Hawaii Tracker

Hawaiian Volcano Update: Moving Magma Trembles Kīlauea, April 25, 2024

Over the past week, deeper earthquakes increased in frequency 5 to 6 miles below Kīlauea, with shallower quakes in the south caldera still ongoing but spreading to include the nearby East Rift Connector. The deeper activity peaked on April 19, and after slowing for three days has now resumed providing frequent long-period signals that indicate the movement of magma within the volcano, even as the ground surface of the volcano continues to swell. As a result of this heightened state of unrest, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory began issuing daily updates for Kīlauea on April 20, but the v...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Apr 26

Introducing HVO's new online eruption map — USGS-HVO Volcano Watch

The production of maps to track the progress of ongoing eruptions has long been part of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) mission to inform the public about volcanic hazards in Hawaii. The methods used to collect, interpret, and disseminate map data have been evolving ever since HVO’s founding in 1912, and a digital tool newly available to the public continues that legacy of innovation. The new digital tool is an interactive, browser-based display of map data that can be updated in near-real-time with eruption features, such as lava flows. During the Island of Hawai‘i’s most dramati...

Ryan Finlay

That's pretty sweet!

Apr 26

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Apr 19

Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea South Caldera Earthquakes Increasing

Earthquake rates doubled this past week beneath Kīlauea’s south caldera and deeper under its summit, indicating ongoing magma movement and accumulation within the volcano’s underground reservoirs. Overall seismic levels are still low relative to the build-up ahead of prior intrusions and eruptions, and there are no signs of an eruption within the short term as Kīlauea continues to recover from its massive Southwest Rift intrusion on January 31. Recent earthquakes and ongoing ground deformation measured by GPS suggest this recent Southwest Rift pathway remains active and magma is still being ...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Apr 19

Magnetics, magma, and monitoring: new technology for old questions — USGS Volcano Watch

Earth’s magnetic field surrounds us every second of the day, everywhere on the planet. Anyone who has picked up a pocket compass and seen the magnetic needle quickly align itself has seen the action of this ever-present invisible field. But can we harness the magnetic field to forecast volcanic activity? Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid us in doing so. On a large scale, the structure of the Earth is divided into four main layers: the crust, the mantle, and the inner and outer core. The outer core, which starts at about 1800 miles (2,900 km) beneath your feet and e...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Apr 12

HVO and Collaborators Continue Seismic Surveys Across the Active Volcanoes of Hawaii — USGS Volcano Watch

The Island of Hawai‘i is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. In the last five years, an average of 600-1200 earthquakes per week have been detected by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). This regular rumble of activity across the island can be used to our advantage to assess the hazards that Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes represent. The permanent HVO seismic network consists of nearly 100 stations located across the island. HVO scientists use these stations to monitor the location and character of seismic activity, paying particular attention to signals that mi...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Apr 12

Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea’s South Caldera Quaking, April 11, 2024

This past week, earthquakes on Kīlauea concentrated beneath the south caldera area, though only reached magnitude 2.6 despite the region exhibiting accelerated inflation for 3 weeks. Seismic counts across the whole volcano exceeded 100 events yesterday, similar to the previous cycle peak on March 31st but above the average last week of around 50 events per day. However, these numbers are still low compared to the main pulse of magma intrusion into the Southwest Rift in late January and early February, when over 3,000 events occurred within one week. For now, the volcano continues to recharge a...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Apr 5

STEM and suction solutions at HVO —USGS Volcano Watch

STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In the educational system, encouraging STEM curriculum prepares students for future careers in STEM fields. In this “Volcano Watch” article, we’ll describe how aspects of STEM are applied at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), using a specific example of field engineering work. Staff at HVO study volcanic processes and associated hazards in Hawaii, with the emphasis and end goal of protecting life and property. The backbone of the observatory is the monitoring network, consisting of a diverse array ...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Mar 29

Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Swelling Further

March rounds out quietly on Kīlauea, with relatively few earthquakes this month thus far compared to the end of January and beginning of February. This past week, seismicity continues to cluster in the south caldera and upper southwest rift, with sporadic events still occurring in the lower southwest rift. The south caldera and upper southwest rift area continues to swell, accumulating nearly 25 microradians of ground tilt over the past month, half of that within the last week. However, without an increase in earthquakes, a resumption of surface activity is likely still some time away. Volcani...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Mar 29

Using acoustic signals to identify the start of 2022 Mauna Loa eruption — HVO Volcano Watch

The 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa occurred late in the evening of November 27th. The eruption was preceded by intense earthquake activity about half an hour prior to glowing lava seen on USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) webcams. How does HVO narrow down the precise time that the eruption started? Remote cameras are critical to confirm eruptive activity but, in many cases, worldwide, views of the activity can be obscured. Clouds, fog or volcanic gas can block views. Or cameras may not cover the eruption site. Hence, HVO and other global observatories establish numerous methods to attempt ...

Dane duPont@dane_dupont ·Mar 22

Establishing a Nascent Monitoring Program on Pico Basile Volcano, Equatorial Guinea — USGS Volcano Watch

In 2012, steam began to rise from beneath the cracked concrete of a telecommunication station at the summit of Pico Basile volcano on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, in western Africa. The steaming lasted several days and extended to two nearby summit craters. Fortunately, the event didn’t escalate beyond some baked vegetation and the slightly fried nerves of station personnel. The volcano had been in a state of quiescence, slumbering peacefully for nearly a century, and this event served as a not-so-subtle reminder that Pico Basile could wake up at any time—and it was completely unmonitored...