On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington State experienced a huge volcanic eruption after a magnitude 5.1 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 much of the surrounding area with ash and debris, leaving places with little or no soil and destroying the existing ecosystem. When life begins to colonize an area without established soil, the process is primary succession. Secondary succession occurs when an ecosystem regrows after a disturbance but soil remains, so it is not the best choice here.

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