U.S. Volcano Monitoring

As the eruption of a volcano in Iceland continues, it's worth taking a look at volcanic activity and monitoring in the United States. The best source for information of this kind is the U.S. Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program, which monitors volcanic activity both to develop volcano science and to better avoid disaster situations.

Of particular interest are the long-term series of volcano assessments that stretch back decades, for the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. This material is very interesting and occasionally unnerving. For example, the report on the huge volcanic system under Yellowstone National Park reads:

Possible future violent events in the active hydrothermal, magmatic, and tectonic system of Yellowstone National Park pose potential hazards to park visitors and infrastructure. Most of the national park and vicinity are sparsely populated, but significant numbers of people as well as park resources could nevertheless be at risk from these hazards. Depending on the nature and magnitude of a particular hazardous event and the particular time and season when it might occur, 70,000 to more than 100,000 persons could be affected; the most violent events could affect a broader region or even continent-wide areas.