volcanic field wells gray volcanic field called potentially active volcanic field east central british_columbia canada located approximately north situated highlands volcanic field place numerous small extensive lava flows wells gray volcanic field encompassed large wilderness park called km2 park established protect unique features drainage basin including volcanic field roads enter park provide views field volcanic features short lead volcanic features areas accessible aircraft geology pleistocene based potassium dating volcanic activity volcanic field began early pleistocene creating valley filling plateau lava flows total volume approximately lava flows spanned periods evidence preserved form ice valley deposits region formed melted vertical pipe glacial ice partially mass cooled large block gravity upper surface glacial erosion suggests erupted early pleistocene explosive volcano formed pleistocene volcano known thought formed phases phase activity involved water possibly glacial ice filled valley volcano heated glacial water flooded volcano vent creating violent steam explosions broken lava fragments steam explosions subsided broken lava fragments settled glacial water creating like form volcanic glass called volcano ceased soon surface glacial water volcanic events interacted creating numerous pit pit filled water creating crater lakes places glacial till sands maintained lava flows form volcanic field found rare left thick blanket till nearly volcanic deposits largely limited valleys end ice age approximately years ago massive floods melting glacial ice carved deep underlying plateau lava flows contain rivers high faces lava flows remain vertical nature lava flows lava forms vertical columns rock called recently southern end volcanic field experienced continuous volcanic activity end ice age volcanic activity occurred areas followed lava fountain creating lava flows spanish creek areas continued glacial ice melted away known created area lava flows lie bedrock intervening indicating early age near built cone known concluded approximately long lava flow dated years old lava flow known dragon tongue thick end end southern end tree maintained lava flow lower end latest volcanic eruption created small tree covered cone east end called cone recently years ago making youngest canada based tree growth data origins wells gray volcanic field began forming approximately years ago grown steadily causes produced wells gray volcanic field clear matter ongoing research approximately inland north south strike fault zone lava flows comprising mantle wells gray volcanic field considered easternmost expression relationship unknown age location trend reach area volcanic field trend thought formed existence penetrating structures recent studies associated indicated extension primary cause structure wells gray volcanic field generated possibly displacement transform fault transform fault section vertical tearing contain potentially different dip angles explorer plate possibly flow upward mantle wedge similarly displacement section extension horizontal slab window like gap developed allowing case unsettled experienced low degrees melting interacted north american yield plate compositions lava composition composition lava flows wells gray volcanic field unusual include small angular rounded fragments rock called crystals come mantle green known iron mineral called lava flows comprise large crystals deep earth crust mantle contain similar erupted volcano mountain help verify mantle beneath volcanic field like lava flows pleistocene lava flows comprise rare exist older lava flows chemical evidence indicates lava flow produced similar way low degrees melting originally came upper mantle time progressively depleted following melting event current activity wells gray volcanic field volcanic areas canada associated recent seismic activity volcano seismic data suggests contain living systems indicating possible future activity available data allow clear conclusion observations indications canada potentially active associated hazards significant beneath areas cone activity volcanic field appears dispersed cases earthquakes time space suggestive volcanic earthquake volcanic hazards lava wells gray volcanic field remote location danger lava low moderate low levels commonly extend tens kilometers volcano vent leading edges flows travel fast kilometres hour mph steep slopes typically advance kilometre hour mph gentle slopes lava flows confined channel lava tube steep slope main body flow reach kilometres hour mph based past volcanic activity volcanic field long history producing quiet lava style consist lava bombs altitudes tens hundreds metres small medium volume sporadic violence region forested lava flows likely travel long distances possible lava start large forest fires river valleys explosive violent possible unique circumstances eruption lake future eruption likely affect limited area volcano poisonous substances volcanic gas includes variety substances include gases trapped volcanic rocks dissolved gases lava gases directly lava indirectly ground water heated volcanic action volcanic gases pose greatest potential hazard people animals agriculture property dioxide carbon dioxide hydrogen locally dioxide gas lead acid rain air pollution volcano monitoring currently volcanic field monitored closely active volcanic field system existing network established monitor earthquakes far away provide good indication happening beneath volcanic field sense increase activity volcanic field restless provide warning large eruption detect activity volcanic field started possible way detect eruption studying volcanic field geological history volcano pattern behaviour terms eruption style magnitude frequency future eruption expected similar previous likely abandoned volcanic field likelihood canada critically affected local close volcanic argues kind improvement program required benefit cost thoughts critical dealing natural hazards benefit cost examination needs correct data hazard types occurrences exist british_columbia canada detail required volcanic techniques hazard mapping displays volcano history detail speculates understanding hazardous activity possibly expected future present hazard maps created wells gray volcanic field level knowledge insufficient large volcanic hazard program existed majority information collected lengthy separate way support employees scientists current knowledge best established likely rise considerably temporary mapping monitoring project knowledge wells gray volcanic field volcanic areas british_columbia established certain contributions intensive program exposure near young canadian quick hazard assessments individual volcanic associated recent seismic activity advance produce quick productive determination priority areas efforts existing network monitor earthquakes existed remained small population apart short term seismic monitoring experiments volcano monitoring accomplished wells gray volcanic field canada level approaching established countries historically active active restless usually monitored approximately kilometres frequently kilometres better sensitivity detection reduced location errors particularly earthquake depth monitoring risk eruption offering capability important volcanic risk currently volcanic field closer kilometres increasing distance declining numbers indicate seismic activity prediction capability reduced earthquake location accuracy depth decreases network accurate possible volcanic earthquake noticed east wells gray volcanic field inaccurate earthquake locations volcanic field kilometers isolated northern regions kilometres location magnitude level volcanic field magnitude magnitude carefully monitored located noticed events recorded surveyed immediately improve understanding future eruption events recorded surveyed british_columbia immediately easy access process countries like canada possible small precursor earthquake particularly events observed significant events larger detected minor subdivision events complex clarify confidence volcanic nature associate individual volcanic notable
Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field