# Volcano Sample This page provides a complete sample response for a volcanic hazard from the Active Hazards API endpoint. Volcanic hazards in the API are sourced from Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs), which are responsible for monitoring and issuing advisories on volcanic ash clouds that may affect aviation and surrounding populations. Each volcano object within the response includes detailed advisory information from the reporting VAAC, including observed and forecast ash cloud geometries, eruption details, and summit elevation data. Each volcano object is updated every time the reporting VAAC publishes a new advisory. The response captures both the current state of the eruption and projected ash cloud positions at 6-hour forecast intervals, enabling users to assess potential impacts on aviation corridors and nearby populations. ## Volcano-Specific Properties ### Incident Data The `incident.properties` object of the volcano provides a detailed summary of the current volcanic activity status and advisory information. This includes data sourced directly from the VAAC advisory message, covering eruption characteristics, ash cloud observations, and forecast information. Key attributes describe the volcano's physical properties, the current state of the eruption, and the reporting agency's assessment. **Key incident properties for volcanoes include:** * `advisoryNumber` - Advisory number from the reporting VAAC (e.g., "2026/306") * `forecastAshCloudPresent` - Boolean indicating whether ash clouds are forecast in future time steps * `observedAshCloudPresent` - Boolean indicating whether ash clouds have been observed * `summitElevation` - Elevation of the volcano summit in meters (e.g., 3763) * `eruptionDetails` - Brief description of the eruption activity (e.g., "ONGOING VA EMS") * `infoSource` - Data sources used for the advisory (e.g., "GOES-19. WEBCAM. NWP MODELS") * `riskRating` - Numeric risk rating assigned to the volcanic activity * `locationDescription` - Geographic region of the volcano (e.g., "Guatemala") * `nextAdvisory` - Expected time of the next advisory issuance * `forecastValidTime` - Valid time for the current forecast observation * `name` - Common name of the volcano (e.g., "Fuego") ### Features The `features` property of the volcano object is a GeoJSON feature collection providing a geospatial representation of the volcanic event. Each feature within this collection includes a `featureType` property that indicates its role. The primary types of features are: * **ASH\_CLOUD features** - Polygon geometries showing observed and forecast ash cloud extents at different time steps (0hr, 6hr, 12hr, 18hr). Each ASH\_CLOUD feature includes a `forecastHr` property indicating the forecast hour offset and a `forecastValidTime` indicating the valid time for that forecast step. The 0hr feature represents the currently observed ash cloud, while subsequent features represent projected positions. * **SMART\_ALERT features** - A polygon representing the alert boundary area for the volcanic event. This geometry defines the broader region under advisory and is also reflected in the top-level `alertGeometry` property. * **INCIDENT features** - A point geometry located at the volcano's summit, containing the full set of advisory details (eruption information, risk rating, source details, and all properties from the incident data). This serves as the geographic anchor for the volcanic event. ### Exposure Areas The `exposureAreas` property for volcanoes uses a single exposure level, reflecting the PDC Volcano Hazard Zone around the summit. * **Level 0** - PDC Volcano Hazard Zone. This is typically a buffer area around the volcano summit that follows known hazard zones, generally extending approximately 10km from the summit. The geometry may include multiple rings to account for terrain and historical hazard patterns. ## Sample Response ```json { "name": [ { "locale": "en", "value": "Volcano - Fuego, Guatemala" } ], "description": [ { "locale": "en", "value": "Volcanic activity has been reported for Fuego in Guatemala, by the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) on March 13, 2026, 19:44:00 UTC.\n\nThis volcanic activity is reported based on aerial, satellite and/or ground observations.\n\nIt is estimated that 79,300 people, 17,600 households, and $618 Million (USD) of infrastructure* are within the affected area(s). Exposure estimates will be refined as additional data from official sources becomes available.\n\nVolcano information sources for this report include: GOES-19. WEBCAM. NWP MODELS.\n\nAdditional information will be provided as it becomes available by official sources.\n\n*The cost represents the total replacement value of the infrastructure.\n\n" } ], "severity": "WARNING", "category": "EVENT", "incident": { "uuid": "37ea49e4-6a86-4aa5-a7e6-c19f4b1081ad", "type": "VOLCANO", "sourceId": 133, "sourceRecordId": "342090", "properties": { "hazardName": "Volcano - Fuego, Guatemala", "advisoryNumber": "2026/306", "locationDescription": "Guatemala", "reportDate": "2026-03-13T19:44:00+00:00", "featureType": "INCIDENT", "summitElevation": 3763, "eventDate": "2025-03-01T12:30:00+00:00", "...": "" } }, "uuid": "d47c3a21-14a7-47aa-aea7-02c62ca2f758", "comment": null, "createdAt": 1773431269, "relatedHazards": [], "longitude": -90.88, "latitude": 14.473, "version": 375, "alertGeometry": { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "geometry": { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [...] }, "properties": null } ] }, "features": { "features": [ { "id": null, "type": "Feature", "properties": { "forecastHr": 0, "forecastValidTime": "2026-03-13T19:10:00+00:00", "featureType": "ASH_CLOUD", "type": "FORECAST" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [...], "type": "Polygon", "properties": { "type": "FORECAST", "forecastHr": 0, "forecastValidTime": "2026-03-13T19:10:00+00:00", "featureType": "ASH_CLOUD" } }, "incidentType": null, "sourceId": null }, { "id": null, "type": "Feature", "properties": { "featureType": "SMART_ALERT", "type": "SMART_ALERT" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [...], "type": "Polygon", "properties": { "type": "SMART_ALERT", "featureType": "SMART_ALERT" } }, "incidentType": null, "sourceId": null }, { "id": null, "type": "Feature", "properties": { "featureType": "INCIDENT", "type": "INCIDENT", "...": "" }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [ -90.88, 14.473 ], "type": "Point", "properties": { "featureType": "INCIDENT", "type": "INCIDENT", "...": "" } }, "incidentType": null, "sourceId": null } ], "incidentType": null, "metadata": null, "type": "FeatureCollection", "sourceId": null }, "exposureAreas": { "features": [ { "id": "0", "type": "Feature", "properties": { "exposureLevel": 0 }, "geometry": { "coordinates": [...], "type": "Polygon", "properties": { "intensity": "UNCATEGORIZED", "exposureDescription": "PDC Volcano Hazard Zone", "featureType": "EXPOSURE_AREA", "exposureLevel": "1" } }, "sourceId": null } ], "type": "FeatureCollection" }, "exposureAssessment": { "population": { "total": 79300, "total0_14": 25487, "total15_64": 50070, "total65_Plus": 3759, "households": 17622, "vulnerable": 47000 }, "capital": { "total": 618708300, "school": 24, "hospital": 0 }, "totalByCountry": [ { "population": { "total": 79300, "total0_14": 25487, "total15_64": 50070, "total65_Plus": 3759, "households": 17622, "vulnerable": 47000 }, "country": "GTM", "capital": { "total": 618708300, "school": 24, "hospital": 0 }, "admin0": "Guatemala", "admin1": null, "admin2": null, "foodNeedsUnit": "CAL", "foodNeeds": 98700000.0, "waterNeedsUnit": "liter", "waterNeeds": 141000.0, "wasteNeedsUnit": "100 liter", "wasteNeeds": 4700.0, "shelterNeedsUnit": "sq meters", "shelterNeeds": 162150.0 } ], "totalByAdmin": [ { "population": { "total": 79300, "total0_14": 25487, "total15_64": 50070, "total65_Plus": 3759, "households": 17622, "vulnerable": 47000 }, "country": "GTM", "capital": { "total": 618708300, "school": 24, "hospital": 0 }, "admin0": "Guatemala", "admin1": null, "admin2": null, "foodNeedsUnit": "CAL", "foodNeeds": 98700000.0, "waterNeedsUnit": "liter", "waterNeeds": 141000.0, "wasteNeedsUnit": "100 liter", "wasteNeeds": 4700.0, "shelterNeedsUnit": "sq meters", "shelterNeeds": 162150.0 } ], "exposureLevels": [ { "level": "0", "data": { "population": { "total": 79300, "total0_14": 25487, "total15_64": 50070, "total65_Plus": 3759, "households": 17622, "vulnerable": 47000 }, "capital": { "total": 618708300, "school": 24, "hospital": 0 }, "totalByCountry": [ { "population": { "total": 79300, "total0_14": 25487, "total15_64": 50070, "total65_Plus": 3759, "households": 17622, "vulnerable": 47000 }, "country": "GTM", "capital": { "total": 618708300, "school": 24, "hospital": 0 }, "admin0": "Guatemala", "admin1": null, "admin2": null, "foodNeedsUnit": "CAL", "foodNeeds": 98700000.0, "waterNeedsUnit": "liter", "waterNeeds": 141000.0, "wasteNeedsUnit": "100 liter", "wasteNeeds": 4700.0, "shelterNeedsUnit": "sq meters", "shelterNeeds": 162150.0 } ], "totalByAdmin": [ { "population": { "total": 79300, "total0_14": 25487, "total15_64": 50070, "total65_Plus": 3759, "households": 17622, "vulnerable": 47000 }, "country": "GTM", "capital": { "total": 618708300, "school": 24, "hospital": 0 }, "admin0": "Guatemala", "admin1": null, "admin2": null, "foodNeedsUnit": "CAL", "foodNeeds": 98700000.0, "waterNeedsUnit": "liter", "waterNeeds": 141000.0, "wasteNeedsUnit": "100 liter", "wasteNeeds": 4700.0, "shelterNeedsUnit": "sq meters", "shelterNeeds": 162150.0 } ], "foodNeedsUnit": "CAL", "foodNeeds": 98700000.0, "waterNeedsUnit": "liter", "waterNeeds": 141000.0, "wasteNeedsUnit": "100 liter", "wasteNeeds": 4700.0, "shelterNeedsUnit": "sq meters", "shelterNeeds": 162150.0 }, "exposureDescription": "PDC Volcano Hazard Zone" } ], "hazardUuid": "", "hazardType": "", "version": "", "timestamp": "1773431256288", "exposureDescription": "", "foodNeedsUnit": "CAL", "foodNeeds": 98700000.0, "waterNeedsUnit": "liter", "waterNeeds": 141000.0, "wasteNeedsUnit": "100 liter", "wasteNeeds": 4700.0, "shelterNeedsUnit": "sq meters", "shelterNeeds": 162150.0 }, "type": "VOLCANO", "creator": "RICHTER", "source": { "id": 133, "name": "Washington VAAC", "longName": "Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)", "..." }, "startedAt": 1765936800, "updatedAt": 1773431256, "endedAt": 1773863253 } ``` {% hint style="info" %} Note: In this sample, coordinate arrays in `alertGeometry`, `features` geometries, and `exposureAreas` have been replaced with `[...]` for brevity. In actual API responses, these properties contain complete GeoJSON coordinate arrays. Additionally, the `features` array has been truncated to show only representative examples of the ASH\_CLOUD (0hr forecast), SMART\_ALERT, and INCIDENT feature types. The full response includes four ASH\_CLOUD features at 0hr, 6hr, 12hr, and 18hr forecast intervals. The INCIDENT feature properties have been truncated. For hazards with multiple affected countries or admin regions, the `totalByCountry` and `totalByAdmin` arrays will contain additional entries. {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://api-v2-docs.disasteraware.com/hazards/hazard-samples/volcano-sample.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.