Author(s): Sam Randall, Western Washington University, Geology Department (First Author, Presenting Author) Kristina Walowski, Western Washington University Susan DeBari, Western Washington University Douglas Clark, Western Washington University Hannah Shamloo, Central Washington University
About 6,700 years ago, Mount Baker had a powerful eruption that spread ash across the surrounding region. This ash, called the BA tephra, can still be found today in layers of mud from nearby lakes and bogs. By studying tiny crystals and volcanic glass from these layers, we can learn how the magma changed before and during the eruption. These changes may reveal if the eruption happened in several bursts or if fresh magma rose into the system mid-eruption. This work helps us better understand how magma moves and erupts at Cascade volcanoes like Mount Baker.
