Volcano Science Center
Find U.S. Volcano
The Volcano Science Center is the primary center serving the mission of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program — to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption from volcanic unrest and eruption. The center is home to the five US volcano observatories with offices in Anchorage, Alaska; Menlo Park and Mountain View, California; Vancouver, Washington; and Hilo, Hawaii.
News
New publication on geochemistry of Kīlauea lava fountains
New publication on geochemistry of Kīlauea lava fountains
Was that Yellowstone earthquake volcanic or tectonic?
Was that Yellowstone earthquake volcanic or tectonic?
Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit episode 55
Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit episode 55
Publications
Erupted volume during the 2014–2023 Semisopochnoi unrest and eruption constrained by multi-platform InSAR and volcanic gas observations Erupted volume during the 2014–2023 Semisopochnoi unrest and eruption constrained by multi-platform InSAR and volcanic gas observations
Volcano deformation data provide important constraints on magma dynamics during volcanic unrest and eruptions. From these observations, we can estimate subsurface pressure changes and relate them to volume change in the reservoir. However, because magma and rock are compressible, this volume change cannot be directly equated with eruptive volume. When we combine geodetic analyses with...
Dismembering the Lava Creek Tuff, Yellowstone volcano Dismembering the Lava Creek Tuff, Yellowstone volcano
The youngest large explosive eruption of Yellowstone volcano generated the 0.63 Ma Lava Creek Tuff (LCT) ignimbrite and a voluminous, widespread fall deposit accompanying formation of Yellowstone Caldera. The tuff is conventionally divided into members A (LCT-A) and B (LCT-B), defined by a reversal in density/welding profiles and the presence of phenocrystic amphibole in LCT-A. Remapping...
Insights from more than a year of ongoing episodic lava fountaining at Kilauea Insights from more than a year of ongoing episodic lava fountaining at Kilauea
Episodic lava fountaining is rare globally, with only three occurrences from Kīlauea (Hawaii) since 1823. Beginning in December 2024, an eruption within the summit crater, Halemaʻumaʻu, has produced 52 fountaining episodes to date, each lasting typically for hours and separated by days to weeks. Although multiple mechanisms have been proposed, fundamental questions remain about how magma...
Science
Uplift along the north rim of Yellowstone Caldera
An area on the north rim of Yellowstone caldera, to the south of Norris Geyser Basin, started to uplift slightly in July 2025. Similar deformation occurred in the same area during 1996-2004 and reveals characteristics of the subsurface.
USGS volcano-hydrothermal fluid chemistry data
The USGS has published chemistry data for volcanic and hydrothermal fluids sampled at sites around the United States.
How are lava flows mapped in Hawaii?
Lava flow mapping provides situational awareness of volcanic eruptive hazards in Hawaii. During eruptions, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists employ a variety of techniques to collect and disseminate map data depicting key eruptive features, especially lava flows.