Scientists study underwater quakes

06:31 PM PST on Saturday, March 5, 2005

By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News

SEATTLE -- Thousands of small earthquakes are rattling the ocean floor off the Washington Coast. Described as the Mount St. Helens of the sea, it’s attracting an all-star team of the scientists.

On board the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson, a scientific rapid response team was en route Saturday to check out some underwater earthquakes.

"We've had about 3,000 earthquakes reported," said Dr. Ed Baker of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The scientists believe an underwater volcano is erupting along the undersea Juan De Fuca Ridge, some 300 miles off the coast of Neah Bay.

"If you have a picture of Mt. St. Helens that little dome glowing and the plumes rising to the atmoshpere and drifting away...we are looking at the same thing except on the sea floor," said Baker.

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Scientists have outfitted the ship with sophisiticated equipment available to gather underwater pictures, and gases and magma that are believed to rising to the surface.

Scientists, like NOAA's Sharon Walker, have outfitted the ship with the most sophisiticated equipment available to gather underwater pictures, and gases and magma that are believed to rising to the surface.

"It's kind of like shining a flashlight in a dusty room," she said.

The mission is expected to shed light on more than just the geologic, volcanic and oceanic aspects of this earthquake swarm. There are possible medical and manufacturing applications involved.

As for the danger, scientists say that's what makes this event so great -- there is very little risk.

"These earthquakes are not about to generate a tsunami, I think they are too deep,” said Dr. Jim Cowan of the University of Hawaii.

The underwater earthquake swarm began last weekend and scientists say it produced nearly 1,500 small quakes in the first 36 hours.