The short-term influence of the Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption on surface temperature in the northwest United States ( Idaho, Montana).

Abstract

The surface temperature effects of the 18 May 1980 eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano were examined for the two days immediately following the eruption. The volcanic signal was investigated by examining regional maps of surface temperature, 24 hr surface temperature differences and Model Output Statistics (MOS) errors, as well as the detailed temporal evolution of surface temperature and MOS errors at selected stations. During the daytime hours immediately after the eruption, temperatures in E Washington State were up to 8oC colder because of the volcanic plume. That night, because of low-level volcanic dust, temperatures were up to 8oC warmer in Idaho and Montana.-from Authors