The Alaska Volcano Observatory, which is also known as AVO for short, is a joint project managed by the state’s Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, the University of Alaska Fairbank’s Geophysical Institute, and the US Geological Survey. Its main purpose is to monitor and assess the hazardous volcanoes – which are over forty in number – located in Alaska and, whenever possible, determine potential eruptive activities as well as record them. Consequently, it’s the AVO’s duty to also implement whatever measures are needed for the safety of the public.

The AVO was two years after the Augustine Volcano erupted in 1986 and was thus operational in time to issue a warning about Redoubt Volcano’s eruption in 1989. The observatory was also able to successfully monitor and issue public warnings as well as implement safety measures for the Spurr Volcano’s eruption in 1992, which could have been significantly dangerous considering its proximity to Anchorage. The AVO is one of the most important organizations in the state, considering how there are about 3 to 5 volcanoes erupting in Alaska every year.