In 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in the aftermath of a 5.2 magnitude earthquake. The resulting blast caused 600 mph winds and temperatures up to a scorching 600 degrees Fahrenheit. A resulting landslide decimated surrounding ecosystems. What was once a diverse forest with sparkling lakes transformed into a gray and lifeless landscape.
Small patches of plants, fungi, and animals were able to survive the eruption and resulting devastation, while some snow banks and frozen lakes preserved the roots of some trees in the area.
Two years after the blast, congress created a 100,000+ acre monument near the site of the eruption. As a result, the ecosystems immediately surrounding Mount St. Helens were able to recover naturally at their own pace.
In contrast, lands just outside of the monument site were logged and then replanted with Douglas and noble fir trees. As a result, the reforested land was dominated by the fir trees, shading any ground level plants from receiving valuable sunlight. The impact left the understory of the forest dark and void of any biodiversity.
What things change in the Mount St. Helens ecosystem after the 1980 eruption?
Size and diversity of forested areas
Physical characteristics of the land
Amount of carbon taken in by animals
Long-term climate of the area
Number of plant and animal species
Some of the things that changed in the Mount St. Helens ecosystem after the 1980 eruption include:
1. Size and diversity of forested areas: The eruption decimated large portions of the forested areas surrounding Mount St. Helens, leading to a loss of diversity and a transformation of the landscape.
2. Physical characteristics of the land: The eruption and resulting landslide dramatically altered the physical characteristics of the land, turning it into a gray and lifeless landscape with limited vegetation.
3. Amount of carbon taken in by animals: The eruption likely had an impact on the amount of carbon taken in by animals in the area, as the destruction of vegetation could have affected their food sources.
4. Long-term climate of the area: The eruption and the changes in vegetation and land cover could have had long-term impacts on the climate of the area, potentially altering local weather patterns and ecosystems.
5. Number of plant and animal species: The eruption likely led to a significant loss of plant and animal species in the immediate aftermath, but over time, some species were able to survive and adapt to the changed environment. The reforested areas outside of the monument site had a reduced biodiversity compared to the natural recovery inside the monument boundaries.