Cascades Volcano Observatory

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The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.

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To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
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The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.

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Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.

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The U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory strives to serve the national interest by helping people to live knowledgeably and safely with volcanoes in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 

Cascades Volcano Monitoring

USGS Cascades Volcano scientists listen to and watch volcanoes using a variety of equipment. Seismometers detect earthquakes, GPS receivers detect ground motion, "sniffers" detect volcanic gas, and staff innovate new equipment to solve unique activity detection needs.

Cascades Volcano Hazards

Volcanic activity in the Cascade Range can produce many types of volcano hazards. Tall and snow-covered mountains can be hazardous even without a change in volcanic activity.

USGS to Launch Updated Aviation-Focused Volcano Notices in March 2026

USGS to Launch Updated Aviation-Focused Volcano Notices in March 2026

Gas monitoring helps tell the story at Mount Rainier.

Gas monitoring helps tell the story at Mount Rainier.

Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier during July and August 2025

Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier during July and August 2025

A comparison of non-contact methods for measuring turbidity in the Colorado River A comparison of non-contact methods for measuring turbidity in the Colorado River

Monitoring suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) is essential to better understand how sediment transport could adversely affect water availability for human communities and ecosystems. Aquatic remote sensing methods are increasingly utilized to estimate SSC and turbidity in rivers; however, an evaluation of their quantitative performance is limited. This study evaluates the performance...
Authors
Natalie K. Day, Tyler V. King, Adam R. Mosbrucker

Dynamics of magma mixing and magma mobilization beneath Mauna Loa – Insights from the 1950 AD Southwest Rift Zone eruption. Dynamics of magma mixing and magma mobilization beneath Mauna Loa – Insights from the 1950 AD Southwest Rift Zone eruption.

Eruptions from Mauna Loa’s Southwest Rift Zone (SWRZ) pose a significant threat to nearby communities due to high eruption rates and steep slopes resulting in little time for evacuation. Despite the large body of research done on Mauna Loa, knowledge of the timing and duration of magma residence and transfer through its internal plumbing system is still poorly constrained. This study...
Authors
Maren Kahl, Daniel J. Morgan, Carl Thornber, Richard Walshaw, Kendra J. Lynn, Frank A. Trusdell

Can lava flow like water? Assessing applications of critical flow theory to channelized basaltic lava flows Can lava flow like water? Assessing applications of critical flow theory to channelized basaltic lava flows

Flowing lava and water have dramatically different physical properties but can form similar hydraulic structures, including undular hydraulic jumps, or standing wave trains. In water flows, undular hydraulic jumps are evidence of critical flow (Froude number ∼1) and open-channel hydraulic theory provides a powerful tool for estimating flow depth and velocity. Monitoring these parameters...
Authors
Hannah R. Dietterich, Gordon E. Grant, Becky Fasth, J. J. Major, Katharine V. Cashman
Axial Seamount

Axial Seamount

Axial Seamount has been in the news a lot lately – let’s talk about it.
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Columbia River Basalt Group Stretches from Oregon to Idaho

The Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) is the youngest, smallest and one of the best-preserved continental flood basalt province on Earth, covering over 210,000 km2 of mainly eastern Oregon and Washington, western Idaho, and part of northern Nevada.
Columbia River Basalt Group Stretches from Oregon to Idaho

Columbia River Basalt Group Stretches from Oregon to Idaho

The Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) is the youngest, smallest and one of the best-preserved continental flood basalt province on Earth, covering over 210,000 km2 of mainly eastern Oregon and Washington, western Idaho, and part of northern Nevada.
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The Boring Volcanic Field — Hills of the Portland Basin

Non-enthusiasts may consider the Boring Volcanic Field aptly named, but the title comes from its location, not from a lack of interesting characteristics.
The Boring Volcanic Field — Hills of the Portland Basin

The Boring Volcanic Field — Hills of the Portland Basin

Non-enthusiasts may consider the Boring Volcanic Field aptly named, but the title comes from its location, not from a lack of interesting characteristics.
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