Earthquakes. Moving magma shakes the ground, so the number and size of earthquakes increases before an eruption. A volcano that is about to erupt may produce a sequence of earthquakes. Scientists use seismographs

that record the length and strength of each earthquake to try to determine if an eruption is imminent.

How early can we predict volcanic eruptions?

How far in advance could scientists forecast an eruption of the Yellowstone volcano? The science of forecasting a volcanic eruption has significantly advanced over the past 25 years. Most scientists think that the buildup preceding a catastrophic eruption would be detectable for weeks and perhaps months to years.

Can Geologists predict volcanic eruptions explain why or why not?

Volcanologists can predict eruptions—if they have a thorough understanding of a volcano's eruptive history, if they can install the proper instrumentation on a volcano well in advance of an eruption, and if they can continuously monitor and adequately interpret data coming from that equipment.