The Mount St. Helens Institute is planning several events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the volcano’s 1980 eruption, starting this week with a daily Twitter feed tracking the seismic rumblings that foretold the catastrophic blast of May 18.
Scientists realized that something was amiss on March 20, 1980, when the mountain shook with a magnitude-4.1 earthquake.
The institute will mark the occasion on March 19, with the first of a daily series of tweets marking notable events up to and through the eruption anniversary of May 18. To sign up, go to www.twitter.com/mshin stitute.
Other events:
• April 15, 7 p.m., Hollywood Theater, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Portland: Film premier of “From Zero to Life.” Austrian filmmaker Jorg Daniel Hissen, ecologist Charlie Crisafulli and geologist Jon Major will discuss the making of the film and the science it presents. Suggested donation of $10 at the door.
Additional screenings will be held in Battle Ground and Seattle, although dates and times have not been announced.
• May 4, 7 p.m., Lucky Labrador, 1945 N.W. Quimby, Portland: Volcano Views and Brews: — “Remembering Spirit Lake: A Community Remembrance,” with Susan Saul, Darryl Lloyd and Christine Colasurdo. Bring stories, memories and photographs to share.
• May 4 and May 18, 1 p.m., various elementary and middles schools across the country: Volcano Explorers Program for students. An interactive video-conference program will connect fourth- through eighth-graders to volcanologists.
• May 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Johnston Ridge Observatory: “It’s a Blast: Volcano Science in Your Backyard.” A hands-on science demonstration at the Forest Service observatory located at the end of the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, just five miles across a valley from the gaping crater.
• May 18, Johnston Ridge Observatory: Free admission and commemoration events throughout the day. At 10 a.m., officials will dedicate new exhibits and an updated center. At 11 a.m., photographers will present images to be featured in the May edition of National Geographic.
• May 18, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 1126 S.W. Park, Portland: “The Power of Nature: Mount St. Helens 1980-2010.” Co-sponsored by Ilahee, the Spring Creek Project and the U.S. Forest Service, the event features poet Gary Snyder, author Ursula K. Le Guin and ecologist Jerry Franklin.
