As Hawaii volcano erupts, let's remember that California has at least 19


As experts fear Hawaii's Kilauea volcano will blow its top in the coming days or weeks.

By Luis GomezContact Reporter

Stunning images of the Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii have wowed people all over the U.S. and the world, and led to surprising reminders for some Californians that the state has volcanoes of its own.

At least 19, to be more precise, with seven of them considered to be “high threat” or “very high threat” volcanoes, per the U.S. Geological Survey in California.

View image on Twitter

Cynthia Pridmore@earthquakemom


CA volcanoes are monitored by scientists at the USGS California Volcano Observatory. The state has 7 high to very high threat volcanoes, learn more about them at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/calvo/ …

11:37 AM - May 9, 2018



One underlying fact about some of these volcanoes is that California sits directly on top of the so-called Ring of Fire, which is responsible for earthquake and volcanic activity in a vast region touching coasts on the Pacific Ocean. Some of the countries on the Ring of Fire are Australia, Japan, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Chile.

What else should we know about California’s volcanoes?

Here’s some quick facts.

19 or more volcanic areas in California

Not all volcanoes in California are monitored by the USGS, but at least 19 regions are on its radar. Those include:


  1. Brushy Butte
  2. Clear Lake Volcanic Field
  3. Coso Volcanic Field
  4. Eagle Lake Volcanic Field
  5. Golden Trout Creek Volcanic Field
  6. Lassen Volcanic Center
  7. Lavic Lake Volcanic Field
  8. Long Valley Caldera
  9. Mammoth Mountain
  10. ​​​​​​​Medicine Lake
  11. Mono Lake Volcanic Field
  12. Mono-Inyo Chain
  13. ​​​​​​​Mount Shasta
  14. ​​​​​​​Salton Buttes
  15. Silver Lake Volcanic Field
  16. Soda Lakes
  17. Tumble Buttes
  18. Twin Buttes
  19. ​​​​​​​Ubehebe Craters


Seven are a potential threat

Depending on the size and proximity to populated areas, only a few volcanoes are considered a potential threat. Three volcanoes are considered a “very high threat”:


  1. Lassen Volcanic Center, which is in Northern California east of Redding.
  2. Long Valley Caldera, which is in Mono County, north east of the Fresno valley.
  3. ​​​​​​​Mount Shasta, which is about 61 miles north of Redding.


Four are considered a “high threat”:


  1. Clear Lake Volcanic Field, which is just north of the Napa Valley.
  2. ​​​​​​​Medicine Lake, which is in Northern California close to the border to Oregon.
  3. Mono-Inyo Chain, which is also in the central California region.
  4. ​​​​​​​Salton Buttes, which is in Southern California by the Salton Sea.


Four reported deaths

California’s volcanoes haven’t proven to be all that deadly compared to other parts of the world. From 1784 to 2017, there have been only four reported deaths related to volcanic activity in California, according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Applied Volcanology.

One skier died from volcanic gas inhalation near a lake in Mammoth in 1998, and three others died from similar gas inhalation in the same area in 2006, the study reported.

Most recorded volcano deaths in the U.S., some 421 fatalities, have occurred from direct or indirect activity at Kilauea.

FILE PHOTO - May 26, 2016, Carlsbad, Californa - A kiosk at Lake Calavera explains Mount Calavera shown above, the area's large hill that's visible for miles, is a "volcanic plug, " one of North America's smallest volcanos. Charlie Neuman/San Diego Union-Tribune

Is there a volcano in San Diego County?

The short answer: not anymore.

Geologist Michael Levenson said some 22 million years ago there was one in a region that is now part of Carlsbad. When that volcano became extinct, it created what’s called a “volcanic plug” and is now a popular hiking destination named Mount Calavera.

Why are we talking about volcanoes?

Volcanic activity on Hawaii began with a 6.9 magnitude earthquake last Friday but it has been the flowing lava, and everything it threatens and destroys in its path, that has renewed focus on civilization’s preparedness for volcano eruptions. If you haven’t seen those images, this video from the Associated Press captures lava flowing and spewing on the island.

Recent video from the air and on the ground captures the force of the lava flows spewing across sections of the Big Island of Hawaii. Lava flows from a new eruption that began Thur ...At least at the moment, a more pressing concern than volcanoes across California is … earthquakes.

But often even the most seasoned seismology experts sleep through those.

Dr. Lucy Jones

✔@DrLucyJones


This morning's M4.5 felt from San Diego to Los Angeles. More than 7000 people have reported feeling it. You can too at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci38167848#dyfi …

I slept through it.

5:58 AM - May 8, 2018



Correction: This story previously stated that Hawaii sits on the Ring of Fire. As pointed out by a reader, California volcanoes are part of the Ring of Fire; Hawaiian volcanoes are formed from a different set of forces.

 http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...htmlstory.html