Geophysicist Stefan Burns has stated that Earth's volcanic activity has begun to increase, potentially signaling the start of a four-year surge in eruptions worldwide. Burns, who claims to have identified a pattern linking solar energy cycles to geological events, believes a transition from solar maximum to solar minimum is contributing to this heightened activity.
Burns highlighted approximately a dozen major volcanoes and volcanic systems in populated areas, including the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, Italy, and Russia, as exhibiting increased unrest. In the U.S., he pointed to ongoing eruptions at Hawaii's Kīlauea and the potential for new activity along the Cascade Range, specifically mentioning Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Hood.
He theorizes that peak solar energy charges Earth's upper atmosphere and generates electrical currents deep underground, which interact with changes in the planet's magnetic field, thereby fueling volcanic unrest, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Burns's theory posits that volcanic and earthquake activity historically spikes in the years following a solar maximum, suggesting that the period between 2026 and 2030 could pose a significant risk to populations in volcanic danger zones.
Burns's analysis links recent major seismic events to volcanic hotspots. He noted that the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area home to 75 percent of the world's active volcanoes, has experienced numerous significant earthquakes since July 2025. He cited a magnitude 8.8 megaquake in Russia on July 29, 2025, as potentially triggering a chain reaction across the Ring of Fire, leading to multiple magnitude 7 earthquakes and dozens of smaller ones.
Further examples include a magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Lake Toba in Indonesia on August 15 and a large fireball over the Cascadia volcanoes on August 14, which generated blast waves detected by monitoring sensors. Burns also referenced the recent activity at Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii.
Burns has gained attention for accurately predicting three major seismic events this year in Colombia, Peru, and Indonesia. His methods involve analyzing solar activity, seismic wave trends, and shifts in Earth's magnetic field. However, his theories diverge from many mainstream geologists who do not typically link space weather directly to terrestrial geological events.
Research by NASA scientist R.B. Stothers in 1989 found statistically noticeable cycles of about 11 and 80 years that align with the sun's activity cycles, suggesting more eruptions occur around solar minimum periods. Additionally, a 2017 study by Takeshi Nishimura from Tohoku University indicated that large earthquakes within a certain proximity to a volcano can increase the chance of that volcano erupting within the following five years.
Burns specifically expressed concern for areas like the Pacific Northwest, noting that scientists have warned of potential devastation to three Washington towns within minutes if a massive volcanic mudflow were to occur at Mount Rainier. 
Burns's analysis also includes volcanic hotspots such as the Gakkel supervolcano in the Arctic Ocean, Italy's Mount Etna, and the underwater volcano Kamaʻehuakanaloa near Hawaii, suggesting these areas have been 'activated.' He noted the formation of Hurricane LALA near Hawaii in mid-August and a significant earthquake beneath Kamaʻehuakanaloa during a solar eclipse as further indicators of Earth's interconnected systems.