#U.S. Geological Survey

With the 30th episode, came one of the most significant changes since the eruption started—a new fissure in the caldera wall.

The mass evacuations, business closures and frequent warnings from government officials about Tuesday’s tsunami warning reflect the serious approach to potential disasters two years after the deadly fires on Maui.

To measure the longterm affects of the Lahaina fire on nearby ocean waters, scientists are using three sophisticated sampling instruments that are on loan from the US Geological Survey.

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck in the Bali Sea, off the coast of Indonesia.

The 2018 lower East Rift Zone and 35-year-long Puʻuʻōʻō eruptions of Kīlauea had large impacts on the Puna District. Many residents were deeply affected by devastating lava flows, earthquakes, gas emissions, and other volcanic hazards. However, it is important to note that these eruptions are dwarfed compared to some past Kīlauea eruptions including the largest identified subaerial flow—‘Ailā‘au.

The Kauaʻi Rapid Response Team’s recent helicopter surveys detected the presence of virulent fungal pathogens that cause the rapid killing of ‘ōhi‘a trees in two new areas on Kaua’i. The recent Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death discoveries were along the upper Hanalei valley and along the north side of Powerline Trail.

Early in the eruption, HVO reported SO2 emission rates of 15,000 t/d (tonnes/day) of SO2- three times the average of the past few years.

From the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Volcano Watch, a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week’s article was written by HVO geophysicist Sarah Conway. 

“Neither Kīlauea nor Mauna Loa erupted in 2019, but this period of relative quiet must not lead to complacency about Hawaii’s two most active volcanoes. Both will eventually erupt again.”

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today’s article is by HVO geophysicist Jefferson Chang.

This is a difficult question to answer, because the initial eruptive temperatures along with many different factors can influence the rate of cooling.

U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates write about their trip to a restricted area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

One of the most frequently asked questions of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists over the last several months has been, “Is the eruption over?”

This is, without a doubt, the most intellectually exciting time to be a volcanologist at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Since the sharp drop in Kīlauea’s volcanic activity and gas emissions in early August 2018, there has been dramatic improvement in the Island’s air quality.

U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists discuss historic similarities of Kīlauea summit collapses

The collapse/explosion events generate plumes that have become progressively more ash-poor and now rise only a few thousand feet above the crater. This is in contrast to the eruptive sequence from May 16-26, when the vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater was open.

The lake level is constantly changing, and it fluctuates over many different timescales, from minutes to months.