Generating a Database of Seismic Events and the Probability That They Were Caused by Precipitation Using Acoustic Debris Flow Data

Abstract — Mt. Saint Helens gained notoriety in 1980 for its cataclysmic eruption on March 27 with the major collapse of the dome. Since this major eruption, the mountain had remained relatively quiet. However, in 2004 an increase in activity and dome building caused a renewed interest in volcano research. In 1982 the United States Geological Survey placed debris flow monitoring systems, called Acoustic Debris Flow (ADF) monitors, at several locations near the crater of Mt. St. Helens to further study the potential use of debris flow data. The data was collected by the Cascades Volcanic Observatory (CVO). Also located on the mountain is a machine called a Tipping Bucket that calculates precipitation. The CVO has asked the research team to generate a database of seismic events based on the data collected by the ADF monitors. This research project hopes to generate a database of seismic activity for Mt. St. Helens for th