Morphology of a new system of glaciovolcanic caves---Mount St. Helens,
Washington, USA
Abstract
Mount St. Helens, Washington State, USA, is characterized by a 2 x 3.5
km horseshoe-shaped and north-facing crater and hosts one of the last
expanding glaciers in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, Crater Glacier. First
observed in 2012, a new and extensive system of glaciovolcanic caves has
developed around the 2004-2008 Lava Dome inside the Crater Glacier.
Field studies have documented the cave characteristics via photography
and tacheometric survey methods repeated from 2014-2019. Climatologic
measurements reveal that sub-glacial fumarole activity leads to
large-scale cave complexes, sometimes several hundred meters long. These
allowed comparisons of passage extent and volume to be made and gave us
a unique opportunity to observe their genesis over time. Ten distinct
caves have been discovered in a circumferential pattern surrounding the
2004-2008 Lava Dome. The caves comprise a combined length of 2,232.3 m,
the three most significant ones reaching more than 400 m each. Changes
in the output of individual fumaroles which have melted the passages
have also contributed to the appearance and disappearance of subglacial
rooms and marginal dendritic passages which typically orient to
entrances along the rock/ice interface. Over time the caves have
demonstrated significant morphological changes. Multiple caves
demonstrated increases in length and volume over the study period, along
with changes to internal morphology. Caves located on the east and west
arm of the glacier are additionally influenced by glacier movement and a
fast flow rate which contribute much to morphology changes. Resurveys of
cave passages over multiple years have revealed the dynamic nature of
the systems, which are not necessarily in balance with the geothermal
heat release. We expect that the overall growth of the cave systems will
continue as long as an equilibrium of snow accumulation and ablation is
reached or changes in volcanic activity occur. The newly formed
glaciovolcanic cave systems on Mount St. Helens offer a rare view into
the internal workings of a glacier and can lead to a better
understanding of how glaciers and active volcanoes interact.