Recent Volcanic Activity

The following table shows the recent and ongoing volcanic history around the world by year of activity and volcano name.

(Bold indicates activity in 2008, 2009, and 2010)

Volcano	Year of last eruption or activity
Adatara, Honshu, Japan	1997
Akan, Hokkaido, Japan	2006
Akutan, Alaska	1996
Ambrym Island, Vanuatu	2007
Amukta, Alaska	1996
Anatahan, Mariana Islands	2007
Aoba, Ambae Island, Vanuatu	2006
Arenal, Costa Rica	ongoing
Asama, Honshu, Japan	2003
Aso, Kyushu, Japan	2004
Atka, Aleutian Islands, United States	2006
Augustine, Cook Inlet, Alaska, United States	2006
Axial Seamount	1998
Bamus, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea	2006
Bandai, Honshu, Japan	2000
Bagana, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea	ongoing
Barren Island, Indian Ocean	2008
Batu Tara, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia	2007
Bezymianny, Kamchatka, Russia	2009
Bromo, Java, Indonesia	2000
Bulusan, Philippines	2007
Mount Cameroon, Cameroon	2000
Canlaon, Philippines	2006
Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador	1998
Cerro Negro, Nicaragua	1999
Chaitén, Chile	2008
Chikurachki, Kurile Islands, Russia	2005
Chiginagak, Alaska	1997
Chuginadak, Alaska	2005
Cleveland, Chuginadak Island, Alaska	2008
Colima, Mexico	ongoing
Conception, Island of Ometepe, Nicaragua	2010
Copahue, Argentina and Chile	2000
Dempo, Sumatra Indonesia	2006
Dukono, Indonesia	ongoing
East Epi, Vanuatu	2004
Eastern Gemini Seamount, Vanuatu	1996
Ebeko, Kuril Islands, Russia	2007
Egoni, Indonesia	2004
Erta Ale, Ethiopia	2003
Etna, Sicily, Italy	2007
Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland	2010
Fernandina, Galápagos	1995
Fogo, Cape Verde	1995
Piton de la Fournaise, France	2010
Fourpeaked, Alaska Peninsula, United States	2006
Fuego, Guatemala	ongoing
Fukutoku-Okanoba, Japan	2010
Galeras, Colombia	2008
Gamalama, Indonesia	2003
Gaua, Vanuatu	2009
Grimsvotn, Iceland	1998
Guagua Pichincha, Ecuador	2006
Hachijo-Jima, Izu Islands, Japan	2002
Hakkoda, Japan	1997
Heard Island, Southern Indian Ocean, Australia	2006
Hekla, Iceland	2000
Mount Hili Aludo, Indonesia	1997
Hokkaido, Japan	2006
Home Reef, Tonga Islands, Tonga	2006
Hosho, Kyushu, Japan	1995
Ijen, Java, Indonesia	2001
Iwate-san, Honshu, Japan	1998
Jackson Segment, N. Gorda Ridge (nr. Oregon)	2001
Kaba, Sumatra, Indonesia	2000
Mount Karangetang, Indonesia	2007
Karthala, Comoros Islands, Indian Ocean	2007
Karymsky, Kamchatka, Russia	ongoing
Kavachi Seamount, Solomon Islands	2004
Kelut, Java, Indonesia	2006
Kick-'em-Jenny (nr. Grenada)	2003
Kikai, Japan	2004
Kilauea, Hawaii	ongoing
Kirishima, Japan	2010
Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka, Russia	2009
Komagatake, Hokkaido, Japan	2000
Korovin, Alaska	1998
Krakatau, Indonesia	2001
Langila, New Britain, P.N.G.	2007
Lamongan, Indonesia	2003
Lascar, Chile	2007
Leroboleng, Indonesia	2003
Mount Lewotobi, Indonesia	2003
Llaima, Chile	2008
Loihi Seamount, Hawaii	1996
Lokon, Sulawesi, Indonesia	2003
Long Valley caldera, California	1996
Lopevi, Central Islands, Vanuatu	2007
La Madera, Nicaragua	1996
Manam, Papua New Guinea	ongoing
Maroa, New Zealand	2001
Masaya, Nicaragua	ongoing
Mauna Loa, Hawaii	2003
Mayon, Philippines	2009
McDonald Island, Australia	1996
Merapi, Indonesia	2007
Metis Shoal, Tonga	1995
Momotombo, Nicaragua	1996
Monowai Seamount, Kermadec Islands	1997
Nevado Del Huila, Colombia	2007
Nyamuragira, Congo (Dem. Rep.)	2010
Nyiragongo, Congo (Dem. Rep.)	2003
Okmok, Alaska	1997
Ol Doinya Lengai, Tanzania, Africa	2006
Oyama, Miyake-jima, Izu Islands, Japan	2006
Pacaya, Guatemala	2007
Pagan, Mariana Islands, central Pacific Ocean	2006
Pago, Papua New Guinea	2004
Papandayan, Java, Indonesia	2002
Pavlof, Alaska	1997
Peuet Sague, Indonesia	1998
Piparo, Trinidad	1997
Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion	2007
Poas, Costa Rica	2006
Popocatepetl, Mexico	2007
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea	2008
Raoul Island, New Zealand	2006
Redoubt, Alaska	2009
Reventador, Ecuador	2007
Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica	1998
Ritter Island, Papua New Guinea	2006
Rotorua, New Zealand	2001
Ruapehu, New Zealand	2006
Ruby Seamount, Mariana Islands	1995
Mount St. Helens, Washington	ongoing
Sakura-Jima, Japan	ongoing
San Cristobal, Nicaragua	2006
San Miguel, El Salvador	2006
Sangay, Ecuador	ongoing
Santa Ana, El Salvador	2006
Santa Maria, Guatemala	ongoing
Semeru, Java, Indonesia	ongoing
Shiveluch, Kamchatka, Russia	ongoing
Shin-dake, Kuchinoerabujima Island, Japan	1999
Shishaldin, Unimak Island, Alaska	2000
Simbo, Solomon Islands	2006
Slamet, Java Indonesia	2007
Soputan, Indonesia	2006
Soufriere Hills, Montserrat, West Indies	ongoing
South Sister, Oregon	2001
Stromboli, Italy	ongoing
Sulu Range, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea	2006
Suwanose-Jima Ryukyu Islands, Japan	ongoing
Tavurvur, Papua New Guinea	2000
Taal, Philippines	2006
Talang, Indonesia	2007
Telica, Nicaragua	2007
Tengger Caldera, Java, Indonesia	2006
Terceira, Azores	1999
Tonga (unnamed volcano)	1999
Tongariro Volcanic Centre, New Zealand	2006
Tungurahua, Ecuador	ongoing
Turrialba, Costa Rica	2010
Ubinas, Peru	2007
Ulawun, Papua New Guinea	2007
Usu, Japan	2000
Veniaminof, Alaska	2006
Villarrica, Chile	2009
White Island, New Zealand	2007
Yasur, Tanna Island, Vanuatu	2004
Yellowstone, Wyoming	1998
Zacatecas, Mexico	1997

Source: Global Volcanism Program. Web: volcano.und.edu/vw.html .

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Principal Deserts of the World

Deserts are arid regions, generally receiving less than ten inches of precipitation a year, or regions where the potential evaporation rate is twice as great as the precipitation.

The world's deserts are divided into four categories. Subtropical deserts are the hottest, with parched terrain and rapid evaporation. Although cool coastal deserts are located within the same latitudes as subtropical deserts, the average temperature is much cooler because of frigid offshore ocean currents. Cold winter deserts are marked by stark temperature differences from season to season, ranging from 100° F (38° C) in the summer to 10° F (–12° C) in the winter. Polar regions are also considered to be deserts because nearly all moisture in these areas is locked up in the form of ice.

Desert	Location	Size	Topography
SUBTROPICAL DESERTS
Sahara	Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia	3.5 million sq. mi.	70% gravel plains, sand, and dunes. Contrary to popular belief, the desert is only 30% sand. The world's largest nonpolar desert gets its name from the Arabic word Sahra', meaning desert
Arabian	Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen	1 million sq. mi.	Gravel plains, rocky highlands; one-fourth is the Rub al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”), the world's largest expanse of unbroken sand
Kalahari	Botswana, South Africa, Namibia	220,000 sq. mi.	Sand sheets, longitudinal dunes
Australian Desert
Gibson	Australia (southern portion of the Western Desert)	120,000 sq. mi.	Sandhills, gravel, grass. These three regions of desert are collectively referred to as the Great Western Desert—otherwise known as “the Outback.” Contains Ayers Rock, or Uluru, one of the world's largest monoliths
Great Sandy	Australia (northern portion of the Western Desert)	150,000 sq. mi.
Great Victoria	Australia (southernmost portion of the Western Desert)	250,000 sq. mi.
Simpson and    Sturt Stony	Australia (eastern half of the continent)	56,000 sq. mi.	Simpson's straight, parallel sand dunes are the longest in the world—up to 125 mi. Encompasses the Stewart Stony Desert, named for the Australian explorer
Mojave	U.S.: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, California	54,000 sq. mi.	Mountain chains, dry alkaline lake beds, calcium carbonate dunes
Sonoran	U.S.: Arizona, California; Mexico	120,000 sq. mi.	Basins and plains bordered by mountain ridges; home to the Saguaro cactus
Chihuahuan	Mexico; southwestern U.S.	175,000 sq. mi.	Shrub desert; largest in North America
Thar	India, Pakistan	175,000 sq. mi.	Rocky sand and sand dunes
COOL COASTAL DESERTS
Namib	Angola, Namibia, South Africa	13,000 sq. mi.	Gravel plains
Atacama	Chile	54,000 sq. mi.	Salt basins, sand, lava; world's driest desert
COLD WINTER DESERTS
Great Basin	U.S.: Nevada, Oregon, Utah	190,000 sq. mi.	Mountain ridges, valleys, 1% sand dunes
Colorado Plateau	U.S.: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming	130,000 sq. mi.	Sedimentary rock, mesas, and plateaus—includes the Grand Canyon and is also called the “Painted Desert” because of the spectacular colors in its rocks and canyons
Patagonian	Argentina	260,000 sq. mi.	Gravel plains, plateaus, basalt sheets
Kara-Kum	Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan	135,000 sq. mi.	90% gray layered sand—name means “black sand”
Kyzyl-Kum	Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan	115,000 sq. mi.	Sands, rock—name means “red sand”
Iranian	Iran	100,000 sq. mi.	Salt, gravel, rock
Taklamakan	China	105,000 sq. mi.	Sand, dunes, gravel
Gobi	China, Mongolia	500,000 sq. mi.	Stony, sandy soil, steppes (dry grasslands)
POLAR
Arctic	U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia	5.4 million sq. mi.	Snow, glaciers, tundra
Antarctic	Antarctica	5.5 million sq. mi.	Ice, snow, bedrock

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