Magmatism in the Cascades, Subduction Zone in the Pacific Northwest: Geochemical Variations along a North South Transect

Volcanoes are located in specific places on Planet Earth. In Canada, they are mostly along the British Columbia coast, where they are part of the Pacific "ring of fire". They represent the northern extension of the High Cascades volcanoes in the United States and are compositionally distinct. The Garibaldi Volcanic Belt (GVB), includes five major volcanic centers and extends from northern Washington to southwestern British Columbia. The Cascadia subduction zone is one of the hottest in the world, which has implications for the type of magmas erupted as well as for earthquake risks. In this lecture, we will take a tour of the GVB volcanoes, examine their beauty as well as their potential risks. We will discuss their origin and compare them with the High Cascades in the US.