High-Threat Volcanoes on the North American West Coast Are Under Increased Scrutiny
Researchers comprising American geologists from Oregon State University and several collaborating institutions have identified a cluster of eleven volcanoes along the west coast of North America that present substantial risk to nearby populations and critical infrastructure. The findings, published in a leading geoscience journal, underscore how a combination of atmospheric, magmatic, and tectonic processes can threaten communities from California through British Columbia.
The dangerous heart of this risk sits within the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a long chain of volcanoes that extends from northern California into southern British Columbia. While the potential for eruption remains clear, scientists still face gaps in understanding exactly where magma resides beneath the surface along the arc. The subsurface plumbing that powers eruptions is not uniformly mapped, and in many areas, the magma reservoirs are poorly constrained or hidden beneath rugged terrain.
Modern science relies on seismic data and satellite-derived measurements to detect ground deformations that signal magma movement underground. Yet, most investigations have concentrated on a subset of notable arc volcanoes, leaving many others relatively understudied. This uneven focus can obscure a fuller picture of regional volcanic hazards and complicate the task of risk mitigation for nearby populations and essential infrastructure like power lines, roads, and water systems.
Significant practical obstacles also hamper progress. In some cases, magma movement may be too slow to generate obvious signals within the time frames of standard monitoring. In other scenarios, noise from a variety of geological activities—such as fault-related tremors—can mask the subtle signals that scientists seek. Additional challenges arise from the terrain itself, where difficult access and regulatory protections around protected areas limit the deployment and maintenance of monitoring instruments. These hurdles collectively slow the ability to assemble a complete, continuous record of volcanic behavior across the Cascade Arc.
Among the volcanoes highlighted in the study, Mount Adams in southern Washington state is singled out for its combination of high risk and relatively sparse monitoring. Nearby Glacier Peak is also identified as presenting a significant threat. The researchers emphasize that these designations come from a synthesis of data gaps, historical activity, and the potential for future eruptions to impact nearby communities, rather than from a single metric alone.
The core aim of the work is to help scientists prioritize where to concentrate their efforts. By more accurately identifying which volcanoes pose the greatest danger and have received comparatively less attention, authorities can allocate resources for field campaigns, sensor networks, and public communication plans. This strategic prioritization is intended to bolster early warning capabilities and improve regional resilience in the face of volcanic hazards along the Cascade Arc.
Overall, the study demonstrates the value of integrating multiple lines of evidence to map volcanic risk across a dispersed arc. The authors argue that advancing monitoring coverage in understudied volcanoes is essential for a more complete understanding of magmatic systems and for reducing the impact of potential eruptions on nearby populations and infrastructure. The research signals a call to expand both field observations and remote sensing techniques to fill remaining knowledge gaps and to inform hazard assessment efforts across North America’s Pacific Northwest.
As this work progresses, it is expected that future efforts will refine eruption forecasts and improve the ability to distinguish between long-period magmatic processes and short-lived seismic activity. Such distinctions are crucial for issuing timely alerts and implementing protective measures that minimize disruption to communities and essential services in the Cascade region.