Kīlauea & Maunaloa Update, July 29, 2021

Another week brings only minor changes to the recent patterns on both volcanoes: Kīlauea still shows inflation with slightly elevated seismicity, and Maunaloa remains relatively quiet and unchanged at the surface. We review new imagery, monitoring data and reports courtesy of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, while adding our live discussion of viewer questions and lots of bonus information this week. First we follow up on the recent pattern of deep earthquakes under Kīlauea, highlighting the likely magma pathways from the hot-spot source into the volcano's shallow reservoirs from published research. Next we discuss this week's USGS Volcano Watch article on using weather radar to scan volcanic plumes and track their evolution, and specifically when the 2020 eruption vaporized the ponded water within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Finally, we feature a review of Kīlauea's Southwest Rift and the Koaʻe Fault Zone's eruptions, intrusions and dynamics, including their relation to the East Rift and its “Connector”. This program is brought to you in part by a grant from the Hawaiʻi Island Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation in partnership with the County of Hawaiʻi, and from smaller donations from viewers like you. https://youtu.be/SR6jEXJYT34