An active volcano is a
volcano that has erupted during the
Holocene (the current geologic epoch that began approximately 11,700 years ago), is currently erupting, or has the potential to erupt in the future.[1] A volcano that is not currently erupting but could erupt in the future is known as a
dormant volcano.[1] Volcanoes that will not erupt again are known as
extinct volcanoes.[1]
Overview
There are 1,350 potentially active volcanoes around the world, 500 of which have erupted in historical time.[2] Many active volcanoes are located along the Pacific Rim, also known as the
Pacific Ring of Fire.[2][3] An estimated 500 million people live near active volcanoes.[3]
Historical time (or recorded history) is another timeframe for active.[4][5] The span of recorded history differs from region to region. In China and the
Mediterranean, it reaches back nearly 3,000 years, but in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada, it reaches back less than 300 years, and in Hawaii and
New Zealand it is only around 200 years.[4] The incomplete Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World, published in parts between 1951 and 1975 by the
International Association of Volcanology, uses this definition, by which there are more than 500 active volcanoes.[4][6] As of March 2021[update], the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program recognizes 560 volcanoes with confirmed historical eruptions.[7]
Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the largest active volcano in the world. Its summit is more than 4 kilometers above sea level, and 17 kilometers above its base in the sea floor.[12]
This section is missing information about
Hawaii, location of the United States' most-active volcanos. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the
talk page.(April 2023)
^Tilling, Robert I. (1997).
"Volcano environment". Volcanoes. Denver, Colorado: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved August 16, 2012. There are more than 500 active volcanoes (those that have erupted at least once within recorded history) in the world
^DeFelice, B.; Spydell, D.R.; Stoiber, R.E. (14 November 1997).
"Catalogs of Active Volcanoes". The Electronic Volcano. Dartmouth College. Archived from
the original on 2020-01-19. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
An active volcano is a
volcano that has erupted during the
Holocene (the current geologic epoch that began approximately 11,700 years ago), is currently erupting, or has the potential to erupt in the future.[1] A volcano that is not currently erupting but could erupt in the future is known as a
dormant volcano.[1] Volcanoes that will not erupt again are known as
extinct volcanoes.[1]
Overview
There are 1,350 potentially active volcanoes around the world, 500 of which have erupted in historical time.[2] Many active volcanoes are located along the Pacific Rim, also known as the
Pacific Ring of Fire.[2][3] An estimated 500 million people live near active volcanoes.[3]
Historical time (or recorded history) is another timeframe for active.[4][5] The span of recorded history differs from region to region. In China and the
Mediterranean, it reaches back nearly 3,000 years, but in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada, it reaches back less than 300 years, and in Hawaii and
New Zealand it is only around 200 years.[4] The incomplete Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World, published in parts between 1951 and 1975 by the
International Association of Volcanology, uses this definition, by which there are more than 500 active volcanoes.[4][6] As of March 2021[update], the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program recognizes 560 volcanoes with confirmed historical eruptions.[7]
Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the largest active volcano in the world. Its summit is more than 4 kilometers above sea level, and 17 kilometers above its base in the sea floor.[12]
This section is missing information about
Hawaii, location of the United States' most-active volcanos. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the
talk page.(April 2023)
^Tilling, Robert I. (1997).
"Volcano environment". Volcanoes. Denver, Colorado: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved August 16, 2012. There are more than 500 active volcanoes (those that have erupted at least once within recorded history) in the world
^DeFelice, B.; Spydell, D.R.; Stoiber, R.E. (14 November 1997).
"Catalogs of Active Volcanoes". The Electronic Volcano. Dartmouth College. Archived from
the original on 2020-01-19. Retrieved 16 April 2021.