Seasonal steam rising from Mount Baker is a reminder to residents that the picturesque mountain across the border is among the Cascade volcanoes.

The mountain range features a series of once-active volcanoes, but the smoking look isnsa国际传媒檛 cause for concern.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 mostly hot water,sa国际传媒� explained Dante Canil a professor in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria.

Baker is what would be called a dormant volcano, as it hasnsa国际传媒檛 erupted in a major way for about 10,000 years. It does have a magmatic system, as do others in the Cascades considered more active, such as Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.

Baker has vents sa国际传媒� or fumaroles sa国际传媒� that go down into the mountain.

Steam is usually a result of snow melt and other water getting into the magmatic system, which heats it well beyond its boiling point.

sa国际传媒淎 lot like a hot spring,sa国际传媒� Canil said. sa国际传媒淚t also depends on the air above it whether you see the steam.sa国际传媒�

The nature of the conditions make it a bit seasonal, with the steam spotted and making headlines, most frequently in the spring.

READ ALSO:

Mount Baker has been quiet, but it could still erupt someday. The impact in Greater Victoria would be minimal.

sa国际传媒淥f all the nearby volcanoes, it would be the least concerning,sa国际传媒� Canil said, noting Mount St. Helens, dubbed a frequent erupter, would be a far more likely culprit.

With prevailing west to east winds, experts guess even ash fall would be minimal as the Cascades spread ash deposits mostly to the east.

sa国际传媒淓ven if Baker were to erupt sa国际传媒� in a typical eruption wesa国际传媒檇 get maybe less than 1 millimetre,sa国际传媒� Canil said.

There are other hazards to those volcanoes for people living close to them. When the snow cap melts during an eruption, it sends a flood of ash and mud, with the consistency of concrete, down the mountain at alarming speeds.

sa国际传媒淔or people nearby a volcano, thatsa国际传媒檚 as much risk as an eruption of magma,sa国际传媒� Canil said.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on?

Email: christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .