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I doubt that the gravitational collapse of a rock buttress, even a large one, would be enough to trigger a major eruption of Rainier. The energy of an eruption
by snowwrestler 7y ago
I doubt that the gravitational collapse of a rock buttress, even a large one, would be enough to trigger a major eruption of Rainier. The energy of an eruption is shockingly large and almost anything else you can imagine pales before it.
The thickness and weight of the entire mountain is not a significant check on an eruption; therefore, it doesn't seem likely that removing a portion of the mountain (via collapse) would do more than vent some steam and noxious gases. Eruptions depend on what happens deeper in the crust, as I understand it.
- hodgesrm 7y agoLahars are different. They are mudflows. It's common to see them triggered by eruptions (e.g., Mt St Helens in 1980) but they can arise from landslides as well as glacier collapses. The most recent Lahar on Mt Rainier was in 1947. [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kautz_Creek https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kautz_Creek
- snowwrestler 7y agoThanks. I thought the term was reserved for hot mudflows triggered by an eruption, but I can see that you are correct.