The U.S. Geological Survey defines a volcano as a vent in Earth's surface, either on land or on the seafloor, from which molten rock called magma, as well as ash and gases, can erupt or ooze. Different types of volcanoes erupt in different ways, with some erupting spectacularly and others, most notably Hawaii's shield volcanoes, steadily oozing lava. There are different types of volcanoes, including stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes and cinder cones, and different types of lava and other volcanic flows. Volcanoes can be active, dormant or extinct. Most of Earth's volcanoes are located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where many of Earth's tectonic plates subduct beneath another plate. Currently volcanic eruptions cannot be predicted, though most of the big, active volcanoes are routinely monitored and authorizes warn when they think an eruption is likely. Read below for the latest news on volcano monitoring and research, current volcanic eruptions and to see amazing pictures of volcanoes.
Latest about Volcanos
Underwater volcanic eruption gives birth to new island in the Pacific
A volcanic eruption off the Japanese island of Iwo Jima on Oct. 30 led to the formation of a new 330-foot-wide island just north of the explosion site.
Astronaut captures image of a glowering 'skull' lurking in a giant volcanic pit in the Sahara
NASA has released a new image of an eerie, cranium-shaped caldera in the Sahara Desert, which looks like it is staring right at the orbiting camera.
Perilous expedition to uninhabited island in South Atlantic confirms existence of world's 8th lava lake
A new National Geographic "Explorer" episode follows an expedition to Saunders Island and the first documented ascent of Mount Michael, a volcano hosting the world's eighth lava lake.
California's supervolcano has a massive lid that causes swarms of earthquakes — and that's a good thing, scientists say
A dormant supervolcano in California's Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains lets off the occasional earthquake swarm, but new evidence suggests it's simmering down.
Massive New Zealand eruption 1,800 years ago flung volcanic glass 3,000 miles to Antarctica
Scientists disagree about the timing of the Taupō volcanic eruption — one of the largest on Earth in the past 5,000 years — but shards of glass discovered in Antarctic ice could settle this debate.
Volcanoes like Kīlauea and Mauna Loa don't erupt like we thought they did, scientists discover
The magma that erupts from basaltic volcanoes in the middle of tectonic plates originates from within Earth's mantle — rather than from the outer crust — and is propelled upward by CO2, not water.
Iceland's newest volcano is now spewing out tornadoes
As well as tornadoes, loud bangs sounding across the Reykjanes Peninsula indicate that pockets of methane within the lava are exploding.
One of the world's most active volcanoes is spewing out weird rings of smoke
Dozens of circular loops made from smoke and volcanic gas are rising from a peculiar vent on Mount Etna every day.
