Monitoring the Long Valley Caldera and the Mono-Inyo Craters Volcanic Chain
The Long Valley Observatory (LVO) monitors the Long Valley Volcanic Center (area around Mono Lake and Mammoth Mountain) in eastern California for signs of unrest (activity). There are more than twenty volcanoes in the area that have erupted in the past million years, including the Long Valley Caldera, and at least 5 volcanoes have erupted in the past 1,000 years.
The Long Valley Volcanic Center is a geologically active area with both volcanic and tectonic earthquakes, ground deformation, and a hydrothermal system. It is likely that some kind of volcanic activity will occur in the future. In order to better understand and prepare for volcanic activity in the region, LVO scientists analyze and interpret the data they collect from their networks of instruments. The data and an understanding of what the data have meant in the past are crucial for determining what type of activity might occur.
Types of Monitoring Techniques
Most data can be accessed from our offices in the observatories but visits to the volcanoes, when possible, add valuable information.
