

First off, the 2010 T-shirt design contest has kicked off. Last year the MBVRC raised much needed funds with a T-shirt sale and now you can try to design the shirt for 2010. The deadline for entries is March 31, so you better get designing.

The MBVRC also posted an image of the Sherman fumarole field taken in early February. Those fumaroles definitely remind you that Baker is one of the most active volcanoes in the Cascades. The image came from John Scurlock, who has some closeups of the fumaroles as well, taken in early March.

Finally, you can follow all the news at the MBVRC over on a new subscription blog started by the Center. Hear all the latest news on Baker and the Center - and it sounds like this summer will be exciting according to Tucker: "There will be some interesting research happening at the volcano this summer- gravimetry, gas sampling, tephra mapping...and the long-awaited USGS Prof Paper on the eruptive history should be out this year, too."

I even forgot that there is a webcam pointed at Mt. Baker from the Ferndale Library, only 30 miles from the volcano ... a nice vantage point when the volcano comes back to life (whenever that is).

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Comments (6)

1

Yeah, Baker is underappreciated. Petologists like us and volcanologists understand its significance, as do the locals. But the general public? Not so much compared to other Cascade volcanoes. As they, location is every thing I guess.

Posted by: EKoh | March 7, 2010 10:52 PM

2

Mt. Baker is not underappreciated by me. Number one nephew lives less than ten miles from the summit. His property abuts the wilderness area. Thanks for pointing me at some good information on what's happening there.

Posted by: John McKay | March 8, 2010 1:56 AM

3

Erik,
Thanks for posting the updates and plugging the MBVRC website. I take no credit for the website design. My old buddy Josh Klauder up in Wasilla AK is responsible for the initial design, and our harried volunteer webmaster, Prof. David Hirsch at WWU, keeps everything running. Fellow Bakerists, be they friends, researchers, or website subscribers, send information from time to time. And not least, John Scurlock, the air wing of the MBVRC, is generous with his fabulous photography.
Public interest in Mount Baker and its hazards is very high. The USGS Professional Paper on Baker's Holocene history should be available before 2010 is out. In conjunction with the geology in Hildreth and others (2003), Baker will be among the very best documented volcanoes in North America.
Dave Tucker
MBVRC Board of Directors

Posted by: Dave Tucker | March 8, 2010 10:28 AM

4

Baker has always been one of my favorite views and had a chance to climb it two or three times. From the upper floor of my office building, near everett, on a good day we can see Baker, Glacier Peak, Mr. Rainier and a little bump just about where the top of St. Helens used to be. The upper deck of the Experience Flight Center at the NW corner of Paine field is another good place to see these peaks all at once when the weather cooperates. But that might be problematic if Baker does start to erupt, since clear days in this region are usually accompanied by north or north east winds, and that might put Everett in the ash zone and there wouldn't be much to see after a couple of hours.

Posted by: doug mcl | March 8, 2010 5:56 PM

5

So the last magmatic eruption was about 6,000 years ago? I guess I won't hold my breath waiting for the next one!

Posted by: Oakden Wolf | March 9, 2010 1:07 AM

6

I just moved from Nevada to northern Washington. I can now see Mt. Baker on the way to work in the morning when it is clear. Not often unfortunately. A beautiful mountain.

Posted by: The Bobs | March 10, 2010 11:52 PM

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