This page is provided as a service to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), linking to a customized spreadsheet of Holocene volcano data for use by Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers. The database is maintained by the Global Volcanism Program and does not represent any formal position by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This link generates an XML file that will import into Excel, but other spreadsheet software may not be compatible; a converted file can be provided upon request.

Create VAAC Spreadsheet (Excel)
using current data (VOTW v. 5.2.5).

Source: Global Volcanism Program (GVP), Smithsonian Institution
Description: List of volcanoes that have erupted in the past 12,000 years.
Purpose: Special data product designed for use by Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (ICAO IAVW).
URL: https://volcano.si.edu/projects/vaac-data/

The most recent version is 5.2.5; more details are at Volcanoes of the World (VOTW) Database Information. Problems with the functionality of this page or requests to modify the data can be sent directly to GVP staff using the Contact email link at the bottom of this page.

Note that the primary purpose of the Volcanoes of the World database is to compile data on volcanoes and their eruptions in the last 12,000 years (Holocene epoch) for scientific purposes. This is a small subset of the information available, and there are many stakeholders with varied interests. We try to be as accurate as possible regarding primary names, locations, elevations, etc., but there will always be deficiencies and disagreements, and the data is always under review and frequently updated. GVP welcomes suggestions that will improve the database for future users, and concerns will be investigated and addressed as soon as possible.

VolcanoNumber: Unique 6-digit identification number maintained by GVP, based on a numbering system implemented in 2013.

VolcanoName: Preferred volcano name, as determined by the Global Volcanism Program (all uppercase letters with no special characters or apostrophes).

State: Name of country. Multiple states (separated by a dash) indicate a volcano located along a border or otherwise considered to be affiliated with more than one country.

VolcanicProvince: A geologically relevant designation of the volcanic province, group, arc, or rift zone that includes each volcano.

SummitElevM: Usually the highest point of the volcano, given in meters relative to mean sea level. Negative numbers indicate a submarine volcano.

Coordinates: Latitude and longitude given in degrees, minutes, and seconds. Decimal degree fields (four decimal places) are also provided for maximum flexibility.

Data Update Schedule: Significant updates are done annually, typically by early June, with minor updates on an irregular basis approximately every 6-8 weeks; update notices will be posted on the Volcanoes of the World (VOTW) Database Information page (https://volcano.si.edu/gvp_votw.cfm).

Volcano Numbers: The current numbering was implemented with v. 4.0.0 (May 2013), to ensure unique and unchanging numbers.

Volcano Locations: The coordinates given may not correspond to the summit, especially for volcanoes that do not exhibit a classic cone morphology. The provided coordinates may not be at the summit, depending on the volcano landform type and style of activity. For example, the location of a volcanic field is given as its center point, although the high point could be a cone at some distance away. Other coordinates may reflect state designations for consistency.

Eruption Locations: Many eruptions do not originate from the summit, but rather from flank locations.

Data Field VolcanoNumber_Old: REMOVED. Old-style volcano number. Provided for compatibility purposes, but removed after 11 years of using the new numbers.

Data Field VolcanicSubregion: REPLACED by VolcanicProvince. Geographical area description based on the global distribution of Holocene volcanoes; regions and subregions were originally organized and defined by IAVCEI in the Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World. This geographic descriptor carries no political meaning, and is only intended to identify the broad volcanic area using common geographic names.

Further information: Geological background, recent reports, coordinate details, and eruptive history for each volcano can be found on the GVP website (volcano.si.edu). Links to volcano profiles are also embedded in the spreadsheet on this page.