461. Kellermann (2022) Developing and testing a geomorphic mapping protocol in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
     The grand landscapes and river systems of Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) are influenced by its glaciovolcanic geology and the temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest. Mapping geomorphic changes is a crucial step to understanding, interacting with, and preserving the pristine environments of the Park. Geologic hazards and large-scale hydrologic events are common within park boundaries, putting infrastructure and cultural and historical sites at risk of permanent damage. In this study, I present a protocol for mapping geomorphic features remotely and in the field, and I test the protocol along an at-risk road segment along the Nisqually River. With ArcGIS Pro, I defined site boundaries with a watershed delineation, designated key geomorphic features custom to the unique environment of the Park, and assigned key attribute domains to further describe each mapped feature. Then, I mapped landform features using LiDAR and aerial imagery in Pro and used ArcGIS Online and Field Maps for in-field mapping with a mobile tablet and a backpack-mounted GNSS receiver. After extensive testing, the protocol is in its preliminary phase and ready to be applied to other park field sites for further testing and repeat mapping projects. The resulting inventory suggests that the protocol is suitable for the remote and rugged characteristics of the Park when paired with recent LiDAR data and favorable GNSS conditions. The standardized methods and taxonomy proposed in the protocol allow for recording landform changes and initial site characterization that can be used to identify locations for hazard mitigation. The protocol is repeatable, providing a standardized format useful for comparison between different locations and timescales. While the protocol is designed for the features found near Mount Rainier, it can be readily modified for other fluvial and hillslope environments. In its final form, this geomorphic mapping protocol will equip MORA geologists and resource managers with a standard approach to documenting MORA's most geologically dynamic and at-risk infrastructure and resources.
537. Black et al. (2025) Forest-floor burial in 1507 by the largest Mount Rainier lahar of the past millennium
     New dating of lahar-killed trees underscores volcano hazards in the Puget Sound metropolitan area. Beginning as a landslide from the west flank of Mount Rainier, Washington, USA, the Electron Mudflow, which was the largest lahar of the last millennium, swept more than 60 km down the Puyallup River drainage into areas now densely populated. Wiggle matching of seven radiocarbon ages from buried, bark-bearing Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees brackets the mudflow’s age between 1477 and 1522 CE with 99.7% certainty. To narrow this date, we applied dendrochronology crossdating on samples collected from 21 trees killed by the lahar, measuring 86 time series for statistical verification. The four bark-bearing trees died the same year while the final rings in all other trees had decayed, exposing rings formed in earlier years. When averaged together, the crossdated measurements form a 475 yr master chronology that was correlated against absolutely dated tree-ring chronologies in the region. The Electron chronology best matched with chronologies from low-elevation sites, especially a Douglas-fir chronology from Vancouver Island, Canada, to show that the Electron trees died in 1507 CE. Latewood in the final ring was beginning to form, indicating the mudflow likely occurred in the late-summer months. What caused the Electron Mudflow is unknown, but this precise date will help to assess possible relationships with other events, assist in interpreting Indigenous narratives about the mudflow, and increase awareness of potential lahar hazards.
536. Koepfli et al. (2025) Discovering spatial variability of critical zone processes at Mount Rainier using DAS
     Mount Rainier (4392 m a.s.l.), an active stratovolcano located ~95 km south-east of Seattle, WA, USA, poses hazards due to its steep glaciated slopes and highly porous volcanic surface. The combination of snowmelt, rainfall, and unstable surface materials frequently triggers debris flows and lahars, threatening downstream communities. At the same time, Mount Rainier’s glaciers play a crucial hydrological role, storing water that sustains rivers and therefore agriculture across the heavily populated lowlands during dry summer months. To better understand the shallow subsurface (critical zone) and its connection to the surface, we collected data using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) along a ~40 km fiber-optic cable that spans over ~1000 m elevation and crosses diverse lithologies. We analyze ambient seismic noise by using auto- and cross-correlations to image and monitor near subsurface conditions and compare our results with data from nearby weather stations, river gauges, and soil pits. We identify various coherent fiber sections and link the frequency content of seismic noise sources to local hydrological settings. We also find an increased signal-to-noise ratio for specific lithologies. Observed seismic velocity changes (dv/v) align with nearby ground moisture measurements but vary along the fiber. To explain these spatial variations, we investigate hydrological processes that connect surface conditions and subsurface responses
535. Kenyon (2025) Behind the curtain: Characterizing the Nisqually Watershed of MORA as a means to explore the use of non-contact data sources in mountain hydrology
     Impacts from a changing climate are affecting the hydrology, geomorphology, and overall variability of rivers around the world. Upland water especially prone to these effects. Mountainous rivers are experiencing significant shifts in precipitation patterns and the storage of snow and ice in source areas, resulting in stark changes to hydrologic variability, sediment transport, and fluvial morphodynamics. Most hydrology methods have been developed for use in rivers with a slope of <0.001 m/m, and the advancement of knowledge relevant to steeper rivers with has followed slowly in comparison. This research aims to address gaps in mountain hydrology associated with the measurement of discharge and bedload sediment transport in mountain rivers with a slope ≥0.02 m/m, seeking means to improve our ability to observe hydrologic trends and morphodynamics. Containing widely distributed low-resilience infrastructure, significant increases to precipitation intensities, and glacial recession rates greater than 0.1 m/day, the Nisqually River within Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) exemplifies a nexus of modern land management issues driven by climate stressors of the Pacific Northwest. With this study we seek to further characterize observable surface processes in the Nisqually watershed within MORA, and begin considering new methods and frameworks enabling reliable monitoring of steep mountain rivers. We consider the use of seismic, infrasound, and video analysis data as non-contact methods to measure discharge and sediment transport in steep mountain rivers. The primary non-contact data series can then be supported by remote LiDAR products and Sentinel-1 data to assess changes in the source areas and their potential impacts on observable behaviors. Initial data shows signals in the seismic/infrasound that seem to correlate to both water flow and bedload transport. We hypothesize there will be observable correlations with topography and snowmelt timing seen though remote sensing analysis, but also anticipate site-to-site variability based on substrate and local morphology
534. Conner et al. (2025) Characterizing surges from a debris flow induced by a glacial outburst flood at Mount Rainier, USA
     On 15 August 2023, a small debris flow occurred in Tahoma Creek on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington, USA. The debris flow originated from an outburst flood from the South Tahoma Glacier. Multiple instruments installed in the Tahoma Creek drainage recorded evidence of the debris flow, including nodal and broadband seismometers, infrasound sensors, a laser rangefinder located about 3.4 km downstream of the glacier, and a timelapse camera that captured images of the glacier terminus. In particular, nodal seismometers with a sampling rate of 500 Hz were deployed roughly every 350 m along approximately 2 km of the stream. After initiation of the debris flow, we find evidence in the seismic data of at least three debris flow surges due to either additional small outbursts from the glacier or the debris flow separating into multiple surge fronts caused by wave development from flow instability. Though the arrivals of the surge fronts are often obscured by higher-frequency signals contributed by the full debris flow, we find that the surges can be tracked as they travel downstream. From the seismic data, we are able to approximate where and when the surges merged or separated from the main flow and estimate the flow velocity of each surge front. As the fronts of debris flows generally contain the largest and most damaging materials in the flow, each surge front increases the hazard associated with an event. The dense instrumentation in the Tahoma Creek drainage allows for an in-depth analysis of the evolution of debris flow surges, providing information on how similar debris flows may behave in the future and contributing to the overall understanding of how debris flows evolve over time.
533. Beason et al. (2025) Revitalizing an honor society journal: Outreach strategies for broadening undergraduate and graduate-level participation in geosciences
     Peer-reviewed publication opportunities are a vital component of professional development for undergraduate and graduate students in the geosciences. The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the official publication of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (the national Earth science honor society founded in 1915), has long served as a platform for student-authored research and early-career scholarship. First issued in May 1920, The Compass originally focused on chapter news and society updates, but began regularly publishing research articles in the mid-1930s. From 1982 to 1989, volumes consistently included 4–5 research articles per issue—totaling 127 scholarly contributions across seven volumes. Despite this legacy and the continued support of a national editor, submission volume has declined in recent years. The once-vibrant quarterly journal, now published digitally and featuring DOIs to enhance accessibility and citation, increasingly struggles to attract enough undergraduate and graduate research articles to fill each issue. Recent revitalization efforts aim to re-engage students and broaden participation across the geoscience community. These include the formation of a student advisory group, expanded presence at national scientific meetings, and targeted outreach through social media and campus chapters. This presentation will explore both the structural and cultural challenges of sustaining a professional-quality journal within a student-centered society, and highlight ongoing interdisciplinary strategies to promote inclusion, build awareness, and strengthen contributions. By expanding access to credible publication opportunities, we aim to support a more inclusive geoscience community and empower the next generation of science communicators.

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The U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory and the University of Washington Pacific Northwest Seismic Network continue to monitor Washington and Oregon volcanoes closely and will issue additional notifications as warranted.

Website Resources

For images, graphics, and general information on Cascade Range volcanoes: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/cvo
For seismic information on Oregon and Washington volcanoes: http://www.pnsn.org/volcanoes
For information on USGS volcano alert levels and notifications: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcano-notifications-deliver-situational-information

Jon Major, Scientist-in-Charge, Cascades Volcano Observatory, jjmajor@usgs.gov

General inquiries: vhpweb@usgs.gov