Volcanic plumes are not “smoke,” and Yellowstone is not an imminent civilization-ending catastrophe. These are two of the most persistent myths about volcanoes, recently addressed (along with 16 others) in a 2026 review paper by an international team of volcanologists published in the Journal of Applied Volcanology.

News headlines frequently describe volcanoes as “spewing smoke.” This is inaccurate and can downplay real hazards.

• Smoke results from combustion (burning organic material, producing soot and related particles).
• Volcanic plumes consist primarily of water vapor (steam, often >90% of the gas), other volcanic gases (such as sulfur dioxide), and—during eruptions—volcanic ash. Ash is finely fragmented rock, crystals, and volcanic glass produced when magma is explosively shattered, not burned material.

White plumes are often condensed water droplets (similar to clouds). Darker or denser eruption columns contain ash. “Smoke rings” occasionally seen at volcanoes are also mostly condensed water vapor, not combustion products.

Calling ash “just smoke” can lead people to underestimate risks: ash is abrasive (glass shards can irritate eyes and respiratory systems), harmful to aircraft engines (it melts and can cause stalling), and capable of traveling long distances. Practical protections (masks, staying indoors during ashfall, avoiding driving in heavy ash) matter more than the misconception that it “shreds lungs” or routinely causes silicosis—neither of which is supported as a typical outcome.

Yellowstone (a large caldera system) is frequently portrayed in media, documentaries, and social media as a “ticking time bomb,” “overdue” for a supereruption that would end civilization. The USGS Yellowstone Volcano Observatory and the recent misconceptions paper directly counter this.

Key facts:

Not overdue. Yellowstone’s three known caldera-forming (super)eruptions occurred roughly 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago. Averaging the intervals does not create a reliable schedule—volcanoes are complex systems, not clocks. Most volcanic systems do not repeat supereruptions on regular cycles, and many never have more than one.

Most activity is far milder. Since the last caldera-forming event, Yellowstone has produced dozens of smaller eruptions, predominantly lava flows (the most recent ~70,000 years ago). Hydrothermal explosions (steam-driven) are more likely near-term hazards than a massive explosive eruption.

Current state. The shallow magma reservoir is only partially molten (estimates around 5–15% melt or less in key parts), insufficient for a supereruption under present conditions. Ground deformation, earthquakes (thousands per year, many in swarms), and hydrothermal activity are normal for the system and are continuously monitored. No signs indicate an imminent large eruption.

Impacts of a hypothetical large eruption would be severe regionally (ashfall, climate effects lasting years) but claims of planet- wide extinction or inevitable global collapse exaggerate past events and ignore that even large explosive eruptions have not caused mass extinctions on the scale sometimes claimed. Smaller eruptions or hydrothermal events would have mainly local effects.

Sensational claims often recycle old images, misattribute earthquakes or cracks elsewhere, invent animal “evacuations,” or fabricate drilling accidents. Official monitoring data (publicly available via the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory) consistently show normal conditions.

The paper groups 18 common misconceptions into themes including seismology, climate links, volcanic systems/structures (e.g., “magma chambers” as simple underground lakes, “supervolcanoes,” “Pacific Ring of Fire” as a single linked system that can trigger simultaneous eruptions), hazards, timescales (“overdue”), and misleading photos/footage. It includes case studies from recent events (Agung, Etna, Kīlauea, La Palma, La Soufrière, Taal, and Yellowstone) showing how misinformation spreads faster than ash and can cause unnecessary anxiety or, conversely, underestimation of real risks.

Accurate communication matters because roughly 8% of the world’s population lives in areas potentially affected by volcanic hazards, and hundreds of millions live within 100 km of an active volcano. Reliable sources include volcano observatories (USGS/HVO, YVO, etc.), peer-reviewed science, and official alerts rather than sensational headlines or unverified social media.

In short: plumes are steam, gases and ash, not smoke; Yellowstone is an active but closely watched system whose next activity—if any in the near geological future—is far more likely to be modest than apocalyptic.

The Phys.org article (“Volcano myths unravel, from ‘smoke’ plumes to Yellowstone catastrophe claims,” August 2026) covers a new review paper in the Journal of Applied Volcanology by an international team of volcanologists. It addresses 18 widespread misconceptions about volcanoes, drawn from media analysis and the authors’ experience during real eruptions.

The paper groups the misconceptions into six themes: seismology, volcanoes and climate, volcanic systems and structures, volcanic hazards, timescales, and photographs/footage. It includes key facts, research summaries, and seven case studies (Mount Agung, Mount Etna, Kīlauea, Tajogaite/La Palma, La Soufrière, Taal, and Yellowstone).

A frequent media error is calling volcanic emissions “smoke.”

Volcanic plumes are primarily water vapor (steam, often >90% of the gas), other volcanic gases (e.g., SO₂), and—during eruptive activity—volcanic ash (tiny fragments of rock, crystals, and volcanic glass produced by explosive fragmentation of magma).

This is not combustion smoke. Mislabeling ash as “just smoke” can lead people to underestimate hazards such as respiratory irritation, abrasion, and risks to aircraft.

Yellowstone is repeatedly framed as an “overdue” supervolcano poised for a civilization-ending eruption.

The paper (and USGS sources) counter this:

• Volcanoes do not erupt on fixed schedules; the “overdue” idea misapplies simple averages of the three known caldera-forming events (≈2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago).
• Most post-caldera activity has been lava flows with local impacts (last one ~70,000 years ago).
• Current monitoring shows normal background levels; the magma system is only partially molten and is not showing signs of imminent large-scale eruption. Earthquakes alone do not signal an impending blast—multiple signals must be evaluated together.

Other misconceptions covered include the “Pacific Ring of Fire” as a single linked system that can trigger simultaneous eruptions, simplified ideas of magma “chambers,” overstated climate or health effects of typical eruptions, limits of eruption forecasting, and the reuse of old or misattributed photos/footage during crises.

The authors emphasize that accurate communication reduces unnecessary public anxiety and supports better decision-making, since millions of people live near active volcanoes. Reliable information comes from official volcano observatories and geological agencies rather than sensational headlines or unverified social media.

Related coverage appears in outlets such as Loughborough University, Durham University, and The Conversation, all referencing the same 2026 review.

Getting the story straight: common misconceptions around volcanoes and eruptions with case studies of recent events

“Getting the story straight: common misconceptions around volcanoes and eruptions with case studies of recent events” is a 2026 open-access review paper published in the Journal of Applied Volcanology (Krippner et al.).

An international team of volcanologists (including experts from universities, observatories, and agencies who have handled real crises) identified 18 common misconceptions.

These are grouped into six themes and paired with key facts, recent research summaries, and practical takeaways. The paper draws on media analysis (hundreds of articles from 2017–2022) and the authors’ direct experience countering misinformation.

Six themes and example misconceptions

Seismology — Earthquakes or swarms alone do not mean an eruption is imminent; multiple monitoring signals must be interpreted together.

Volcanoes and climate — Typical eruptions have limited or short-lived climate effects; only the largest can produce measurable global cooling.

Volcanic systems and structures — “Magma chambers” are often complex networks of melt, crystals, and gas rather than simple liquid tanks. The “Pacific Ring of Fire” is a descriptive term for subduction-related activity around the Pacific, not a single linked system that triggers simultaneous eruptions worldwide. “Supervolcanoes” and related terms are frequently overstated.

Volcanic hazards — Volcanic ash is not smoke. Ash consists of tiny fragments of rock, crystals, and volcanic glass mixed with gases and water vapor. Calling it “smoke” can lead people to underestimate respiratory, eye, and aviation hazards. Other issues include confusion between lava flows and pyroclastic density currents, and exaggerated claims about mega-tsunamis.

Timescales — Volcanoes are not “overdue.” They do not erupt on predictable schedules. Eruption forecasting has limits and involves uncertainty and scenario ranges rather than countdowns.

Photographs and footage — Old, misattributed, or unrelated images and videos are frequently reused or presented as current activity.

Health-related clarifications (highlighted by co-author Claire Horwell)

Ash can irritate eyes and airways, but it does not “cut or shred” lungs, and there are no confirmed cases of silicosis from volcanic eruptions.

Clear public-health advice and practical measures (e.g., masks, staying indoors) are the most effective protections.

Ash can affect water quality but is unlikely to “poison” supplies to dangerous levels before people reject it for taste or appearance.

Seven case studies of misinformation in recent events

The paper examines how incorrect claims spread and how they were countered at:

• Mount Agung (Bali, Indonesia, 2017) — Old footage from other volcanoes presented as current activity; clouds/gas misreported as eruptions; exaggerated island-wide impacts that affected tourism.
• Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) — Including a 2025 pyroclastic flow in a closed area, with videos of people outside the zone framed as “fleeing for their lives.”
• Kīlauea (Hawaiʻi, USA).
• Tajogaite (La Palma, Spain).
• La Soufrière (St. Vincent).
• Taal (Philippines).
• Yellowstone caldera (USA) — Portrayed as an “overdue” supervolcano that will destroy civilization. In reality, its last ~50 eruptions were mostly local lava flows; current activity is at normal background levels with continuous monitoring.

Misconceptions can cause unnecessary anxiety, tourism impacts, underestimation of real hazards, or fatalism.

Rumors often travel faster than accurate information, especially via social media and 24/7 news cycles.

Recommendations for the public and journalists:

• Prioritize official sources: local volcano observatories, geological surveys (e.g., USGS), and emergency management agencies.
• Distinguish “possible” from “likely” scenarios.
• Verify images and videos (check dates, locations, and whether they have appeared elsewhere).
• Avoid sensational language—volcanoes are compelling without exaggeration.

The full open-access paper is available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13617-026-00168-5. Related accessible summaries appear in The Conversation, university press releases (Loughborough, Durham), and Phys.org.

Published: Journal of Applied Volcanology (2026)

DOI: 10.1186/s13617-026-00168-5

Provided: Free University of Brussels

Authors: Janine B. Krippner, 
Sam Poppe, 
Cristian Farías, 
Edward Venzke, 
Michael P. Poland, 
Boris Behncke, 
Sara K. McBride, 
Jessica Ball, 
Diana C. Roman, 
Heather K. Handley, 
Claire J. Horwell, 
Benjamin Edwards, 
Loÿc Vanderkluysen, 
Carol Stewart, 
Emma J. Nicholson, 
Alia Juman, 
Ma. Mylene Martinez-Villegas, 
Brian Terbush, 
Erik W. Klemetti, 
Jazmin P. Scarlett, 
Rebecca Williams, 
Valerie A. Finlayson, 
Kadie L. Bennis, 
Sally S. K. Sennert, 
…
Arianna Soldati

Abstract

The ability to rapidly disseminate scientific knowledge across the world has never been greater. This is paralleled by the ability of rumors to spread equally far and fast. Popular misconceptions can take root and, without correction, take on the appearance of facts. Commonly misunderstood topics include those with attention-grabbing phrasing (e.g. “Pacific Ring of Fire”, “supervolcanoes”, or “mega-tsunamis”), the intersection of volcanic research with high-profile science topics (climate or human health), aspirational science goals (eruption forecasts), and basic terminology (volcanic ash versus smoke, or magma “chambers”). In this paper, we describe eighteen misconceptions grouped in six themes (seismology, volcanoes and climate, systems and structures, volcanic hazards, timescales, photographs and footage) commonly encountered by volcanologists who are actively engaging with the public and media both during and between eruptions. Each misconception description is accompanied by takeaway points and summaries of recent research to assist the reader with the information necessary to describe the issues. Finally, we present seven case studies where incorrect information was widely shared and counteracted at well-known volcanoes and recent eruptions at Mount Agung (Bali, Indonesia), Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy), Kīlauea (Hawaii, U.S.A.), Tajogaite (La Palma, Spain), La Soufrière (St. Vincent), Taal Volcano (Philippines), and Yellowstone caldera (U.S.A.). This work is intended to help both volcanologists and non-specialists get the story straight, and to effectively communicate processes and scales of volcanism and volcanic hazards, impacts, and risks.