VHP Volcano Monitoring
The USGS Volcano Hazards Program detects and measures changes in the state of a volcano through our volcano monitoring program. Working directly on the rugged slopes of a volcano to measure and observe changes in its activity and to install and maintain a network of volcano-monitoring instruments are crucial for determining when a volcano might erupt. When a volcano begins to show new or unusual signs of activity, our monitoring data help us answer four critical questions for reducing the risk from volcanoes:
- Does the current unrest involve the movement of magma?
- If yes, when is an eruption most likely to occur, if at all?
- During an eruption, what real-time warnings are needed to prevent loss of life and property damage?
- When is the eruption really over?
The monitoring data we collect also helps address a variety of other important questions, including:
- What is the nature of a volcano's magma-reservoir system?
- What is the cause of specific volcano-seismic events?
- How do volcanic ash clouds disperse downwind of an erupting volcano?
- How susceptible to massive slope failures (landslides) are volcanoes?
