Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes
The Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes (CSAV), on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, operates out of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The Center is a training and outreach program founded by Robert W. Decker. CSAV's mission is to provide information on volcanic and natural hazards that occur in Hawaiʻi and worldwide. CSAV has been operating since 1989, and is a cooperative program of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM).
Working Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic
CSAV Director Don Thomas presents a remote lecture about his groundwater research.
Darcy Bevens works from home, writing captions for digital slide photos.
David Carvalho prepares to enter data on the RCUH site, using his home computer.
Updates about Natural Hazards: Stay informed!
Find out about current alerts, and how to prepare, at Hawaii County Civil Defense. Get eruption updates from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Go to the Vog Information Dashboard for details about vog.
Points of Interest for you to enjoy
CSAV is digitally archiving old slides and the Volcano House Register!
CSAV in Spanish! Enjoy our Spanish version!
Visit our SmugMug Gallery for high-res photos of volcanoes!
Visit our CSAV channel on YouTube for dozens of outstanding mini videos!
YouTube not available? CSAV Channel is up and running on Vimeo!
Keep up-to-date on Facebook for CSAV events & hazard updates.
Visit Natural Hazards and protect yourself from floods, earthquakes, etc!
Read about the Robert Decker Endowment Fund!
Why is there Lightning and a waterspout in this eruption? Find out!
Kalapana lava flows, as seen by bicyclists, 1990 and 2010
Residents watch as lava covers the intersection of Highways 130 & 137 in Kalapana, 17 July 2010.
Lava advances towards a roadway in Kalapana, 1990. Photo credit: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.