My uncle mentioned last night that seismologists/geologists/vulcanologists have detected a magma dome building inside Mount Rainier (locals pronounce it “Ray-neer”, everyone else pronounces it properly). A full eruption is expected within the next five years. Historically, the geologists tell us that when Rainier erupts, a lahar, or mud flow, covers the areas around the volcano with a layer of mud as deep as 60 feet, as far away as the southeast Seattle suburb of Renton.
Has anyone heard more about this? Did I sell my house at the perfect moment or will real estate outside the mudflow limits go up in price? Can we appease the volcano god by sacrificing some virgins? Are there any virgins anywhere in the Seattle area?
Here’s a National Geographic article from September last year on the subject.
Your uncle doesn’t post here, does he MaPoDurian? Under the “Lane 119” handle?
Sorry, I looked around for references, but couldn’t find any. I can guarantee Lane isn’t my uncle, since my uncle’s Taiwan experiences are 35 years out of date (he took I&I here a few times while a Marine in Vietnam).
