A look ahead to the next decade at US volcano observatories.

Abstract

Volcano monitoring, eruption response, and hazard assessment at volcanoes in the United States of America (US) fall under the mandate of five regional volcano observatories covering 161 active volcanoes. Working in a wide range of volcanic and geographic settings, US observatories must learn from and apply new knowledge and techniques to a great variety of scientific and hazard communication problems in volcanology. Over the past decade, experience during volcanic crises, such as the landmark 2018 eruption of Kīlauea, Hawaiʻi, has combined with investments and advances in research and technology, and the changing needs of partner agencies and the public, to transform the operations, science, and communication programs of US volcano observatories. Scientific and operational lessons from the past decade now guide new research and growing inter-observatory and external communication networks to meet new challenges and improve detection, forecasting, and response to volcanic eruptions in the US and around the world.