Hawaii Volcano Blog

The recent eruption on La Palma, in the Canary Islands, has stimulated speculation that the volcano might collapse, creating a tsunami that would devastate the east coast of North and South America. But is such a scenario possible or likely?

The large earthquake, caused by bending of the oceanic plate, serves as a stark reminder that the State of Hawaiʻi is no stranger to potentially damaging earthquakes.

Recent activity at Kīlauea has USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists reflecting on prior observations and how they compare to recent activity.

HVO scales back warning levels at eruption site due to new data Monday.

Kīlauea volcano has stirred awake yet again.

The island of Ambae, in Vanuatu, is a large basaltic shield volcano that lies along the subduction zone between Fiji and Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific.

Most residents of the Island of Hawaiʻi live on one of four potentially active volcanoes and probably have wondered about the threat of lava flows at one time or another. 

Over the summer of 2021, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists conducted a detailed gas survey of the caldera floor and rim in order to understand the distribution of current emissions.

HVO explains the difference between an intrusion and eruption following a flurry of activity south of the Kīlauea caldera a week ago.

Late Monday afternoon, earthquake activity picked up at Kīlauea’s summit.

The earthquake swarm that began beneath the south part of Kīlauea caldera, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has waned.

Kīlauea volcano alternates between periods dominated by lava flows, such as the one we are currently in, and periods of explosive activity.

More people were probably killed by the 1790 eruption of Kīlauea than by any other eruption in what is now the United States.

Many imaging satellites are polar orbiting, staying closer to Earth’s surface in a low orbit.

The water lake in Halema‘uma‘u was 164 feet deep and growing when Kīlauea summit erupted on Dec. 20.

As Hawaiian volcanoes erupt and grow, they add more and more weight to the Earth’s surface.

Mauna Loa erupted 46 years ago this week, on July 5–6, 1975, in a 20-hour event.

Happy Canada Day/Bonne Fête du Canada! While some past “Volcano Watch” articles have had a July 4th theme for the USA, this year we’re taking the opportunity to ensure readers know that our neighbors to the north have volcanoes, too — including potentially active ones.

The journey from volcanic repose to a climactic eruption is like a mystery movie that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

This newly-developed instrument monitors lava lake dynamics with unprecedented resolution.