Volcanoes

Current Active Volcanoes Worldwide

Volcanoes have impacted the lives of many Earth's inhabitants and volcanoes continue to be an active threat somewhere at any time. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.

Smithsonian Institution / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report. This is my first reference link and a well-respected resource for a general overview of volcanic activity across the entire Earth.

As of this date, January 15, 2014, there are fourteen active volcanoes listed, though the Site points out that the list is only a summary of active volcanoes that meet a specific criteria and that the list is not entirely complete.That noted, the Site is very comprehensive and looks to include main volcanic activity of interest.


U.S Volcanoes and Current Alert Status and Map

The USGS maintains a very comprehensive list and alert system for all U.S. Volcanoes. The Site uses a green, yellow, orange, red aviation color code and a corresponding normal, advisory, watch, and warning volcano alert level. The USGS Site has man useful links, including:

Map of U.S. volcanoes and current alert levels
U. S. volcanoes - Current alert list
U.S volcanoes with an above normal level of activity

Email notification of U.S. volcano activity
The USGS also has a nice system that lets you set up an email notification (daily, weekly, monthly) regarding U.S volcanoes in total or by specific regions (Alaska, Cascades, Hawaiian, California, and Yellowstone). Unlike the USGS Earthquake Notification, the volcano notification does not appear to include real-time alerts (both email and text), hopefully this expanded alert notification will be coming soon. Subscribe to the U.S Volcano Notification Service.

Selected Volcanoes - Details and Links, Volcano Monitoring

Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

The most dangerous volcano in South America is considered to be Nevado del Ruiz, located in the Colombian Andes. It is a stratovolcano that is 17,425 feet (5,316 m) high and has a history of violent eruptions. The most recent major eruption was in 1985, and it killed an estimated 23,000 people. The eruption caused a lahar, or mudflow, that buried the town of Armero, Colombia.

Nevado del Ruiz is considered to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because it is located near a major population center. The volcano is also located in a region that is prone to earthquakes, which can trigger eruptions. The volcano is currently at a yellow alert level, which means that it is considered to be potentially active.

The Colombian government has taken steps to mitigate the risk of a major eruption from Nevado del Ruiz. The government has established a monitoring system for the volcano and has developed evacuation plans for the surrounding area. However, there is still a risk of a major eruption, and people who live near the volcano should be prepared for the possibility of an eruption.

Smithsonian link to activity and latest 

Vesuvius
According to many, Vesuvius in Italy is one of the more threatening volcanoes that deserves close watch. The volcano is of particular interest to to the lack of recent activity and the proximity to a large population that would be threatened by an eruption.

Due to the threat and interest, Vesuvius is heavily monitored, particularly with respect to seismic activity since an intense period of seismic activity can be a precursor to an eruption. A great Site for monitoring seismic activity is

Latest earthquakes at Vesuvius

The Site has many useful and interesting displays, including
Frequency of occurrence of earthquakes
Magnitude range
Depth of earthquakes

And more

Iceland Volcanoes
Iceland sits in a particularly active volcanic area and deserves special notice. The island is often referred to as the "land of fire and ice" given to is dual nature of extremes. The country has been plagued with volcanoes with many quite notable eruptions. The 1783 Laki eruption spewed out such a tremendous volume of ash and lava that the resulting haze caused crop failure that resulted in a famine that killed one forth of the island's human population. One of the most frequently erupting volcanoes of Iceland and one that generates much of the current interest in Iceland is the Katla Volcano that lies beneath the glacier Mýrdalsjökull. Katla last erupted in 1918 and since the volcano erupts twice each 100 years on average, there is concern.


Monitoring Katla
Katla data is found here on the Smithsonian Site. Elevated and specific earthquake activity can be a precursor to awakening of the sleeping Katla Volcano. Keep in mind that a low number of earthquakes around volcanoes is often quite normal. The kind of earthquake frequency that might be indicative of a coming volcanic eruption is often in the hundreds or even thousands in one day. In general, such high numbers reflect magma movement while lower numbers are more likely related to common faults often in the same tectonic or structural regime as the volcano. Any departure in earthquake frequency from what is considered normal is something that scientists watch very closely.

Building a system to better monitor volcanoes - FUTUREVOLC
In 2013, FUTUREVOLC was established with a by the European Commission to address long-term volcano monitoring. The purpose of the organization is to increase scientific study, integrating both space and land-based monitoring in order to better monitor and evaluate volcanic hazards. The FUTUREVOLC organization's site can be found here.


The Largest Eruption of the last 100 years - PINATUBO
Listen to a great presentation on the "Precursors, processes, and muddy aftermath at Mt. Pinatubo"
Watch Presentation