In February 2019, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released a preliminary map of lava flow thicknesses for Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption. This map was produced by
VOLCANOWatch: Eruption Pause Provides an Opportunity to Probe Volcanic Pollution
The end of Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption this past September was accompanied by an enormous decrease in the amount of sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) emitted from the volcano. This has led
VOLCANOWatch: New Outcrops Make Good Geology
A good field geologist is an opportunist. Never content with what outcrops are available, she jumps at the chance to see another one, hoping that it will provide a better
VOLCANOWatch: Did Groundwater Trigger Explosive Eruptions at Kīlauea?
In February 1924, the surface of the lava lake at Halema‘uma‘u dropped rapidly and disappeared from view. Throughout March and April, the crater floor subsided as magma moved out of
5.5M Earthquake on Kīlauea Volcano’s South Flank Shakes Island
This post has been updated. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded a magnitude-5.5 earthquake located beneath Kīlauea Volcano’s south flank at 12:55 a.m. on Wednesday. The earthquake was centered about 12 km
VOLCANOWatch: How Do Lava Flows Cool and How Long Does it Take?
Since the end of the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption on Kīlauea Volcano, questions have surfaced concerning how long it will take for the new lava flows to solidify.
VOLCANOWatch: Geology of the Past, How Long will the Eruption Last?
The 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea brought an end to the 35+ year eruption at Puʻu ‘Ō‘ō. With the draining of the summit and the collapse of
4.6M Earthquake Shakes Southwest of the Big Island
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded an offshore magnitude-4.6 earthquake southwest the Island of Hawai‘i at 9:07 a.m. on Thursday. The earthquake was centered about 52 miles southwest
VOLCANOWatch: Ninety Days with No Lava, a Milestone for Kīlauea’s 2018 Eruption
One of the most frequently asked questions of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists over the last several months has been, “Is the eruption over?” It’s no surprise that Hawaiʻi Island
VOLCANOWatch: Kīlauea 2018 Events Mark a Watershed for Volcano Science
The 2018 summit collapse and lower East Rift Zone eruption at Kīlauea Volcano were dramatic and, for many Island of Hawaiʻi residents, tragic events. As with all eruptive crises, these events