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. 5.1.6).

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.

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 5.1.6; 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.

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

VolcanoNumber_Old: Old-style volcano number. Provided for compatibility purposes.

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 the border.

VolcanicSubregion: 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.

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 are also provided for maximum flexibility.

Update schedule: Significant updates will be done at least annually, typically during May or 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 numbering style has been changed with v. 4.0.0 (May 2013), to ensure unique and unchanging numbers in the future.

Summit locations: The coordinates given may not correspond to the summit for volcanoes that do not exhibit a classic cone morphology. 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.

Eruption locations: Many eruptions do not originate from the summit (coordinates given), but rather from flank locations.

Further information: Geological background, recent reports, more detailed coordinates, 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.