Recent weeks have seen a noticeable uptick in volcanic activity across America, raising eyebrows...and a few heart rates. From underwater rumbles off the Oregon coast to lava flows in Hawaii and seismic swarms in Alaska, experts say it’s all part of the natural (but dramatic) rhythm of Earth.

In Hawaii, Kilauea Volcano has seen intermittent summit activity, most recently on July 9, with lava briefly reappearing in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has kept the volcano at a “Watch” alert level, with an “Orange” aviation code, noting ongoing inflation and minor earthquakes beneath the surface.

(MORE: Was That A Dust Devil At Kilauea Volcano?)

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Meanwhile, in Alaska, two volcanoes are drawing intense scrutiny. Mount Spurr, dormant since its last eruption in 1992, is now showing increased seismic activity and ground deformation, prompting the USGS to raise its alert level to “Advisory” and warn that an eruption could occur within weeks. Not far away, Great Sitkin Volcano has been slowly oozing lava for years. While the activity is not explosive, its persistence signals a long-term eruption that shouldn't be ignored.

Even Alaska's Mount Iliamna, long considered sleepy, has stirred with seismic swarms in recent weeks, prompting experts to resume heightened monitoring.

Add in a recent 7.3 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami warning off the southern coast of Alaska, and it’s enough to make anyone sit up and start counting horsemen.

(MORE: Wall Of Lava Shoots High At Iceland Volcano)

Off the Oregon coast, the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano nearly 5,000 feet below the Pacific’s surface, is inflating and emitting increased seismic signals. Marine geologists say it may erupt before the end of the year. Thankfully, its remote, submerged location poses no danger to coastal communities.

So is all this activity a sign of a looming geological catastrophe?

Not at all, says meteorologist Jonathan Belles. "Eruptions at one volcano do not generally lead to eruptions at another volcano somewhere else on Earth. There are dozens of volcanic eruptions that happen or are ongoing every day, but we don't pay attention to most of them. In reality, very few eruptions are actually newsworthy and people-impacting."

(MORE: Watch This Eruption At Yellowstone's Thermal Pool)

More good news: Yellowstone, often the subject of supervolcano doomsday theories, remains calm. A minor hydrothermal explosion was observed in June in its Biscuit Basin area, but USGS confirms there's no indication of magmatic activity beneath the surface.

In short, while volcanoes are stirring across the country, experts say there's no cause for panic, just healthy respect for Earth's fiery underbelly.

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