Science
Science at the Cascades Volcano Observatory.
FAQs
Are there earthquakes associated with Mount Hood?
Felt earthquakes on Mount Hood (Oregon) occur every two years on average. Seismic monitoring , in effect since 1977, indicates a generalized concentration of earthquakes just south of the summit area and 2-7 kilometers below sea level. A seismic swarm in July 1980, during which nearly 60 earthquakes (mostly 5-6 kilometers deep with a maximum bodywave magnitude of 2.8) were recorded in a 5-day...
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...
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...
Education
Communication About Volcanic Hazards
Effective communication is critical both while volcanoes are quiet and during unrest.
Teaching Resources
Videos, Image Galleries, Webcams, Web Shorts and Other Multimedia
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.