Hawai'i Volcano Blog
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.
Volcano Watch — Where is magma stored in Kīlauea?
At Kīlauea, there are several storage regions hypothesized from decades of monitoring data.
Volcano Watch — Separating signals: What matters to seismologists?
Being able to distinguish between random signals and volcanically induced seismic activity allows seismologists to keep a closer eye on what matters, the volcanoes.
Volcano Watch — New Year’s Eve 1974: Kīlauea’s most recent Southwest Rift Zone eruption
HVO continues to monitor unrest in the summit and Southwest Rift Zone regions of Kīlauea, with increased rates of earthquakes and ground deformation indicating magma is moving in the area
Volcano Watch: A pupu platter of earthquakes
Thousands of earthquakes occur every year in Hawaiʻi. These earthquakes are monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and fall into three main classes: volcanic, tectonic and mantle.
Volcano Watch: Sniffing out stealthy gas escape between Kīlauea’s eruptions
There is another type of gas besides sulfur dioxide that can be important during non-eruptive periods — carbon dioxide.
Big Islanders remember the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption — its first in 38 years
The 13,681-foot-tall Hawaiian shield volcano erupted for the first time in 38 years the night of Nov. 27, 2022, producing lava flows from several fissures on the mountain’s northeast flank and lava fountains reaching as high as 200 feet at times
Volcano Watch – Explosive eruptions from Kīlauea: beneficial or dangerous depending on location
Many such explosions resulted from the interaction of magma with groundwater or surface water; others apparently were powered by pressurized gas possibly aided by steam but with no direct involvement of magma.
Volcano Watch: Volcano monitoring can be a risky business: How scientists work safely
Most of HVO’s field sites are more than one hour from definitive medical care, so staff take Wilderness First Aid training which prepares them for a variety of injuries and illnesses.
Volcano Watch: Fostering prepared youths on the natural hazards of backyard volcanoes
One noteworthy collaboration is with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes.
Moderate levels of seismicity continue at Kīlauea summit
The Big Island volcano is not erupting; however, unrest associated with an intrusion of magma began in early October and has waxed and waned since
Volcano Watch: What’s shaking beneath Mauna Loa?
It’s hard to believe that nearly one year has passed since Mauna Loa last erupted. But a small increase in seismic activity in late October 2023 reminds us that the Big Island volcano remains active.
Volcano Watch – Not just polka dots: the hidden dance of processing GPS data
Scientists have come to depend on daily GPS positions to monitor changes in the shape of volcanoes and understand magma storage and movement underground.
Kīlauea volcano not erupting despite unrest
The summit of Kīlauea remains at a high level of inflation and eruptive activity is possible in the coming weeks or months.
