Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published August 12, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 12, 2007 at 2:08 AM

E-mail article     Print view

St. Helens' recovery may come faster than the forest's

Forest or mountaintop, which will return first? In a colossal race between natural processes, scientists are watching geological and ecological...

The (Vancouver) Columbian

MOUNT ST. HELENS — Forest or mountaintop, which will return first?

In a colossal race between natural processes, scientists are watching geological and ecological forces race each other in real time. Some are beginning to wonder whether the erupting mountain will rebuild its once-conical top before a forest returns to its surroundings.

"It really could be a kind of competition, so to speak," said John Pallister, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Vancouver.

From the windswept pumice plain in the barrel of the Mount St. Helens blast zone, botanist John Bishop is closely tracking the progression of plant and animal life. Bishop, with Washington State University, Vancouver, would place his bet on the mountain.

"It could be that some of these areas never recover to forest, at least not before the next eruption," he said.

Based on the length of time scientists have calculated for a closed-canopy forest to return to an area northeast of the volcano cleared by a huge blowout in the late 15th century, Bishop said it could be at least 200 years for a forest to take root in the harsh environment of the pumice plain.

At the current rate of lava extrusion, meanwhile, scientists figure it will take 160 years for the volcano to rebuild the top 1,314 feet obliterated in the eruption of May 18, 1980.

Bishop is in his 18th summer working near Mount St. Helens.

"It's important to understand the mechanisms and processes that lead to particular plant communities and forests that we value here in the Pacific Northwest," he said. "Here, we're starting from scratch."

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

More Local News headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business

Illegal workers quietly let go

Metro won't cut bus service after all

Jerry Large: Food-bank theft turns into a gift

Bumper to Bumper: How can the city let bridges go dark?

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

Advertising