No new magma was ejected in this explosion, but glowing blocks of hot lava from the dome fell on the summit and the deeply snow-covered upper flanks of Lassen Peak-the winter of 1914–15 was the first recorded El Niño year in the western United States, and more than 30 feet of snow blanketed the upper flanks of Lassen Peak. Late on the evening of May 19, a large explosion shattered the lava dome, creating a new crater at the summit of Lassen Peak. By the next morning, a growing lava dome had filled the crater at the summit of Lassen Peak. On the evening of May 14, 1915, incandescent blocks of lava could be seen bouncing down the flanks of Lassen Peak from as far away as Manton, 20 miles to the west. In mid-May 1915, the character of the eruption changed dramatically. Over more than 11 months, these steam explosions blasted out a crater 1,000 feet across. That first explosion created a small crater at the summit of Lassen Peak, and each of more than 180 subsequent steam explosions enlarged it. On May 30, 1914, Lassen Peak awoke from a 27,000-year-long slumber when it was shaken by a steam explosion. The work of USGS scientists at Lassen is only part of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program’s ongoing efforts to protect people’s lives and property in all of the volcanic regions of the United States. Early detection of such eruption precursors is essential to effective hazard mitigation and forecasting. The USGS California Volcano Observatory operates a sophisticated sensor network to detect any increase in seismicity, ground deformation, or gas emissions that could indicate magma rising toward the surface in preparation for the next Lassen eruption. One hundred years ago few people lived in the Lassen area today a similar eruption would have a far more devastating effect on people’s lives and the economy of northern California. No one can say when, but it is almost certain that the Lassen area will experience volcanic eruptions again. USGS and Lassen Volcanic National Park are commemorating the centennial with several events in 2015. Geological Survey scientists - in cooperation with the National Park Service - is shedding new light on these events. A century after the Lassen eruptions, work by U.S. The eruption forever altered an already dynamic landscape and led to the creation of a national park, which serves as a place of discovery for curious visitors, and a living laboratory for many scientific disciplines. 1977.Ģ015 marks the 100th anniversary of the explosive volcanic eruption of Lassen Peak in northern California. Northeast side of Lassen Peak, showing the area devastated by mudflows and a lateral blast in 1915. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.
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