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Directory of volcano observatories

IMPORTANT NOTE: This list of volcano observatories is currently being rebuilt. Please contact us at wovo@iavceivolcano.org if you have any suggested edits. We are also working on updating the list's look and feel in the future.

What is a volcano observatory?

Volcano observatories are broadly defined as institutions mandated by their governments to monitor volcanoes and provide scientific advice to support volcanic risk management. The way volcano observatories are structured and operated varies significantly around the world. Some observatories focus on a single volcano, while others may monitor dozens. In some countries, observatories are dedicated entities established by legislation. In others, monitoring responsibilities fall to one or more government departments or research institutions, sometimes without an explicit legal mandate. Additionally, some monitoring institutions operate across multiple countries, states, or territories—either as a single organisation or through a network of local observatories under a broader umbrella.

As a result, any current list of volcano observatories is inevitably incomplete and must be considered a work in progress.

How does this list relate to the ICAO list of State Volcano Observatories (SVOs)?
In short, it doesn’t align—yet. This is an ongoing effort led by WOVO and many institutions in collaboration with aviation authorities, with the aim of achieving a more consolidated and consistent list in the future.