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Volcano Hazards Program

Find U.S. Volcano

There are about 170 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S. The mission of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program is to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption from volcanic unrest and eruption through our National Volcano Early Warning System. We deliver forecasts, warnings, and information about volcano hazards based on a scientific understanding of volcanic behavior.

News

Updated USGS Publication, "Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes—Past, Present, and Future"

Updated USGS Publication, "Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes—Past, Present, and Future"

Volcano Watch — Tilting towards lava: How tiltmeters monitor volcano activity

Volcano Watch — Tilting towards lava: How tiltmeters monitor volcano activity

Volcano Watch — First light (and flight) for HVO’s new airborne lidar system

Volcano Watch — First light (and flight) for HVO’s new airborne lidar system

Publications

Zircon constraints on the eruptive sequence and magma evolution of rhyolites at South Sister volcano, Oregon

We present 230Th-238U crystallization ages and trace element compositions for zircons spanning the late Pleistocene to Holocene rhyolite eruptive record at South Sister volcano in the central Oregon Cascade Range. Most zircon ages are between 100 and 20 ka, with very few in secular equilibrium (>350 ka). The weighted mean of zircon ages for the two oldest South Sister rhyolites, 31.5 ± 2.1 and 39.
Authors
Annika E. Dechert, Nathan Lee Andersen, Josef Dufek, Christine E. Jilly-Rehak

A case for improved global coordination of volcano observatories

The distribution of volcano monitoring networks and volcano expertise does not correlate well with the global distribution of volcanic risk. All countries have cultural, financial, bureaucratic, political, and logistical barriers to effective risk reduction. The lack of parity amongst volcano observatories jeopardizes public safety and curtails scientific research and understanding. Having global
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern

Distributed volcanism—Characteristics, processes, and hazards

IntroductionDistributed volcanism is defined by regions of dominantly, but not exclusively, monogenetic eruptive vents that are commonly mafic. Volcanic eruptions within distributed fields can range in composition from basalt to rhyolite and produce all types of volcanoes in all tectonic environments. This diversity in eruption composition and style reflects complex and varied magma ascent and sto
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