Volcano observatories across the United States work together to ensure efficient and thorough monitoring of the nation’s active volcanoes. This collaboration is particularly evident during a crisis, like the 2018
VOLCANOWatch: New Research Sheds Light on Relationship Between Hilina Fault System and Large Earthquakes
The pali (cliffs) of Kīlauea’s south flank are some of the volcano’s most striking features. Reaching up to 500 m (1500 ft) high, they stand out against the otherwise gentle
VOLCANOWatch: What Does Water in Halemaʻumaʻu Mean?
The slowly deepening pond of water on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu, the first in recorded history, has captured the interest of media and the public, both locally and nationally. Many
4.5M Quake Off Big Island Coast Poses No Tsunami Threat
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded a magnitude-4.5 earthquake just offshore of the Island of Hawai‘i on Monday, August 12 at 4:42 a.m. The earthquake was centered about
VOLCANOWatch: Heat and Gases Linger on Kīlauea Volcano’s Lower East Rift Zone
One year ago, activity on Kīlauea Volcano was remarkably different than it is today. Lava was flowing toward the sea, robust ocean entry plumes were fumigating coastal areas, and island
VOLCANOWatch: USGS Volcano Notification Service Informs Island Residents about Hawaiian Volcanoes
Hawai`i residents are likely familiar with the Volcano Activity Updates that the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issues for Kīlauea and other active Hawaiian volcanoes. These updates, which provide situational awareness of
VOLCANOWatch: Getting in the (Rift) Zone – Why and How They Erupt
Kīlauea Volcano, on the Island of Hawai‘i, has two rift zones. The East Rift Zone is longer, with 50 km (about 31 miles) on land plus another 80 km (about
VOLCANOWatch: Reading the Rainbow – How to Interpret an Interferogram
Since the early 1990s, scientists have used radar satellites to map movement, or deformation, of Earth’s surface. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) calculates the difference between two radar images acquired
VOLCANOWatch: Seeing the Earth Shake on Your Screen
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, along with its partners at NOAA’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the National Strong-Motion Project, operates a network of seismic monitoring stations on the Island
VOLCANOWatch: 2019 Marks the 50th Anniversary of Kīlauea’s Mauna Ulu Eruption
May 24, 2019, is a notable date in Kīlauea Volcano’s history. It is the one-year anniversary of several key events in the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, most notably, the reactivation of