On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington State experienced a huge volcanic eruption after a magnitude 5 point 1 earthquake. During the eruption, hot ash and pumice poured down the west, south, and east sides of the mountain, melting the snow and ice at the top of the volcano and producing volcanic mudflows. Which type of process first occurred in the ecosystem around Mount St. Helens after it erupted?

The eruption covered nearby areas with ash and pumice and severely disturbed or removed existing vegetation and soil. When life begins to establish on newly exposed surfaces with little or no soil, the process is primary succession. A climax community is a later, relatively stable stage, while secondary succession occurs where soil remains after a disturbance.

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