![]() Lava from the Kilauea volcano flowing into the ocean in 2018. Some of these potentially active volcanoes may never erupt, some may ooze lava slowly for years, and some may one day have a massive ejection that wreaks havoc. Around the world, there are 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, 500 of which have erupted since humans have been around, according to the USGS. America has 169 active volcanoes, mainly clustered in the West - in Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, and California. It also triggered tsunamis and created a sonic boom that circled the planet twice.Ī volcano is considered potentially active if it has erupted in the past 10,000 years. Scientists reported that the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano that erupted in Tonga on January 15, 2022, sent an extraordinary amount of water into the atmosphere, enough to temporarily cool the planet. USGSĪnd we keep learning more about their immense power. Lava from the Kilauea volcano in 2018 created new coastline in the Kapoho area on Hawaii’s Big Island. Even mild eruptions, like the ashy burp from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, can force the global economy to grind to a halt. The Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia produced the loudest sound ever heard. They are visible from space and can change the temperature of the whole planet. They release more energy than nuclear weapons. The earth itself comes apart, and from its depths blast fiery molten rock, acrid gas, and towering plumes of ash.Įruptions create new lands and destroy civilizations. There are few things in the world more awesome than a volcanic eruption. Approximately 800 million people worldwide live within 60 miles of active volcanoes. As of May 23, USGS has issued alerts for eight volcanoes in the US, six of which are in Alaska.ĭespite the danger, many choose to stay and build their lives near these temperamental giants. But prior to that upswell, Kilauea had been erupting at a low level since 1983 and was a popular sight in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.Īnd Hawaii isn’t the only place acting up. One of the lava flows reached the ocean and created at least 250 acres of new coastline. And in Hawaii, Kilauea volcano, one of the state’s youngest and rowdiest, is showing signs of “heightened unrest,” according to the US Geological Service.įor the more than 200,000 residents of Hawaii’s Big Island, the latest rumblings may stir memories of the 2018 Kilauea eruption that cracked open 22 fissures, launched ash 11,000 feet into the air, triggered the largest earthquake on the island in 40 years, swallowed cars, and destroyed 700 homes. They’re worried that a larger eruption could threaten nearby cities including Goma, a provincial capital. People in the Democratic Republic of Congo are now warily eying Nyamulagira volcano, which started to extrude lava in its crater last week. Disaster managers are preparing shelters and clearing evacuation routes in case the commotion picks up further. In Mexico, officials raised the alert level for Popocatépetl, a volcano 50 miles southeast of the capital, Mexico City, that began to spray smoke and ash over the weekend. On May 21, Mount Etna in Italy began spewing ash, shutting down a nearby airport. The volcano erupted in January and June of this year.Earth is rumbling and volcanoes are erupting around the world this week. In 2019, a string of earthquakes and major eruption at Kilauea led to the destructions of hundreds of homes and businesses. Located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes. The agency elevated Kilauea's aviation color code from orange to red as it evaluates the eruption and its volcano alert from watch to warning. The eruption was preceded by a period of strong seismicity and "rapid uplift" of the summit, according to USGS. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the eruption "does not pose a lava threat to communities" though volcanic particles and gases may create breathing problems for people exposed. Webcam images show fissures at the base of the volcano's crater that are generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island began to erupt on Sunday afternoon, with flows currently confined to the surrounding crater floor, the U.S.
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