|
Weather Glossary A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| WeatherWhys®: 5/20 |
|
| WeatherWhys (R): On May 18, 1980, an earthquake beneath the north slope of Mt. St. Helens caused that whole side of the mountain to give way. The instant release of all the built-up gas and heat that had since been contained below the surface resulted in an incredible blast equivalent to more than 500 times the power of an atomic bomb. The grand daddy of all volcanos was Tambora which blew its top in 1815. The Tambora explosion was equivalent 60,000 times the force of an atomic bomb. |