Volcanic hazards in Alaska’s National Parks

There are over 100 volcanoes in Alaska, 54 of which are considered historically active. A historically active volcano is one that fits one of the following criteria: a documented or strongly suspected eruption since the year 1700, persistent fumaroles near boiling point, significant deformation with a volcanic cause, or an earthquake swarm with a volcanic cause (Cameron and Schaefer, 2016). Alaska’s National Parks, Preserves, and Monuments contain a total of 14 historically active volcanoes (Fig. 1). There are numerous other volcanoes within Alaska’s National Parks, Preserves, and Monuments that are not considered historically active but which could erupt at some point in the future. In the past 100 years, there have been seven confirmed eruptions from historically active volcanoes within Alaska’s National Parks, Preserves, and Monuments. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) monitors and conducts research on volcanoes in Alaska in order to better understand volcanic processes and determine the likelihood of future volcanic hazards, with a primary goal of informing the public and local, state, and federal entities about volcanic hazards and impending volcanic activity. Volcanic hazards in Alaska’s National Parks, Preserves, and Monuments include both proximal hazards (within 30 km or 19 mi of the vent) and distal hazards that are capable of impacting areas at the regional, national, or international scale.