During eruptions, misinformation can spread further than ash. How can we spot it?

Volcanoes have long captured our imagination, and their eruptions often lead to a surge of misinformation in news coverage and on social media. Misinformation can skew public perceptions of hazards and influence how people respond to an eruption. To address this issue, researchers conducted a study to identify common misconceptions about volcanoes and understand how they spread.

The study drew on the experiences of scientists, volcanologists, and science communicators, as well as an analysis of hundreds of media articles from various international sources. By analyzing 18 common misconceptions, the researchers aimed to help journalists communicate volcanic hazards more accurately and enable people from all backgrounds to recognize misleading information.

Some misconceptions involve attention-grabbing terms like the "Pacific Ring of Fire," "supervolcanoes," and "mega-tsunamis." Others reflect basic misunderstandings about how volcanoes work. For example, volcanic ash is often incorrectly described as "smoke," consisting of tiny rock fragments, crystals, and volcanic glass mixed with gases and water vapour in an eruption plume. The term "magma chamber" also suggests a vast underground tank of liquid magma, which is not accurate.

The researchers examined how misinformation spreads during volcanic events worldwide. During the 2017 eruption of Mt Agung in Bali, old footage of other volcanoes was falsely attributed to Mt Agung's eruption and clouds and gas emissions were wrongly reported as eruptions. In 2025, during the eruption of Mt Etna in Sicily, videos of tourists moving away from the affected area were shared as evidence that people "fleeing for their lives," creating the impression that Sicily was unsafe.

Misinformation surrounding the Yellowstone volcano in the United States has also been prevalent, with documentaries, disaster films, and tabloid media exaggerating the likelihood and potential impacts of a future eruption. The volcano has experienced only local impacts from its recent 50 eruptions, which were lava flows.

To navigate the flood of information online during a volcanic crisis, the researchers recommend checking the source, starting with organizations responsible for monitoring and managing the volcano, such as volcano observatories, geological agencies, and emergency management authorities. They also suggest distinguishing between what is possible and what is likely, as volcano science involves uncertainty.

When encountering images and videos online, it is essential to verify their credibility, especially with the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content.