Hawai'i Volcano Blog
Volcano Watch – Magnetics, magma and monitoring: New technology for old questions
Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid in the ability to forecast volcanic activity.
Volcano Watch: Using acoustic signals to identify the start of the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption
The global volcano monitoring community routinely installs clusters of acoustic sensors called arrays on the flanks of volcanoes that can measure the audible noise (sounds we can hear) and the inaudible noise, which have frequencies that human ears can’t sense (infrasound).
Buildings in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park damaged during 2018 eruption set for dismantling
The buildings to be taken down are located on the Uēkahuna bluff at the summit of Kīlauea. They are the former Jaggar Museum, and two buildings used by the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the Okamura Building and the Geochemistry Annex.
Volcano Watch — Establishing a Nascent Monitoring Program on Pico Basile Volcano, Equatorial Guinea
Pico Basile is a shield volcano located at the center of the enigmatic Cameroon Volcanic Line in western Africa.
Volcano Watch — What was an emergency manager doing at a scientific conference?
This relationship, between volcano observatories and their emergency managers, was highlighted at the recent “Cities on Volcanoes” meeting in Antigua, Guatemala.
Volcano Watch: Hawaiʻi represented at the Cities on Volcanoes conference in Antigua, Guatemala
Seven Hawaiʻi residents attended, hailing from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and University of Hawaiʻi (Hilo and Mānoa).
Traffic safety, infrastructure upgrades near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park entrance begin soon
People coming to the park should expect limited parking, delays at the entrance station and the potential for temporary area closures, especially if an eruption occurs. In addition to reduced parking near Kīlauea Visitor Center, half the parking lot at Uēkahuna is reserved for the construction project.
Volcano Watch: Kīlauea intrusion was a textbook example of dike propagation
Dike intrusion is one of the fundamental processes for magma migration at volcanoes around the world.
Volcano Watch — Appreciating the contributions of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to volcanology
February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Language Month, and an opportunity to appreciate the value that the Native Hawaiian language has provided to volcanology, especially here in Hawaiʻi nei.
Volcano Watch: Dear Valentine, will you be my lab partner?
The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory “lavas” working with our partners at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and for Valentine’s Day we wanted to highlight some of the things we appreciate about this relationship.
Volcano Watch — Another intrusion southwest of Kīlauea’s summit
On Feb. 3, 2024, a team of HVO scientists documented new ground cracks in three areas of the Maunaiki Trail in the Ka‘ū Desert, caused by the intrusion southwest of Kīlauea’s summit caldera.
Magma moving in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park slows, decreasing likelihood of Kīlauea eruption
The overall decrease in seismicity and deformation suggests that this event is waning.
Likelihood of Kīlauea eruption decreases
The magma intrusion in and southwest of the Big Island volcano’s summit appears to have slowed and seismicity in the same area has quieted significantly since Friday.
Magma continues to move just below the surface southwest of Kīlauea caldera
Periods of increased earthquake activity and rates of ground deformation can be expected to continue in this region.
Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa 2022: A retrospective on the early hours of the eruption
Mauna Loa has erupted 34 times since 1843. Each eruption started in Mokuʻāweoweo, and likely the south caldera area.
Kīlauea alert level remains elevated; magma movement means ‘possibility’ of eruption
Based on past historical activity, this event is much more likely to continue as an intrusion, but there is still a possibility of it ending in an eruption.
Alert level increases at Kīlauea with movement of magma in the subsurface
According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, it is not possible to say with certainty if this activity will lead to an eruption.
Volcano Watch – Iceland’s recent eruption a reminder of lava flow hazards
A new eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula began on Jan. 14, threatening the small fishing village of Grindavik.
Removal of old Hawaiian Volcano Observatory equipment on Uēkahuna Bluff results in partial data outage
HVO staff are currently assessing the problem and working on possible solutions. Restoration of data streams could take hours or days due to the complexity of the problem.
Volcano Watch — Upgrades below the surface
This week’s “Volcano Watch” article focuses on the installation process of newly upgraded seismometers that are used to detect and locate earthquakes.
