Volcanism, volcanic ash, and its role in forest ecology and management

Volcanism, volcanic ash, and its role in forest ecology and management Mark Kimsey, the Director of the Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, discusses volcanism, volcanic ash, and their roles in forest ecology and management. Plate tectonics, the Ring of Fire, and volcanism have shaped and continue to shape Earth’s landscapes, particularly along the Pacific Rim. Volcanism has shaped the skylines and landscapes of the North American Pacific Coast; depositing during eruptive events, volcanic tephra ranging in centimeters to tens of meters in depth. One particular eruptive event that dramatically changed Northwest U.S. ecological history was the repeat and final circular ring fissure eruption of Mount Mazama (known currently as Crater Lake) in southwestern Oregon State approximately 7,700 years ago (Fig. 1).