How much of the Earth is volcanic?
More than 80 percent of the Earth's surface -- above and below sea level -- is of volcanic origin. Gaseous emissions from volcanic vents over hundreds of millions of years formed the Earth's earliest oceans and atmosphere, which supplied the ingredients vital to evolve and sustain life. Over geologic eons, countless volcanic eruptions have produced mountains, plateaus, and plains, which subsequently eroded and weathered into majestic landscapes and formed fertile soils.
Related Content
Will extinct volcanoes on the East Coast of the U.S. erupt again?
Which volcanoes in the conterminous United States have erupted since the Nation was founded?
Where does the United States rank in the number of volcanoes?
What kind of school training do you need to become a volcanologist?
What are some benefits of volcanic eruptions?
What are some examples of supervolcanoes?
Do volcanoes affect weather?
How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
Do volcanoes affect weather?
U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program—Assess, forecast, prepare, engage
At least 170 volcanoes in 12 States and 2 territories have erupted in the past 12,000 years and have the potential to erupt again. Consequences of eruptions from U.S. volcanoes can extend far beyond the volcano’s immediate area. Many aspects of our daily life are vulnerable to volcano hazards, ...
Stovall, Wendy K.; Wilkins, Aleeza M.; Mandeville, Charles W.; Driedger, Carolyn L.
Geologic map of Alaska
Summary This map and associated digital databases are the result of compilation and interpretation of published and unpublished 1:250,000-scale and limited 1:500,000- to 1:63,360-scale maps. Covering the entire state of Alaska, it reflects more than a century of work by a host of geologists and almost two decades of compilation work. There are two...
Wilson, Frederic H.; Hults, Chad P.; Mull, Charles G.; Karl, Susan M.
Geologic map of the state of Hawai`i
The State's geology is presented on eight full-color map sheets, one for each of the major islands. These map sheets, the illustrative meat of the publication, can be downloaded in pdf format, ready to print. Map scale is 1:100,000 for most of the islands, so that each map is about 27 inches by 36 inches. The Island of Hawai`i, largest of the...
Sherrod, David R.; Sinton, John M.; Watkins, Sarah E.; Brunt, Kelly M.
Geologic map of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
No abstract available.
King, Philip Burke; Beikman, Helen M.; Edmonston, Gertrude J.
Vertical columns of volcanic rock at Devils Postpile National Monument
Vertical columns of basaltic volcanic rock at Devils Postpile National Monument are formed when a think lava flows slowly cools. The vertical columns are a reflection of stress and shrinkage of the rock as it cools.
Footprints in Ash from 1790 Kilauea Volcano Eruption
Footprints made in muddy ash during Kilauea's 1790 eruption are reminders that people experienced the largest explosive eruption in Hawai‘i in 1,000 years. More than 80, and possibly several hundred, people were killed by the eruption soon after the footprints were made.
A typical portion of the pāhoehoe flow margin near flow front, just...
A typical portion of the pāhoehoe flow margin near the flow front, just downslope of Cemetery Rd./AP‘A‘ā St. The horizontal incandescent cracks seen in the center and right portions of the photo indicate that the flow was inflating. pāhoehoe inflation is driven by continued supply of lava beneath the surface crust, which slowly raises the surface.
Volcanic Deposits at Okmok
Some of the thick volcanic deposits at Okmok that are being studied to reconstruct the sequence of events during the 2008 eruption. Photo taken on August 6, 2010 by Dr. Ort.
Trees Buried in Volcanic Sediment, Sandy River 1
Trunks of forest trees, initially growing on a terrace above the Sandy River (Oregon) at Oxbow Regional Park, were buried by rapid deposition of sediment following a dome-building eruption at Mount Hood in 1781. Erosion during a flood about a week before the photo was taken exposed this "ghost forest".
In the photo is Dan Daly, a naturalist interpreter with Metro
...
Stories of Lava Flows and Volcanic Landscapes from Ka'u to North Kona Featured in Public Talk
Two prominent, historic lava flows are visible in this aerial photo of West Hawai‘i. Kīholo Bay is flanked by the 1859 Mauna Loa flow (left) and a Hualālai flow that erupted around 1800 or earlier (right). These lava flows and other volcanic landscapes along Highways 11 and 190 will be the focus of a Volcano Awareness Month talk in Kona on Jan. 22
Aerial View of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists monitor Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth. In this 1985 aerial photo, Mauna Loa looms above Kīlauea Volcano’s summit caldera (left center) and nearly obscures Hualālai in the far distance (upper right).
Alaska geology revealed (GIP-168)
This map shows the generalized geology of Alaska, which helps us to understand where potential mineral deposits and energy resources might be found, define ecosystems, and ultimately, teach us about the earth history of the State.