# How could I trigger a major-ish Volcanic eruption?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-trigger-a-major-ish-volcanic-eruption/180413>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 8, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-trigger-a-major-ish-volcanic-eruption/180413 "2003-06-08T05:32:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-trigger-a-major-ish-volcanic-eruption/180413/21 "2003-06-09T23:16:07Z")

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[They](http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/observatory/hvo_history_mloa.html) were only trying to divert the flow from running right into Hilo not trying to actual stop the eruption.

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> Tom Jaggar and Ruy Finch of HVO were actively involved in using explosives in the form of aerial bombs on moving lava flows that threatened Hilo in 1935 and 1942, respectively. Bombing the upper reaches of a lava tube feeding a Mauna Loa pahoehoe flow in 1935 is credited with slowing or stopping the advance of the distal end; the 1942 bombing breached the levee of an aa flow and was also partly successful in slowing the flow’s advance (Bolt and others, 1975).

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-trigger-a-major-ish-volcanic-eruption/180413/22 "2003-06-10T00:47:21Z")

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> A new eruption of Mount St. Helens would not incinerate Vancouver, WA, by any means. The greater dangers are the mud slides caused by volcanic eruptions of Mt. Rainier (Seattle) and Mt. Hood (Portland), both at significant risk of erupting within the next 50 years.

The Kent Valley, IIRC, which is rapidly becoming suburbanized, is directly in the expected path of any lava or mud flows from Rainier. Comment from you, **Duckster** , or other Washingtonians?

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**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-trigger-a-major-ish-volcanic-eruption/180413/23 "2003-06-10T01:02:52Z")

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“Ranchoth”:

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> How could I trigger a major-ish Volcanic eruption?

Son, I’ve told you before. You give yourself away when you make any reference to the ranch. This is going a little too far. Tell D, K, and R to at least consider waiting until closer to the election or the impeachment hearings…whichever comes first.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-i-trigger-a-major-ish-volcanic-eruption/180413/24 "2003-06-10T02:33:36Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by Polycarp \*  
> \*\*The Kent Valley, IIRC, which is rapidly becoming suburbanized, is directly in the expected path of any lava or mud flows from Rainier. Comment from you, **Duckster** , or other Washingtonians? \*\*

[Mt. Rainier Volcanic Hazards Response Plan](http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/PC/abtus/ourorg/dem/EMDiv/Mt%20Rainier%20VHRP.htm)

Comment? I hope FEMA is not the principal disaster agency when “it” eventually happens. Anything more is not appropriate for the GQ.

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