Hawai'i Volcano Blog

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.

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.
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