The most famous volcanic eruption within the United States occurred in May of 1980, when
a major explosive eruption caused the north flank of Mount Saint Helens to collapse.
This collapse caused widespread devastation, 4 billion dollars in damage, and caused ash
to fall as far away as Oklahoma.
Although eruptions from this volcano are well remembered, it is not the only volcano capable
of producing an eruption in the continental United States.
In fact, the western United States contains 39 active volcanoes which have erupted at
some point in the last 10,000 years.
These volcanoes are spread across 10 states, which include New Mexico, California, and
Wyoming.
Thus, it might seem difficult to track all of these volcanoes since they are all capable
of erupting.
This video will discuss the 5 volcanoes within this group which are most likely to produce
the next eruption within the country.
Volcanoes in Alaska will not be included in this list of continental US volcanoes, otherwise
the video would be solely populated by volcanoes within that state such as Mount Redoubt and
Mount Augustine.
To determine which volcanoes are most likely to produce the next eruption, I will use a
number of factors.
The first will be the frequency and number of eruptions within the last 10,000 years.
The next will be the number of likely eruptions in the last 1,000 years, as this shorter time
period is more likely to contain evidence of small phreatic eruptions which would otherwise
get lost in the geologic record.
Third, modern volcanic activity related to the volcano such as fumaroles, earthquakes
swarms, and uplift will be considered.
It might seem strange to make this list, but consider this; since the founding of the United
States in 1776, 54 distinct eruptions have occurred in the continental United States.
Despite the frequency of eruptions, the first 21 years of the 21st century have been unusually
quiet, meaning that we might be overdue.
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The fifth most likely volcano to erupt within the country is one few people are aware of.
Located on the shoreline of the Salton Sea within southern California is a small volcanic
complex known as the Salton Buttes.
This small volcano is a group of rhyolite lava domes which have erupted three times
in the last 10,000 years.
All of these eruptions were explosive in nature, and some even deposited thick layers of obsidian.
The justification for this volcano being placed fifth on this list is twofold.
First, it is one of the most seismically active volcanoes in the entire United States.
Frequent earthquake swarms are common underneath the volcano, and it has dozens of associated
hydrothermal features.
These features are primarily mud pots and fumaroles, which regularly produce large quantities
of volcanic gasses.
Also, it is located adjacent to the San Andreas fault.
Not only that, it is located on a section of the San Andreas fault expected to be the
site of the next major rupture within the state.
Thus, when the next big earthquake occurs, it could trigger an eruption in this small
volcanic complex.
The fourth most likely volcano to erupt within the country is located north of the town of
Mammoth in central eastern California.
Stretching from Mammoth Mountain to Mono Lake is a 30 mile long chain of volcanoes consisting
of dozens of recent vents.
Although this series of vents is considered to be three separate volcanoes, others claim
it could be classified as a single volcano.
Supposing it was a single volcano, it has erupted 8 times in the last 1,000 years and
20 times in the last 10,000 years.
The most recent series of eruptions occurred in Mono Lake in 1890, which added to Paoha
Island.
Today, there is increased likelihood of another eruption due to a recent intrusion of magma
which reached a mere 2 miles in depth from 1980 to 1982.
In the southern part of the chain, near Mammoth Mountain, this intrusion began releasing large
amounts of carbon dioxide onto the surface, resulting in high amounts of tree kill.
Thus, while these elevated levels of carbon dioxide remain, an eventual eruption in the
adjacent area seems quite probable.
The third most likely volcano to erupt is Mount Baker, which can be found in far northern
Washington state near the border of Canada.
The justification for this volcano being placed on this list is simply its recent eruptive
frequency.
In the last 1,000 years, it has erupted 18 times.
Luckily, almost all of these eruptions were relatively small in nature, creating limited
effects.
Today, thick plumes of vapor from its summit fumaroles are frequently incorrectly reported
as evidence of a new eruption.
This fumarole related activity indicates that the volcano is still very active and could
erupt again in the next 50 years.
The second most likely volcano to erupt is Mount Hood, which is located in north central
Oregon.
During the 1800s, it was an incredibly active volcano which produced 5 distinct moderately
sized eruptions.
The last of these occurred in 1869.
In the past decade, Mount Hood has shown a slow but steady increase in overall volcanic
activity.
Each year brings increased earthquake swarms to the volcano, which seem to get shallower
and stronger over time.
Fumarole related activity and uplift also increase, making this one of the most likely
volcanoes to produce the next eruption in the country.
The most likely volcano to produce an eruption should not come as a surprise, as its Mount
St. Helens.
Of the 244 recorded volcanic eruptions within the lower 48 states in the last 10,000 years,
44 of these originated from Mount Saint Helens.
In the last 1,000 years, 22 distinct eruptions originated from its edifice.
Eruptions similar in size to its infamous 1980 eruption, rating on the volcanic explosivity
index as a 5, occurred in 1480, 1482, and 1800.
This volcano still produces regular earthquake swarms and is also responsible for the most
recent eruption within the lower 48 states, which lasted from 2004 to 2008.
Since it is the most active volcano in the country, it is also the most likely to erupt
next.
I want to remind my viewers that this list is largely opinion based interspersed with
scientific evidence.
One of the other 34 volcanoes could surprise us with an unexpected eruption, such as perhaps
the Craters of the Moon volcano in Idaho or the Black Rock Desert volcanic field in Utah.
I hope that you enjoyed this video!
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