In this May 1, 2012 photo, USGS Hydrologist and Outreach Coordinator Carolyn L. Driedger explains how officials monitor seismic activity of the Northwest's volcanoes from the operations room inside the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash. The Cascades Volcano Observatory is one of only five volcanic observatories operated by the U.S. Geological Survey. It and other facilities combine a variety of disciplines to keep a finger on the pulse of mountains near and far, and advance ongoing research to better understand them. Among the Vancouver office's 55 or so staff are geologists, seismologists, hydrologists, petrologists and others. (AP Photo/The Columbian, Zachary Kaufman) ORG XMIT: WAVAN101