Geological and Ecological Settings of Mount St. Helens Before May 18, 1980

Abstract

Volcanoes and volcanic eruptions are dramatic players on the global stage. They are prominent landscape features and powerful forces of landform, ecological, and social change. Vesuvius, Krakatau, Pompeii, and, in recent decades, Mount St. Helens hold an important place in our perceptions of how the Earth works and the incredible, destructive effects of violent eruptions. Perhaps less appreciated is the great diversity of interactions between volcanoes and the ecological systems in their proximity.