Volcano Watch — School’s out for Summer: Introducing New Interns at HVO

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

As another school year ends, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory welcomes two new summer interns: Kamalani Poepoe and Ruth Gale. With an ongoing eruption at the summit Kīlauea, now is the perfect time for these interns to contribute to ongoing work to better understand eruptions in Hawaiʻi. 

Kama is currently an undergraduate at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo with a major in geology and minor in astronomy. She is participating in geoscience research at HVO through the Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Sciences. This is Kama’s second year as a PIPES intern at HVO and her knowledge in the world of geoscience continues to grow. 

In her first summer with the observatory, Kama explored the field of petrology, analyzing lava samples erupted during the June 2023 eruption at Kīlauea volcano to gain a better understanding of how and why Kīlauea continues to erupt. This summer, Kama is using her petrology analysis techniques to study eruptions at Kīlauea’s summit between 2020 and 2023. 

Kama continues to grow her geoscience toolbox, working with a seismologist at HVO to integrate earthquake data recorded during these eruptions to more uniquely constrain how and where magma was sourced during these events. Kama is being mentored by scientists Kendra Lynn (petrology) and Ninfa Bennington (seismology) at HVO, and Lis Gallant (physical volcanology) at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo Geology Department. Her summer experience will include work in the geochemistry lab, learning basic computer programming skills, and aiding in eruption response at Kīlauea’s summit. 

Ruth Gale recently completed her undergraduate degree at Pomona College, California, with majors in math and geology, and a minor in physics. This fall, Ruth will head to the Stanford University to work on a PhD that integrates the fields of fluid mechanics, petrology, and geodesy to understand the mechanisms that lead to lava fountaining at active volcanoes. 

Geodesy uses surveying tools such as Global Positioning System and/or satellite radar to measure subtle changes in the shape of the Earth’s surface. These data are used to model underground Earth processes such as magma migration and storage. During her summer at HVO, Ruth will be expanding her skills in the field of geodesy by studying the ongoing and dramatic lava fountaining episodes at Kīlauea’s summit. 

Specifically, Ruth will analyze Global Positioning System data from HVO’s permanent stations at Kīlauea summit to look for subtle changes in deformation associated with lava fountaining. Ruth is interested in understanding what portions of the magma storage reservoir at Kīlauea are providing the material being erupted during these lava fountaining events. She aims to answer the question: what can we learn about the structure of magma storage at Kīlauea from these fountaining episodes? Her summer will include computer programming and analysis focused on this topic as well as assisting the deformation team with field activities such as maintaining HVO’s permanent GPS network. 

HVO staff look forward to working with Kama and Ruth as they pursue their research questions. Between their research and the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea, these HVO interns will be busy.  We wish them an insightful summer of science as they enter this period learning and growth at HVO.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

Episode 25 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on June 11, with approximately 8 hours of fountaining from the north and south vents. Summit region inflation since the end of episode 25, along with persistent tremor, suggests that another episode is possible and could start between June 18-20. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

Maunaloa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.9 earthquake 12 km (8 mi) SSE of Volcano at 7 km (4 mi) depth on June 13 at 2:56 p.m. HST and a M3.4 earthquake 11 km (7 mi) SSW of Volcano at 31 km (19 mi) depth on June 12 at 1:58 p.m. HST.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Maunaloa.

Visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Maunaloa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.