Monitoring and preparing for an earthquake in Mount Baker

This article originally appeared on Salish Current.

Between July and August of this year, Mount Rainier experienced more than 1,300 earthquakes. Now the US Geological Survey is working to identify similar activity at Mount Baker.

The earthquake that struck the Rainier region broke the previous record recorded in 2009. Scientists assured residents that these events are considered normal for an active volcano and are not a cause for concern.

“There was another swarm like this, and the conclusion was that it's not magma rising, it's hot water inside the Earth that got compressed and injected into some new fractures and caused a bunch of small earthquakes,” said Nate Stevens, a seismologist with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.

The swarms of earthquakes around Rainier are thought to be caused by the movement of water and heat beneath the crust above the magma chamber. Rainier's last eruption was about 1,000 years ago, and the volcano has only been monitored since the late 1980s. Researchers are still learning about the volcanic cycle at Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier is considered the most dangerous volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range, posing the greatest danger to the Nisqually River valleys and cities such as Puyallup, Kent, and Seattle. In Whatcom County lies a smaller, quieter volcano with much less seismicity: Mount Baker.

The dangers of Mount Baker

Mount Rainier typically experiences about 10 earthquakes each month, while Mount Baker only experiences one every few years. According to Mary Binnage, a research geophysicist at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, the biggest hazard from Mount Baker is lahar.

Lahars are fast-moving volcanic mudflows composed of ash, water, rocks, and other debris. The largest known lahar at Mount Baker was about 6,700 years ago. It traveled approximately 7.5 miles down parts of the Nooksack River and was at least 325 feet deep, more than half the height of the Space Needle.

Binnage is part of the team updating the risk assessment at Mount Baker, using improved numerical models to better predict lahar flows and estimate how much ash might fall and where, in light of a volcanic event.

Evaluation forms have been mostly completed. The next steps are to work with emergency managers to make it more accessible.

“The purpose of this risk assessment is to provide a current understanding of volcanology, in more understandable language, so that emergency managers and planners can plan and prepare to respond to a potential volcanic eruption,” Binage said.

In addition to improved modeling of Mount Baker, efforts are underway to identify low-frequency earthquakes that occur at the volcano. Volcano-tectonic earthquakes—rapid events caused by sudden slip along a fault that releases high-frequency seismic energy—are rare at Mount Baker. However, according to Stevens, the volcano produces more low-frequency earthquakes — 1-3 Hz, caused by fluid-induced fault movements in deep fault zones — than the rest of the Cascade volcanoes.

Working with the Cascades Volcano Observatory, Stevens helps distinguish between the two wave forms created by glaciers and low-frequency earthquakes. Marking these events helps researchers know when magma or gas inside the volcano is moving, rather than the glaciers above it.

According to Bennage, the goal is to review the assessment with the USGS by early or mid-2026.

However, nothing is set in stone. The Trump administration has proposed a 38% cut to the USGS budget in fiscal year 2026, specifically targeting hazard, water, wildlife, and climate monitoring programs. USGS officials declined to comment on this reduction as it relates to risk assessment at Mount Baker.

Community readiness

“Disaster preparedness is a process of continuous improvement within our entire community,” Matt Klein, deputy director of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office’s Emergency Management Division, wrote in an email.

According to Klein, research provided by the USGS is critical in helping prepare, mitigate and plan for a volcanic event at Mount Baker.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts, set up a Go!Kit, prepare for two weeks and be prepared within a year for any emergencies that may arise.

“Whatcom County residents are citizen scientists,” Bennage said. “It's really helpful to have local people involved in this and be eyes on the ground and if you see anything call us because we can't always be there physically.”

People who see or smell anything out of the ordinary at Mount Baker can contact the Earthquake Network, Volcano Observatory or Emergency Management Division. Changes in activity can range from a rotten egg or metallic odor, to the appearance of a plume or steaming.

Not all changes or disturbances indicate an explosion. According to Benard, monitoring stations are vital for detecting changes that are not present on the surface.

“There is nothing we can do to control these natural forces,” Stevens said. “The best thing we can do is watch and be prepared.”

This article was originally published by Salish Current on September 25, 2025.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos