Vegetation Reclamation and Geomorphological adjustment of Mount St.

Helens
Ron C. Chester
UW-Whitewater, Geography Department, Chesterrc29@uww.edu

Introduction
On May 17th, 1980 Mount St. Helens was 9,600ft tall symmetrical cone with a lively ecosystem around its borders. A tourist attraction for many outdoor enthusiasts, the woods, as well as Spirit Lake, was an iconic place to visit in the Pacific Northwest. On the morning of May 18th, Mount St. Helens erupted in a violent fury that would permanently scar the landscape and ecosystem, reducing to a height of 8,336ft. The mountains eruption was not without precedent, as the Cascade Range is a relatively active volcanic orogeny that has seen numerous seismic and eruption eventsMount St. Helens most of all (Myers & Driedger, 2008). With each destructive event comes recovery and a chance for science to study biological and ecological response. By viewing satellite imagery and analyzing the various color bands, landscape evolution was analyzed over the course of twenty years (1993, 2003 and 2013) in an effort to see how the landscape continues to respond.

Methods
2.1 Study Area

The 1980s eruption caused a massive landslide on the north face of the mountain. This area will be the focus of the study as it is the epicenter of the damage; however, destruction was not limited to this region. The surrounding areas of the mountain will also be analyzed as they were likely affected by CO2 emissions, temperature, and ash cover. Additionally, this area is useful for establishing a control for proper growth rate comparisons.

2.2

Data Analysis

Satellite imagery was obtained by the USGS Global Visualization Viewer; this service is open to the public and provides archived images. LANDSAT 4 data was downloaded at a 200m resolution for the area encompassing Mount St. Helens for the years of 1993, 2003 and 2012; August was chosen to minimize

alpine snow levels. The data obtained from the USGS was analyzed using ArcMap 10.2; Band 6 was compared in each image for visual variability over time. Composite images were made for infrared (4, 3, 2 RGB). Results from these images were then analyzed visually and by supervised classification. Seven categories (Old Growth, Medium-Old Growth, Medium-Young Growth, Young Growth, Water, Inactive Erosion, and Active Fluvial Erosion) considered for change.

Results/Discussion
Infrared images over the three decades show distinct vegetative growth in the study area. The 2012 infrared image is inconclusive as the data provided by the USGS is not consistent with that provided for the 1993 and 2003 images. The darker overall imagery causes bias visual interpretation of the data that would otherwise suggest greater vegetation health. The northern range of the mountain, where the most damage was inflicted, is seeing a faster growth rate than areas at the flanks of the mountain. This is represented by more intense shades of red, indicating higher chlorophyll production, reflected in the infrared composite band (Figures 1, 2, and 3).

Classification analyses support the findings of the infrared images and provide greater visual representation of the features of interest. Because classification of the composite images is independent of each other, the darker image bias previously discussed is not a factor in supervised classification and therefore can be considered for conclusive arguments. Though human interpretative error introduces imperfect results, certain logical patterns of growth and erosive adjustments emerge in the results (Figures 7, 8, and 9). As aforementioned, higher areas of chlorophyll production are indicative of healthier growth. By classifying the degree of color saturation on the landscape, assumptions can be made as to the level of health, as well as probable relative age, of the regrowth. As time elapses, larger areas with this increased production (Old-Growth) are visible in the areas affected by the eruption, suggesting successful reclamation. Similar studies examining plant reclamation in Hawaii found that the succession of plants is started by algae, then mosses and ferns, lichen, native woody seed plants, and finally exotic woody and herbaceous seed plants (Smathers & Mueller-Dombois, 1974). Due to Mount St. Helens alpine region, the climate causes a shorter growing season and a more taxing effort of trial and error regrowth, likely not following the succession rate and sequence seen in Hawaii (Thompson, 2010). As windblown seeds began to populate the barren lands, scientific observation recorded Lupins showing the most resiliencies to the rocky landscape. The root structure of these flowers aided the next step of succession and began paving the way for conifers, which are rebounding in the area today (Thompson, 2010).

Erosional patterns around the caldera suggest geomorphological adjustments. The image taken in 1993 shows the northwestern areas of Mount St. Helens primarily favored for gravitationally influenced

sediment flow. As the mountain side stabilized, a more conical erosion pattern emerges, following the expected erosional path of a mountain. Spirit Lake, located to the north-northeast, appears to have very dramatic erosional changes in the three images. However, the Lake adjustment is due to the presence and movement of downed trees that are still floating in the lake and are not erosive.

The Landsat imagery could not measure any thermal activity within the mountains conduit, therefore producing inconclusive arguments for temporal change. Though the caldera is still thermally active, no heat signatures were evident in the three images (Figures 4, 5, and 6). It is thought that a higher resolution is needed to appropriately measure heat signatures at the current level of activity.

Conclusion
Throughout Earths history, biology has been faced with numerous trials and stresses for survival, many far more disastrous than those witnessed during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. What makes Mount St. Helens unique is the opportunity for scientific analysis and quantification of lifes resiliency to change. Though the area is still recovering more than 30 years after the event, remotely sensed data over the last 20 years shows the ability of adaption and renewal as the mountain is slowly rebuilt.

References
Myers, B., & Driedger, C. Geological Survey (U.S.), (2008). Eruptions in the cascade range during the past 4,000 years. Retrieved from Geological Survey (U.S.) website: http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip63 Smathers, G., & Mueller-Dombois, D. (1974). Invasion and recovery of vegetation after a volcanic eruption in Hawaii. National Park Service Scientific Monograph Series. Retrieved from https://archive.org/stream/invasionrecovery00smat

Thompson, A. (2010, May 17). Mount St. Helens still recovering 30 years later. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/6450-mount-st-helens-recovering-30-years.html

Figures

Figure 1. Infrared (4, 3, 2 RGB) composite image (1993).

Figure 2. Infrared (4, 3, 2 RGB) composite image (2003).

Figure 3. Infrared (4, 3, 2 RGB) composite image (2012).

Figure 4. Thermal image (1993).

Figure 5. Thermal image (2003).

Figure 6. Thermal image (2012).

Figure 7. Land cover classification (1993).

Figure 8. Land cover classification (2003).

Figure 9. Land cover classification (2012).