www.axios.com By Christine Clarridge
Mount Rainier is rattling with the most powerful earthquake swarm scientists have ever recorded at the volcano.
Why it matters: Rainier’s reputation as the Cascades’ most dangerous volcano means even minor tremors can fuel both scientific investigation and public anxiety — though experts say there’s no immediate cause for concern.
By the numbers: As of Friday, researchers had analyzed 780 of about 1,200 tremors recorded at the 20 seismic stations on or near the volcano since July 8, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN).
- Quake activity was ongoing Monday morning, with seven recorded by 8am.
- The largest among them was a magnitude 2.2 earthquake 1 mile underground.
What they’re saying: This is the “most energetic swarm” ever recorded at Mount Rainier, PNSN director Harold Tobin tells Axios, but right now there’s no sign of unusual magma activity.
What’s happening: Although analysts haven’t reviewed every event, all of the larger ones have been checked, says Tobin, and so far, everything about this swarm is consistent with typical hydrothermal activity — hot water and heat circulating through the volcano’s plumbing and triggering small fault slips…
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