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Each one gets two scores: an overall threat score and an aviation threat score.
The overall threat score looks at 24 factors including how often it erupts, how powerful its eruptions are, the nearby population size, and how many people have been killed or evacuated before.
The aviation threat score is similar but focuses on factors like how close a volcano is to airports, and which flight paths go nearby.
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Here are the 20 volcanoes that post the biggest risk:
18: Long Valley Caldera, California. Threat Score: 129. Aviation Threat: 29.
"Since volcanic unrest can escalate to an eruption quickly — in a few weeks, days, or less —USGS scientists are monitoring the activity closely," the USGS said.
17: Crater Lake, Oregon. Threat Score: 129. Aviation Threat: 37.
Violent eruptions could occur when the volcano in Crater Lake erupts: When water and magma mix, the result can be highly explosive.
"Since the end of the most recent ice age, this volcano has produced some of the largest and most explosive eruptions in the conterminous United States," the USGS said.
14: Mount Baker, Washington. Threat Score: 139. Aviation Threat: 15.
The USGS says that monitoring at Mount Baker is now 'insufficient" in light of the "threat that renewed activity would pose to nearby communities and regional infrastructure."
8: Akutan Island, Alaska. Threat Score: 161. Aviation Threat: 47.
Akutan is "one of the most active volcanoes in the US," the USGS said.
7: Three Sisters, Oregon. Threat Score: 165. Aviation Threat: 30.
Three Sisters hasn't erupted in 2,000 years, but it is close to towns and winter resorts.
6: Mount Hood, Oregon. Threat Score: 178. Aviation Threat: 30.
Mount Hood is close to "rapidly growing communities, recreation areas, and major transportation routes and therefore imposes heightened risk," according to the USGS.
5: Mount Shasta, California. Threat Score: 178. Aviation Threat: 39.
Nearby towns, like Mount Shasta and Weed, are close enough to the volcano that they could be at risk in an eruption.