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Hydrothermal Earthquake Swarm Persists Beneath Mount Rainier, USGS Maintains Green Alert

Seismic networks have recorded hundreds of deep quakes under Mount Rainier since early Tuesday without any sign of magma movement.

Mount Rainier, an active volcano rising to 14,410 feet, is experiencing a rare earthquake swarm.
ASA lenticular cloud forms over Mount Rainier, considered an active volcano rising to 14,410 feet above sea level, as viewed from Reflection Lakes on August 29, 2024, near Ashford, Washington.
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Overview

  • The swarm began at 1:29 a.m. local time Tuesday, peaking at several events per minute and producing a largest tremor of magnitude 1.7 at 4:52 a.m.
  • Recorded quakes are concentrated 2–6 km below the summit and none have been felt at the surface.
  • The USGS holds the Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code at Green after detecting no deformation, gas emission or infrasound anomalies.
  • Researchers attribute the cluster to hydrothermal fluid circulation above the magma chamber rather than fresh magma intrusion.
  • A dense network of seismometers, GPS stations, infrasound sensors and webcams continues to monitor the volcano under the National Volcano Early Warning System.