Hawai'i Volcano Blog

In May of this year, a group of volcano geochemists and petrologists (scientists who study the chemistry, textures and origins of volcanic rocks) met in Hilo to discuss how to improve our understanding of magma storage and evolution at Kīlauea with these considerations in mind.

Ten years ago, inflation at Puʻuʻōʻō in May and June led to a new eruptive episode on the northeast flank of the cone.

Maunaiki Trail and Kaʻū Desert Trail past the Footprints Exhibit remain closed due to elevated gases and other volcanic hazards that remain at the eruption site.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory goes into detail about the latest Kīlauea eruption.

While the lava flow has ceased, air quality levels are slightly elevated at the Pāhala and Nāʻālehu air quality monitoring stations.

The new eruption first began at about 12:30 a.m. today. The most recent eruption in this region was in December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours. At this time, it is not possible to say how long this new eruption will last.

The most recent Mauna Loa eruptions in 1975, 1984, and 2022 each offer unique insights into this volcano’s eruptive behavior.

At about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, the number of earthquakes beneath the summit increased and low frequency energy pulses set in. Ground deformation also continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the south caldera area.

One of the primary duties of IT personnel at HVO is supporting existing and emerging volcano monitoring and science goals. The observatory uses a variety of instruments to collect data on volcanic activity—including seismometers, gas analyzers, ground deformation sensors, and cameras.

It is not possible to say whether the recent heightened unrest and fluctuations in activity beneath the Big Island volcano will lead to an intrusion or eruption in the near future or simply continue as unrest. Changes in the character and location of unrest can occur quickly, as can the potential for an eruption.

Seismicity remains above background levels. Ground deformation also continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region. Magma has been pressurizing the system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and Kīlauea’s south caldera region for several weeks.

This week, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists dig a little deeper and share new discoveries they are making about the erupsions 100 years ago by examining the ash deposited during the events.

Kīlauea began erupting explosively 100 years ago this week, for the first time in nearly a century. The eruption lasted for about 17 days, killing one person and injuring others.

Earthquakes are clustered in the upper East Rift Zone as well as the south caldera region.

About 140 of the temblors from Monday to Tuesday morning were located in the upper East Rift Zone, from Keanakākoʻi crater to the intersection with Hilina Pali Road. The other 90 were located in the caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory notes inflation is occurring in the caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu – activity similar to conditions prior to last week’s period of heightened unrest.

Areas accessed by Chain of Craters Road, including coastal backcountry sites, Hilina Pali Road, Kulanaokuaiki Campground, Nāpau, and Pepeiao Cabin are now open.

Since midnight of April 27, over 1,600 earthquake events have been recorded on Kīlauea on the Big Island.

Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid in the ability to forecast volcanic activity.

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).