#earthquake Hawaii

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today’s article is written by RCUH geophysicist Maddie Hawk. 

Over the past few years, eruptions of Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawai‘i have happened in remote regions and lava flows have not directly threatened communities. However, the approaching anniversary of a lava flow crisis a decade ago reminds us that eruptions on Kīlauea have the potential to cause damage and island-wide disruption. 

Earth’s magnetic field surrounds us every second of the day, everywhere on the planet. Anyone who has picked up a pocket compass and seen the magnetic needle quickly align itself has seen the action of this ever-present invisible field. But can we harness the magnetic field to forecast volcanic activity? Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid us in doing so.

The permanent HVO seismic network consists of nearly 100 stations located across the island. HVO scientists use these stations to monitor the location and character of seismic activity, paying particular attention to signals that might herald migrating magma or potential eruptive activity. 

Volcano Watch: Staff at HVO study volcanic processes and associated hazards in Hawaiʻi, with the emphasis and end goal of protecting life and property. The backbone of the observatory is the monitoring network, consisting of a diverse array of instruments located on the flanks of the volcanoes. These instruments relay data back to the observatory, providing information on the behavior of Hawaiʻi’s active volcanoes.

From Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, 2024, a magma intrusion into Kīlauea’s flank, southwest of the summit caldera, was the focus of attention at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Language Month, and an opportunity to appreciate the value that the Native Hawaiian language has provided to volcanology, especially in Hawaiʻi nei. 

Scientists continue to monitor Kīlauea as an ongoing seismic swarm rumbles beneath the Koaʻe fault zone, 5-8 miles southwest of the caldera.

There is no tsunami threat to Maui following a preliminary magnitude 4.6 earthquake, located in the deep ocean northeast of Maui. The quake occurred at 11:29 a.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

There is no tsunami expected following a preliminary magnitude 4.1 earthquake reported at 4:31 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

A shallow earthquake swarm has been detected beneath the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, accompanied by significant surface tilt excursion, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. HVO scientists say resumption of eruptive activity at Kīlauea summit is likely imminent.

Measurements of gravity can be used to determine how mass is distributed beneath a volcano.  At Kīlauea, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory performs routine microgravity surveys to monitor volcanic activity and to determine changes in gravity.

A swarm of small earthquakes beneath the Kīlauea caldera is being attributed to repressurization after the end of the last eruption. There were approximately 25 earthquakes of less than magnitude 2 that occurred between 6 and 9 p.m. HST on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.

A seismic swarm of approximately 50 small earthquakes was reported over a three hour period, beginning at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, beneath the Kīlauea summit, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

A 3.8 magnitude (revised upwards) earthquake was reported at 6:19 a.m. in waters SW of Maui County, according to data compiled by the USGS.

There is no tsunami expected after a 4.1 preliminary magnitude earthquake reported at 7:44 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 on the Western Flank of Mauna Loa on Hawaiʻi Island.

There is no tsunami expected following a 4.2 (preliminary magnitude 4.0) earthquake reported in the SW rift zone of the Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island.

There was no tsunami threat to the state of Hawai‘i because the quake was to deep.

Further analysis separated the earthquakes which were all less than 4.0 in magnitude

There was no tsunami threat after an early morning earthquake on the South Flank of the Kilauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island.