Volcanoes of the World

Locations of the World's volcanoes are shown as Google Earth placemarkers. Clicking on a placemarker displays a photo (when available), geographic data, and links to more detailed information. This KML was created and is frequently updated by the Smithsonian Institute's Global Volcanism Program, using data for known or inferred Holocene volcanoes.

 Global Volcanic Activity

Current global volcanic activity information on VolcanoWorld, based on the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report produced by the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. VolcanoWorld is a Collaborative Higher Education, K-12, and Public Outreach project of the North Dakota and Oregon Space Grant Consortia, administered by the Department of Geosciences at Oregon State University.

 Yellowstone

Views of Yellowstone National Park, located with the equivalent perspective in Google Earth. Images and information were acquired from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory photogallery.

 Monitoring Operations

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The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is a collaborative partnership between the Geophysical Institute/University of Alaska Fairbanks (GI/UAF), Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADDGS), both located in Fairbanks, and United States Geological Survey (USGS), located in Anchorage. Together they monitor the activity at over 100 active volcanoes across the North Pacific.

 Sectors

Satellite Monitoring of the region's volcanoes is undertaken at least twice a day by AVO's remote sensing group. Data swaths are acquired across the entire North Pacific region and then processed to defined sectors to facilitate analyses. The resolution and frequency of acquisition varies according with satellite and sensor. Once processed these data can be viewed as overlays in Google Earth.

 Webcams

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Views of several Alaska's volcanoes are now visible through the use of webcams. The rate at which images are refreshed depends on power restrictions and daylight conditions, but generally images are acquired several times each hour. Note: Alaska is not known for its tropical weather, webcam views are commonly restricted by rain, fog, cloud, snow, random moose or playful bears.

 Hotspots

Automated algorithms process all satellite data at AVO to search for thermal anomalies (TAs); one or more pixels with raised temperature values relative to the surrounding background. Email and SMS message alerts are sent when suspect TAs are located. Some of these are genuine "hotspots" that indicant imminent, new or continuing volcanic activity. Others are non-volcanic hotspots (e.g. forest fires), false alerts (e.g. solar reflection) or artifacts of the detection system (e.g. noise).

 Earthquakes

AVO maintains seismic networks the volcanic regions of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Data is passed in near-real time through radio telemetry and telephone lines to recording and analysis laboratories at UAF/GI and USGS-Anchorage. Detected earthquakes are checked by analysts, as besides earthquakes there are many possible causes of ground motion: rockfalls, galcial icequakes, ground motion due to waves or high winds, system noise or passing bears. Analysts calculate locations and depths for signals that are true earthquakes. Analysis also differentiates regional tectonic events from volcanic events.

 3D Puff

Puff is a volcanic ash tracking model. It requires wind-field data on a geographic grid covering the area over which ash may be dispersed. Representative ash particles are initiated at the volcano's location and then allowed to advect, diffuse, and settle within the atmosphere. The location of the particles at any time after the modeled eruption can now be viewed using Google Earth.

 Augustine

Latitude:       59.363 N
Longitude:  153.430 W

Complex of Lava domes and pyroclastic deposits on an island in southern Cook Inlet. Last erupted in 2006.

 Cleveland

Latitude:       52.825 N
Longitude:  169.944 W

Stratovolcano in Aleutian Islands. Location of only known fatality from an Alaskan eruption. Last erupted in 2006.