Can a volcano cause earthquakes?
Most earthquakes have nothing to do with volcanoes; however, numerous small earthquakes do occur in association with most volcanoes. In the Mount Saint Helens eruption of 1980, the main eruption began with an earthquake and an accompanying landslide. Presumably the movement of magma produced stresses responsible for both the earthquake and the main eruption. Q: Can an earthquake cause a volcano? A: Most earthquakes have nothing to do with volcanoes; however, small earthquakes often accompany volcanic activity. Scientists who try to forecast volcanic activity rely heavily on interpreting changes in the rate and character of small earthquakes. So, while earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are sometimes caused by the same natural phenomona, the earthquakes do not ’cause’ the volcano. Q: Why are earthquakes common around the Pacific rim? A: Even though small earthquakes can occur almost anywhere, most earthquakes–large or small–take place at the edges of tectonic plates, which move past o
