Citation
The 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens, Washington
TL;DR
Eruption force equivalent to 500 Hiroshima atomic bombs
Primary government documentation of the Mount St. Helens eruption's geological and ecological impacts. Provides the factual foundation for understanding the scale of devastation - 230 square miles, 500 Hiroshima atomic bombs equivalent, superheated gases exceeding 660°F sterilizing soil to depths of several feet.
This documentation establishes the severity of the 'biological ground zero' that makes subsequent succession so remarkable. Understanding the starting conditions is essential for appreciating how facilitation and environmental modification enable recovery from apparent impossibility.
Key Findings from Lipman & Mullineaux (1981)
- Eruption force equivalent to 500 Hiroshima atomic bombs
- 230 square miles devastated
- Superheated gases exceeded 660°F
- Soil sterilized to several feet depth
- Mountain lost 1,300 feet of elevation