Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Science

Science at the Cascades Volcano Observatory.

link

Regional Volcanism

link

Hazards

link

Volcano Monitoring

FAQs

Are there earthquakes associated with Mount Hood?

Mount Hood is one of the most seismically active volcanoes in the Washington and Oregon Cascades, and the most seismically active volcano in Oregon. In an average month 1-2 earthquakes are located within 5 km (3 miles) of the summit. Earthquakes large enough to be felt occur on Mount Hood every two years on average. Seismic monitoring , in effect since 1977, indicates a generalized concentration...

link

Are there earthquakes associated with Mount Hood?

Mount Hood is one of the most seismically active volcanoes in the Washington and Oregon Cascades, and the most seismically active volcano in Oregon. In an average month 1-2 earthquakes are located within 5 km (3 miles) of the summit. Earthquakes large enough to be felt occur on Mount Hood every two years on average. Seismic monitoring , in effect since 1977, indicates a generalized concentration...

Learn More

What is the greatest hazard presented by Mount Rainier?

Debris flows ( lahars ) pose the greatest hazard to people near Mount Rainier . A debris flow is a mixture of mud and rock debris that looks and behaves like flowing concrete. Giant debris flows sometimes develop when large masses of weak, water-saturated rock slide from the volcano's flanks. Many of these debris flows cannot be predicted and may even occur independently of a volcanic eruption...

link

What is the greatest hazard presented by Mount Rainier?

Debris flows ( lahars ) pose the greatest hazard to people near Mount Rainier . A debris flow is a mixture of mud and rock debris that looks and behaves like flowing concrete. Giant debris flows sometimes develop when large masses of weak, water-saturated rock slide from the volcano's flanks. Many of these debris flows cannot be predicted and may even occur independently of a volcanic eruption...

Learn More

How would an eruption of Mount Rainier compare to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens?

Eruptions of Mount Rainier usually produce much less volcanic ash than do eruptions at Mount St. Helens . However, owing to the volcano's great height and widespread cover of snow and glacier ice, eruption triggered debris flows ( lahars ) at Mount Rainier are likely to be much larger--and will travel a greater distance--than those at Mount St. Helens in 1980. Furthermore, areas at risk from...

link

How would an eruption of Mount Rainier compare to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens?

Eruptions of Mount Rainier usually produce much less volcanic ash than do eruptions at Mount St. Helens . However, owing to the volcano's great height and widespread cover of snow and glacier ice, eruption triggered debris flows ( lahars ) at Mount Rainier are likely to be much larger--and will travel a greater distance--than those at Mount St. Helens in 1980. Furthermore, areas at risk from...

Learn More

Education

Communication About Volcanic Hazards

Effective communication is critical both while volcanoes are quiet and during unrest.

link

Communication About Volcanic Hazards

Effective communication is critical both while volcanoes are quiet and during unrest.

Learn More

Teaching Resources

Videos, Image Galleries, Webcams, Web Shorts and Other Multimedia

link

Teaching Resources

Videos, Image Galleries, Webcams, Web Shorts and Other Multimedia

Learn More

Website Use in the Classroom

The USGS Volcano Hazards Program and our partner's websites offer a wealth of information that can be adapted to classroom use. Below are some examples on how you can utilize these resources to engage your students to learn more about U.S. volcanoes. 

link

Website Use in the Classroom

The USGS Volcano Hazards Program and our partner's websites offer a wealth of information that can be adapted to classroom use. Below are some examples on how you can utilize these resources to engage your students to learn more about U.S. volcanoes. 

Learn More
Was this page helpful?