Technology:

The Science of Living with Dangerous Volcanoes  (USGS)

Shishaldin Volcano at sunset. Shishaldin is 

on Unimak Island, part of Izembek National 

Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. (Courtesy USGS)

The United States is home to 169 active volcanoes that can erupt at any time. These volcanoes not only threaten areas near them, but can endanger air traffic and sometimes even distant communities in the path of their ash and gases.

To keep communities safe, it is essential to monitor hazardous volcanoes so that the public knows when unrest begins and what hazards can be expected. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for issuing timely warnings of potential volcanic activity to affected communities and civil authorities to keep what is a natural event from turning into a major natural disaster. (VIDEO: 6:02 Minutes)

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