An international team of scientists have released a new paper to counter the most common and dangerous misconceptions about volcanoes. 

With modern access to social media and nonstop news cycles, information can reach more people faster than ever, but pervasive rumors can also take root. This new paper is designed to help reporters, decision-makers and the general public prevent the spread of deadly misinformation or undue panic during volcanic eruptions. 

Published in the Journal of Applied Volcanology, the paper is the result of a multi-year effort between more than 25 volcano scientists, including NC State Associate Professor Arianna Soldati. It tackles 18 volcano misconceptions most commonly encountered by the paper’s authors, who have decades of experience with news interviews and public outreach activities. 

The paper not only identifies misconceptions about volcanoes, but it offers corrections, research and case studies to strengthen understanding about each topic. 

“There are misconceptions that can be dangerous,” said Soldati, who helped lead the paper’s final editing and revision phases. “We’re not trying to be the word police — it can put you in danger if you have the wrong idea of what a hazard is.”

Take, for example, ash. Ash from fires is one thing; it’s light and fluffy, and it’s dangerous because it can cause surroundings to ignite. However, ash from volcanoes is different. It’s sharp and heavy, and it’s dangerous because it can cause structures to collapse. 

Lava flows and pyroclastic flows are another instance where careful language is key. Lava flows consist of flowing, molten rock, whereas pyroclastic flows are made up of rapidly-moving hot air full of ash particles. Crucially, lava flows can sometimes be diverted, but pyroclastic flows cannot. Still, Soldati has seen these terms used interchangeably.

For the more than 500 million people who live near active volcanoes, such distinctions could be the deciding factor in whether to evacuate during a volcanic eruption. 

“There’s this great idea that science gives you the information you need to make the best decisions for yourself and your family,” Soldati said. “So, we want everybody to have the facts right.” 

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Explore more common misconceptions outlined in the paper below:

• MYTH: A tectonic earthquake will trigger a volcanic eruption soon after the event.
• FACT: The relation between earthquake types and changes in volcanic activity is complex; rarely does a tectonic earthquake lead to a nearby eruption within hours or days

• MYTH: A volcano is “overdue” for an eruption.
• FACT: Volcanoes are complex systems that do not run on regular time scales, and understanding past eruptions and analyzing monitoring data are critical for identifying potential eruptive behaviors.

• MYTH: The biggest or deadliest scenario is the one that will occur when the volcano erupts next. For example, some claim Yellowstone is a “ticking time bomb” that will wipe out humanity next time it erupts.
• FACT: The largest eruption scenarios are generally the least common. The range of possible hazards varies; all scenarios should be described to decision-makers and affected communities. When it comes to Yellowstone, it has had three catastrophic eruptions in the past 2.1 million years, but it has had ten times as many smaller ones over the same period. Volcanologists prepare for the most likely scenario, not the most dramatic one. Yellowstone is a heavily monitored volcano, and its documented activity does not signal that a major eruption is imminent. If it were to erupt in our lifetime, it is much more likely that it will be a small eruption with a short lava flow.