The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is a joint program of the

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...

, the Geophysical Institute of the

University of Alaska Fairbanks The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF or Alaska) is a public land-grant research university in College, Alaska, a suburb of Fairbanks. It is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system. UAF was established in 1917 and opened for c ...

, and the

State of Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U. ...

Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS).dggs.alaska.gov
/ref> AVO was formed in 1988, and uses

federal Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to: Politics General *Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies *Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...

, state, and university resources to monitor and study

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

volcanology Volcanology (also spelled vulcanology) is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena (volcanism). The term ''volcanology'' is derived from the Latin word ''vulcan''. Vulcan was the anci ...

, hazardous

volcano A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates are ...

es, to predict and record eruptive activity, and to mitigate volcanic hazards to life and property. The Observatory website allows users to monitor active volcanoes, with

seismographs A seismometer is an instrument that responds to ground noises and shaking such as caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions. They are usually combined with a timing device and a recording device to form a seismograph. The outpu ...

and webcameras that update regularly. AVO now monitors more than 20 volcanoes in

Cook Inlet Cook Inlet ( tfn, Tikahtnu; Sugpiaq: ''Cungaaciq'') stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage. On its so ...

, which is close to Alaskan population centers, and the

Aleutian Arc The Aleutian Arc is a large volcanic arc in the U.S. state of Alaska. It consists of a number of active and dormant volcanoes that have formed as a result of subduction along the Aleutian Trench. Although taking its name from the Aleutian Islan ...

due to the hazard that plumes of ash pose to aviation. AVO operates out of two locations. One is at the U.S. Geological Survey office on the campus of

Alaska Pacific University Alaska Pacific University (APU) is a private university in Anchorage, Alaska. It was established as Alaska Methodist University in 1957. Although it was renamed to Alaska Pacific University in 1978, it is still affiliated with the United Methodi ...

in Anchorage.Alaska Volcano Observatory - About AVO
Retrieved Dec. 1, 2022.United States Geological Survey, USGS - Alaska Volcano Observatory
Retrieved Dec. 1, 2022.Alaska Pacific University Campus Map
Retrieved May 11, 2018. Other AVO offices are at the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute - Campus Facilities
Retrieved Dec. 1, 2022.

Monitored volcanoes

The following list shows volcanoes regularly monitored by the Alaska Volcano Observatory using activity detection instruments. While the majority of these volcanoes are in remote locations and would only pose a threat to aviation, there are a few in some areas that could have an impact on populated communities.Alaska Volcano Observatory - Current Volcanic Activity
Retrieved Nov. 30, 2022. * Akutan Peak on Akutan Island in the Fox Islands group * Aniakchak Crater in Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve on the

Alaska Peninsula The Alaska Peninsula (also called Aleut Peninsula or Aleutian Peninsula, ale, Alasxix̂; Sugpiaq: ''Aluuwiq'', ''Al'uwiq'') is a peninsula extending about to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. The ...

* Atka Volcanic Complex on

Atka Island Atka Island ( ale, Atx̂ax̂, russian: Атка остров) is the largest island in the Andreanof Islands of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is east of Adak Island. It is long and wide with a land area of , making it the 22nd l ...

in the

Andreanof Islands The Andreanof Islands ( ale, Niiĝuĝim tanangis, russian: Андреяновские острова) are a group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska. They are located at about 52° North and 172°57' to 179°09' West. Geogr ...

group (includes Kliuchef, Konia, Korovin and Sarichef volcanoes) *

Augustine Volcano Augustine Volcano ( Sugpiaq: ''Utakineq'';https://uafanlc.alaska.edu/Online/G977K1985a/G977K1985a_02.PDF Dena'ina: ''Chu Nula'') is a lava dome volcano in Alaska consisting of a central complex of summit lava domes and flows surrounded by an a ...

on Augustine Island in the

Fisher Caldera Fisher Caldera, also known as Mount Fisher and Fisher Volcano, is a large volcanic caldera, measuring about by , located on Unimak Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Formed by the destructive eruption of an andesitic stratovolcano about 9,1 ...

Unimak Island Unimak Island ( ale, Unimax, russian: Унимак) is the largest island in the Aleutian Islands chain of the U.S. state of Alaska. Geography It is the easternmost island in the Aleutians and, with an area of , the ninth largest island in the ...

in the Fox Islands group * Great Sitkin Volcano on Great Sitkin Island in the Andreanof Islands group *

Iliamna Volcano Iliamna Volcano, or Mount Iliamna ( Dena'ina: ''Ch’naqał’in''; Sugpiaq: ''Puyulek''), is a glacier-covered stratovolcano in the largely volcanic Aleutian Range in southwest Alaska. Located in the Chigmit Mountain subrange in Lake Cl ...

in the

Chigmit Mountains The Chigmit Mountains are a subrange of the Aleutian Range in the Kenai Peninsula and Lake and Peninsula Boroughs of the U.S. state of Alaska. Location They are located at the northeastern end of the Aleutian range, on the west side of Cook Inl ...

within

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is an American national park in southwest Alaska, about southwest of Anchorage. The park was first proclaimed a national monument in 1978, then established as a national park and preserve in 1980 by the Alas ...

* Isanotski Peaks on Unimak Island in the Fox Islands group * Kanaga Volcano on

Kanaga Island Kanaga Island ( ale, Kanaga; russian: Остров Канага) is a part of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The island measures long and between wide with an area of , making it the 42nd largest island in the U ...

in the Andreanof Islands group * Little Sitkin Volcano on Little Sitkin Island in the

Rat Islands The Rat Islands ( ale, Qax̂um tanangis, russian: Крысьи острова) are a group of American volcanic islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska, between Buldir Island and the Near Islands group to its west, and Amchitka ...

group *

Makushin Volcano The Makushin Volcano (also known as Mount Makushin) is an ice-covered stratovolcano located on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands of the U.S. state of Alaska. With an elevation of , its summit is the highest point on the island. Makushin is ...

Unalaska Island Unalaska ( ale, Nawan-Alaxsxa, russian: Уналашка) is a volcanic island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the US state of Alaska located at . The island has a land area of . It measures long and wide. The city of Unala ...

in the Fox Islands group *

Mount Cleveland Mount Cleveland may refer to the following places: Australia * Mount Cleveland, on Cape Cleveland, Queensland USA * Mount Cleveland (Alaska), or Cleveland Volcano, on Chuginadak Island, Alaska * Mount Cleveland, Skagway, Alaska, near Mount Carmack ...

Chuginadak Island Chuginadak Island ( ale, Tanax̂ Angunax̂; russian: Чугинадак) is the largest island in the Islands of Four Mountains subgroup of the Aleutian archipelago. Chuginadak is an Aleutian name published by Captain Tebenkov in an 1852 map. ...

in the

Islands of Four Mountains Islands of Four Mountains (russian: Четырёхсопочные острова) is an island grouping of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, United States. The chain includes, from west to east, Amukta, Chagulak, Yunaska, Herbert, Carlisle, ...

group *

Mount Dutton Mount Dutton is a stratovolcano in the Aleutian Range of the U.S. state of Alaska, on the Alaska Peninsula. Geography Dutton lies just short of from King Cove, a fishing headquarters for the locality. Geologic activity Dutton is a highly ...

on the Alaska Peninsula near

Cold Bay Cold Bay ( ale, Udaamagax,; Sugpiaq: ''Pualu'') is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 108, but at the 2020 census this had reduced to 50. Cold Bay is one of the main commercial ...

* Mount Gareloi on

Gareloi Island Gareloi (russian: Горелый) or Anangusook ( ale, Anangusix̂) is a volcanic island in the Delarof Islands of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is located between the Tanaga Pass and the Amchitka Pass Amchitka Pass is a strait in Alask ...

in the Andreanof Islands group *

Mount Griggs Mount Griggs, formerly known as Knife Peak Volcano, is a stratovolcano, which lies 10 km behind the volcanic arc defined by other Katmai group volcanoes. Although no historic eruptions have been reported from Mount Griggs, vigorously active ...

in the Kejulik Mountains within

Katmai National Park and Preserve Katmai National Park and Preserve is an American national park and preserve in southwest Alaska, notable for the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and for its brown bears. The park and preserve encompass , which is between the sizes of Connecticut ...

Mount Katmai Mount Katmai (russian: Катмай) is a large stratovolcano (composite volcano) on the Alaska Peninsula in southern Alaska, located within Katmai National Park and Preserve. It is about in diameter with a central lake-filled caldera about i ...

in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Mount Mageik in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Mount Martin in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Mount Peulik on the Alaska Peninsula near

Becharof Lake Becharof Lake is a long lake on the Alaska Peninsula. It is located south-east of Egegik, in the Aleutian Range. It is the second largest lake in Alaska after Iliamna Lake. It ranks eighth on list of largest lakes of the United States by vol ...

Mount Spurr Mount Spurr ( Dena'ina: ''K'idazq'eni'') is a stratovolcano in the Aleutian Arc of Alaska, named after United States Geological Survey geologist and explorer Josiah Edward Spurr, who led an expedition to the area in 1898. The Alaska Volcano Obse ...

in the

Alaska Range The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 600-mile-long (950 km) mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest endSources differ as to the exact delineation of the Alaska Range. ThBoar ...

near Anchorage * Mount Veniaminof on the Alaska Peninsula near Perryville *

Mount Wrangell Mount Wrangell, in Ahtna K’ełt’aeni or K’ełedi when erupting, is a massive shield volcano located in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in southeastern Alaska, United States. The shield rises over above the Copper River to it ...

in the

Wrangell Mountains The Wrangell Mountains are a high mountain range of eastern Alaska in the United States. Much of the range is included in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve. The Wrangell Mountains are almost entirely volcanic in origin, and they i ...

of southeastern Alaska *

Novarupta Novarupta (meaning "newly erupted" in Latin) is a volcano that was formed in 1912, located on the Alaska Peninsula on a slope of Trident Volcano in Katmai National Park and Preserve, about southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage. Formed durin ...

in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Okmok Caldera on

Umnak Island Umnak ( ale, Unmax, Umnax; russian: Умнак) is one of the Fox Islands of the Aleutian Islands. With of land area, it is the third largest island in the Aleutian archipelago and the 19th largest island in the United States. The island is home ...

in the Fox Islands group * Pavlof Volcano on the Alaska Peninsula near Cold Bay * Redoubt Volcano in the Chigmit Mountains within Lake Clark National Park and Preserve * Semisopochnoi Volcano on Semisopochnoi Island in the Rat Islands group (includes Anvil Peak and Mount Cerberus) *

Shishaldin Volcano Shishaldin Volcano, or Mount Shishaldin (), is a moderately active volcano on Unimak Island in the Aleutian Islands chain of Alaska in the United States.

on Unimak Island in the Fox Islands group * Snowy Mountain in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Takawangha Volcano on

Tanaga Island Tanaga Island ( ale, Tanax̂ax; russian: остров Танага) is an island in the western Andreanof Islands, in the southwest part of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The island has a land area of , making it the 33rd largest oceanic island i ...

in the Andreanof Islands group *

Tanaga Volcano Tanaga ( ale, Kusuuginax̂) is a 5,924-foot (1,806 m) stratovolcano in the Aleutian Range of the U.S. state of Alaska. There have been three known eruptions since 1763. The most recent was in 1914 and produced lava flows. It sits west of ano ...

on Tanaga Island in the Andreanof Islands group *

Trident Volcano Trident Volcano is an eroded volcanic complex on the Alaska Peninsula in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Up to 23 domes comprise the complex stratovolcano, with the greatest elevation of . The most recent major activity produced a dome in an amphi ...

in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Ugashik Caldera on the Alaska Peninsula near Becharof Lake *

Ukinrek Maars The Ukinrek Maars are two volcanic craters on the north side of the Aleutian Range in Alaska that were formed by a phreatomagmatic eruption in 1977. The maars are 1.5 km south of Becharof Lake and 12 km northwest of Peulik Volcano, on ...

on the Alaska Peninsula near Becharof Lake * Westdahl Volcano on Unimak Island in the Fox Islands group The following list shows select volcanoes monitored by AVO but currently do not have activity detection instruments and generally rely on local observations. These primarily include volcanoes that have had eruptions or other volcanic activity in recent years. Such monitoring is not limited to the volcanoes listed below and more could be added in the future if necessary.Alaska Volcano Observatory - Volcano Information
Retrieved Nov. 30, 2022. * Bogoslof Volcano on Bogoslof Island in the Fox Islands group *

Davidof Volcano Davidof Volcano is a potentially active stratovolcano and caldera remnant in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, USA, from Anchorage. Located on the eponymous island, Davidof is part of the Rat Islands sub-chain. It is also part of the "Aleutian Kr ...

on Davidof Island in the Rat Islands group * Fourpeaked Mountain in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Kasatochi Volcano on Kasatochi Island in the Andreanof Islands group *

Kiska Volcano Kiska ( ale, Qisxa, russian: Кыска) is one of the Rat Islands, a group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is about long and varies in width from . It is part of Aleutian Islands Wilderness and as such, special permission is require ...

on Kiska Island in the Rat Islands group *

Mount Chiginagak Chiginagak Volcano is a stratovolcano on the Alaska Peninsula, located about 15 km NW of Chiginagak Bay. Eruptive history An unglaciated lava flow and an overlying pyroclastic-flow deposit extending east from the summit are the most recent ...

on the Alaska Peninsula near Ugashik * Mount Douglas in the Kejulik Mountains within Katmai National Park and Preserve * Mount Edgecumbe on

Kruzof Island Kruzof Island (russian: остров Крузов) is an island in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska at . It is about west of Sitka, and is part of the City and Borough of Sitka. It was named in 1805 by Captain U.T. Lisianski as C ...

near

Sitka russian: Ситка , native_name_lang = tli , settlement_type = Consolidated city-borough , image_skyline = File:Sitka 84 Elev 135.jpg , image_caption = Downtown Sitka in 1984 , image_size ...

* Seguam Volcano on

Seguam Island Seguam Island ( ale, Saĝuugamax; russian: Остров Сигуам) is a small volcanic island in the Andreanof Islands group in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The island is mountainous and oval shaped with a land area of . It is long and wi ...

in the Andreanof Islands group (includes Pyre Peak)

References

External links

*
AVO Monitoring Network
1988 establishments in Alaska Earth sciences Government agencies established in 1988 United States Geological Survey Science and technology in Alaska

Volcano A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates are ...

University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University Volcano observatories * {{Alaska-university-stub