Young Explosive Eruptions from the Clear Lake Volcanic Field
Fact Sheet
2025-3020
Natural Hazards Mission Area—Volcano Hazards Program
Links
- Document: Report (5.6 MB pdf)
- NGMDB Index Page: National Geologic Map Database Index Page (html)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Clear Lake volcanic field is the northernmost and youngest field in a chain of volcanic fields in and near the California Coast Range mountains. For 2 million years, numerous eruptions have happened around (and through) Clear Lake. The most recent period of activity in the Clear Lake volcanic field probably started around 40,000 years ago and was mainly explosive eruptions concentrated on and near faults in and around the lake. The combination of hot magma and groundwater created explosive releases of hot steam. The craters, called maars, threw out volcanic ash, pumice, and lava fragments, which fell back to the ground and draped the surrounding landscape. The deposits are visible in many places around the southeast end of the lake.
Suggested Citation
Ball, J.L., Burgess, S., and Blatter, D., 2025, Young explosive eruptions from the Clear Lake volcanic field: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2025–3020, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253020.
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)
ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Young explosive eruptions from the Clear Lake volcanic field |
| Series title | Fact Sheet |
| Series number | 2025-3020 |
| DOI | 10.3133/fs20253020 |
| Publication Date | August 13, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Volcano Science Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | Clear lake volcanic field |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |