Mount Rainier is one of several volcanic mountains that have formed because of tectonic plate movement. The Pacific Plate is moving under the North American Plate. This action lifts the west part of the American plate a small amount each year. At the same time the plates sliding past each other create a great deal of frictional heating. At places like Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helen are where this rock melting heat reaches the surface and produces ejecta. These mountains then ad this ejecta to their slopes and can increase their size and height over eons of time. This produces these type peaks. The Mountains in the Pacific Northwest are still growing even now!
To make a drawing of this you may have to draw two. One of them showing plate subduction and one of the mountain's successive eruptions. Each adding another layer and increasing the mountain's height. Mt. Rainier is very beautiful now, but we should always remember it's history.
2007-01-30 09:49:19
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answer #1
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answered by eudaemon 4
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Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano, sometimes called a composite volcano. This means it formed from alternating magma and ash eruption events. The sides tend to be steep and they have often and explosive eruptions. Check out this site for a diagram.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratovolcano
2007-02-05 17:41:59
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answer #2
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answered by Ms. G... the O.G. 2
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just simply go to the atmospheric,wheatherolgical stores and see the diagram
2007-02-05 05:10:15
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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eudaemon, of course, has the correct answer.
Looking at all of your questions about M. Ranier, I suggest you do your own research and homework. Google it.
2007-01-30 18:26:26
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answer #4
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answered by intrepid 5
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