#Volcano Watch
Volcano Watch: Response to Mauna Loa’s 2022 eruption
The first few hours of Mauna Loa’s eruption were dynamic, and volcanologists intently watched monitoring data to track changing conditions and understand how the eruption was developing.
Volcano Watch: Mauna Loa Reawakens
HVO staff and County of Hawai‘i officials closely monitored the eruption overnight, tracking activity for any migration.
Volcano Watch: What are the Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code?
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory sets the two designations for volcanoes in Hawaii and American Samoa.
Volcano Watch: Learning from the impacts of Kīlauea’s 2018 LERZ lava flows
More than 8,000 photographs taken before, during and after the eruption, along with satellite imagery, make up the largest available dataset of lava flow impacts in the world.
Volcano Watch: Volcanoes of American Samoa
Ta‘ū volcano in American Samoa experienced volcanic unrest in the form of an earthquake swarm that was felt throughout the Manuʻa Islands (Ofu-Olosega and Ta‘ū Islands) from late July through early September 2022.
Volcano Watch: Aftershock forecasts let you know what to expect after a large earthquake
After damaging earthquakes, response and recovery take place under the threat of aftershocks.
Volcano Watch: A year of continuous eruption at Halemaʻumaʻu? Close, but not quite
During the late fall and winter of 2021–2022, the eruption would episodically pause for periods lasting from hours to days.
Volcano Watch: Earthquakes and volcanoes, a recipe for preparedness
Feeling occasional earthquakes is part of the experience of living in Hawai‘i, especially on the Island of Hawai‘i.
Volcano Watch: Recent events at Mauna Loa remind us to be prepared for quick changes
The last eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in 1984 and began in a style typical of the volcano.
Volcano Watch: How Kīlauea volcano fills its craters
Crater filling at Kīlauea is sometimes like pouring liquid into a mug, but more often it is like injecting haupia crème into a crispy malasada.
Volcano Watch: Where’s That Lava Headed and When Will it Get There?
Although there is a great deal we do not know about what a volcano is about to do, we can make some short-term forecasts based on what is currently happening.
Volcano Watch: Ahuʻailāʻau Gets Geophysical ‘X-ray’ Using Ground Penetrating Radar
Scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and collaborators from the University of South Florida had the unique opportunity to get a peek at the layers inside Ahuʻailāʻau
Volcano Watch: Recent Eruptions in Iceland Sparked Interest Far And Wide
Footage of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021 showed glowing lava flows and bubbling cones that were evocative of Hawaiian eruptions.
Volcano Watch: A Bright Future for HVO’s Geodetic Network
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s geodetic network is actively being upgraded to help scientists monitor and respond to volcanic activity.
Volcano Watch: HVO Responds to American Samoa Earthquake Reports
Earthquakes have been felt since late July in the Manuʻa Islands of American Samoa in the South Pacific. These earthquakes are likely associated with magmatic activity beneath the islands. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is working closely with federal partners, American Samoan officials, and local residents to better understand the source and potential hazard implications of these ongoing earthquakes.
Volcano Watch: Mauna Loa is a Sleeping Giant
Covering over half of the Island of Hawai‘i, Mauna Loa is sometimes referred to as a “sleeping giant” because it hasn’t erupted in 38 years after erupting nearly every seven years in the early 20th century. However, Mauna Loa occasionally stirs in its slumber and reminds us that it will someday awake and erupt again.
Volcano Watch: Kīlauea’s Summit Lava Lake Continues to be Quietly Remarkable
The ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea hasn’t made the news recently, but that doesn’t mean the recent eruptive activity hasn’t been noteworthy.
Volcano Watch: Hualālai’s Wahapele Eruption — Cone-Building, Explosive Phreatic Activity And Lava Flows
While our attention is generally drawn to the Island of Hawai‘i’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, it is also important to keep watch on the Island of Hawai‘i’s third-most active volcano, Hualālai, which underlies the most populated areas of Kailua-Kona and the central Kona coast.
Volcano Watch: What Is a Volcano?
What makes a volcano a volcano? This was the topic of a “Volcano Watch” article about 20 years ago. Recent questions from visitors suggest this remains a topic of great interest and deserves revisiting.