Trident is a stratovolcano located in the United States, standing at an elevation of 1,864 meters within a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting. Official records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program document a total of 15 confirmed eruptions, all occurring during the 20th century CE. The historical record for the volcano spans from its earliest recorded eruption in 1913 CE to its latest recorded eruption starting on July 15, 1974 CE.
Recorded Eruption Timeline and Characteristics
The confirmed eruptions at Trident range across different scales of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), reaching a largest recorded VEI of 3.0. While the complete collection comprises 15 eruptions, representative documented events illustrate the activity pattern:
- September 16, 1913 CE: A confirmed eruption occurred with a VEI of 1.0, noted via reported observations.
- September 8 to September 9, 1956 CE: An eruption with a VEI of 2.0 took place, with activity area notes indicating uncertainty regarding attribution to Trident.
- June 9, 1962 CE: An eruption originated on the southwest flank with a VEI of 3.0, documented through reported observations.
- May 31, 1964 CE: Another southwest flank eruption occurred, registering a VEI of 3.0 based on reported observations.
- July 15, 1974 CE: The latest recorded eruption began on the southwest flank with a VEI of 3.0, representing the final entry in the 20th-century CE eruption sequence.
Activity Distribution
All 15 confirmed eruptions for Trident took place during the 20th century CE. Out of these events, 14 have associated VEI observations recorded in the official database. The activity has included localized flank events, notably along the southwest flank, alongside events where specific structural attribution carried noted uncertainties in the historical record.
Frequently asked questions
What type of volcano is Trident and where is it located?
Trident is a stratovolcano located in the United States with an elevation of 1,864 meters.
How many eruptions have been recorded at Trident?
The official records document 15 confirmed eruptions, all occurring during the 20th century CE.
When did Trident experience its historical eruptions?
The recorded activity spans from the earliest recorded eruption on September 16, 1913 CE, to the latest recorded eruption starting on July 15, 1974 CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Trident?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Trident is 3.0.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.