Volcano Update Archives - 91ֱ��

Volcano Watch: tephra deposits from Kilauea’s past

none — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:05:00 +0000

Past “Volcano Watch” articles have summarized the episodic lava fountaining eruptions in Kilauea’s recent history—within the past couple hundred years. A look further back in the geologic record reveals that several lava fountaining eruptions similar to the ongoing one in Halema‘uma‘u occurred within Kilauea caldera within the past 500 years.

Volcano Watch: Revising Kilauea’s Alert Level and Aviation Color Code notifications

none — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:05:00 +0000

The USGS Volcano Alert Level (ground-based hazards) and Aviation Color Code (airborne hazards) communicate Kilauea status and activity. After episode 44, which is forecast to begin between April 6-14, the USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory will change how it applies the Alert Level and Aviation Color Code to better convey hazards between and during eruptive episodes at Kilauea summit.

Volcano Watch: Taking Kilauea’s temperature

none — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:05:00 +0000

Geochemical analysis of erupted tephra samples over the past decade help scientists understand the temperature of Kilauea’s shallow magma system under the summit — and things have been “heating up!”

Volcano Watch: Episode 43, new fountain height record and tephra fallout on nearby communities

none — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:05:00 +0000

Episode 43 at the summit of Kilauea began at 9:17 a.m. HST on March 10, 2026, and continued for 9 hours. Both the north and south vents erupted lava fountains, with the south vent fountain reaching 1,770 feet (540 meters) high — a new record for this eruption. Southwesterly winds carried tephra traveled toward visitor overlooks and nearby communities, both near and far.

Volcano Watch: USGS updates ‘Volcano Observatory Notice to Aviation’ alerts

none — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:05:00 +0000

The Volcano Observatory Notice to Aviation (VONA) is a notification product used by volcano observatories globally to inform the aviation community (pilots, air traffic managers, dispatchers, meteorologists, and airlines) of volcanic activity that could pose a hazard to aviation. An upcoming change in message formatting will improve the way that the aviation community gets this information.

Volcano Watch: Mauna Loa has lessons to teach during quiet times

none — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:05:00 +0000

The 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa was an extraordinary eruption in a lot of ways. It was the first eruption from this volcano in 38 years and the first Mauna Loa eruption that occurred during the current era of modern instrumentation. Scientists continue to learn about Mauna Loa monitoring in the years since the 2022 eruption, including subtle recent changes.

Volcano Watch: What gases trapped inside crystals tell us

none — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:05:00 +0000

USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory scientists use tiny features within crystals in erupted lava to answer big questions about the underlying plumbing system at Kilauea.

Volcano Watch: USGS offers new 91ֱ�� citizen science tool — Is Tephra Falling?

none — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:05:00 +0000

During Kilauea summit lava fountaining episode 41, residents and visitors shared their observations of tephra falling via email, phone calls, and on social media.

Volcano Watch: When it rained rocks — tephra fall during Kilauea’s episode 41

none — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:05:00 +0000

Large lava fountains streamed from both the north and south vents reaching heights of at least 1475 feet (450 meters) during episode 41 of Kilauea’s summit eruption on Jan. 24, 2026. Strong updrafts coupled with light winds blowing to the east and north sent lava fragments from the fountains, called tephra, over much of the District of Puna and into South Hilo and the eastern edge of Ka‘u.

Volcano Watch: What do small earthquakes beneath Kilauea summit mean for the ongoing eruption?

none — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:05:00 +0000

“Volcano Watch” articles over the past two weeks have described past episodic lava fountaining eruptions at Kilauea Iki (1959) and Maunaulu (1969). Next week, we will continue this series with a summary of the most recent past episodic eruption at Kilauea. Why? Because past eruptions can give us clues as to how the ongoing episodic eruption in Halema‘uma‘u might progress or change.

Volcano Watch: 1969 Maunaulu eruption had 12 lava fountaining episodes

none — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:05:00 +0000

Last week’s “Volcano Watch” article reviewed the lava fountaining eruption of Kilauea Iki in 1959. This week, we’ll continue looking back in time at the next episodic lava fountaining eruption in Kilauea’s history: the Maunaulu eruption that occurred a decade later, in 1969.

Volcano Watch: A look back on the episodic Kilauea Iki eruption in 1959

none — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:05:00 +0000

A series of lava fountains building -a cone perched on the crater rim … sounds like the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kilauea, but this description could also fit the Kilauea Iki eruption in 1959. Let’s compare these two episodic lava fountaining eruptions.

Volcano Watch: One year of Kilauea’s episodic summit fountaining

none — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:05:00 +0000

On Dec. 23, 2024, a unique eruption began in Kilauea’s Halema‘ma‘u crater, with a style of activity not seen for nearly 40 years. The eruption, characterized by high lava-fountaining episodes, has continued for nearly a year. 91ֱ�� Volcanoes National Park visitors see remarkable views, but the latest episode reminds us how quickly hazards associated with this dynamic activity can change.

Volcano Watch: Announcing January 2026 Volcano Awareness Month events

none — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:05:00 +0000

As the year 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on the historic past year of volcanic activity on the Island of 91ֱ��. Thirty-eight episodes of lava fountaining at the summit of Kilauea remind us that we live on a volcanic landscape and should be aware of the volcanic processes and hazards that can affect us.

Volcano Watch: Remembering the destructive Kalapana earthquake 50 years ago

none — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Fifty years ago this month, the largest 91ֱ�� earthquake of the 20th and 21st centuries occurred. Earthquake shaking, as well as ground subsidence and local tsunami, contributed to a catastrophic sequence of events on Nov. 29, 1975.

Volcano Watch: Catching up on Kilauea — 36 episodes and counting

none — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:05:00 +0000

The summit eruption of Kilauea continues, with 36 episodes of lava fountaining since the eruption began on Dec. 23, 2024. Let’s catch up on the events and hazards associated with the volcano’s most recent few eruptive episodes, and review the current status of Kilauea.

Volcano Watch: There are cracks in the 2018 Kilauea lava delta. What do they mean?

none — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Kilauea’s 2018 eruption -transformed the lower Puna District of the Island of 91ֱ��, including its coastline, where 875 acres of new land were added in a large lava delta. The area is still subject to sudden, dynamic changes, as evidenced by recent observations of new ground cracks in the lava delta near Pohoiki.

Volcano Watch: Water in Kilauea, and its role in its eruptions

none — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:05:00 +0000

When most people think of erupting water, they probably have geysers, like Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, in mind. However, Kilauea and its diverse style of eruptions are also significantly impacted by water. In fact, some of Kilauea’s past explosive eruptions occurred when magma erupted through groundwater or through a lake in a summit crater.

Volcano Watch: Discovery of a massive submarine landslide near the 1957 Aleutian earthquake epicenter

none — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:05:00 +0000

As part of a growing national effort -to understand seafloor hazards, scientists from the United States Geological Survey’s Volcano Science Center are working across agencies to investigate how submarine earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity shape tsunami risk — not just in 91ֱ��, but across the broader Pacific.

Volcano Watch: Remembering a destructive Mauna Loa eruption 75 years ago

none — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Lava fountains at the summit of Kilauea have been shining a spotlight on 91ֱ��’s most active volcano but let us not forget the larger one looming in the background of Kilauea. Mauna Loa is currently quiet and now is a good opportunity to remember the 1950 Southwest Rift Zone eruption — the volcano’s most recent eruption to have caused significant damage — 75 years ago.

Volcano Watch: Where does Kilauea tephra go? The answer is blowin’ in the wind

none — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:05:00 +0000

The spectacular series of Kilauea eruption episodes over the past six months has been remarkably safe for public viewing, but a simple change in the wind or brief vent collapse could cause dramatic changes in the hazards the volcano presents.

Volcano Watch: What fans the flames observed at volcanic vents?

none — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Recently, something has been observed “dancing” above the active eruptive vents inside Halema‘uma‘u: hydrogen flames! Let’s take a look into what causes this and other flame phenomenon on volcanoes.

Volcano Watch: What’s shaking? Earthquake alerts explained

none — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in 91ֱ��. If you subscribe to emergency, earthquake or volcano notifications, the shaking you feel might be followed by a message summarizing the earthquake. Have you ever wondered why the magnitude of an earthquake you felt might differ slightly between a message you received, a post you saw on social media, or what the local news reported?

Volcano Watch: Assembly of volcano scientists to gather in Hilo

none — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 10:05:00 +0000

What is the collective noun for a group of volcano scientists? While some tongue-in-cheek responses might be “an eruption of volcanologists” or “a swarm of seismologists,” we’ll stick to “an assembly of volcano scientists.”

Volcano Watch: Announcing 2025 Volcano Awareness Month art and poetry contest winners

none — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 10:05:00 +0000

The USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory spearheads Volcano Awareness Month each January on the Island of 91ֱ��. This year, in addition to in-person talks and walks around the island, we hosted an art and poetry contest, and we are pleased to announce the winners in today’s Volcano Watch article!

Volcano Watch: Recent lava fountains highlight Pele’s Hair hazards

none — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Residents and visitors alike have been watching episodic lava fountains in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kilauea since late December 2024. While beautiful and safe to view, this activity has left residents of communities nearby wondering about the dusting of glittery threads on their property.

Volcano Watch: What tiny crystals can tell us about their trip through the magma chamber

none — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 10:05:00 +0000

Like fortune tellers who peer into a crystal ball for insight, volcanologists at the USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory peer into the tiny crystals contained in lava flows to learn about the magma’s journey before it was erupted onto the surface.

Volcano Watch: Happy New Year, 91ֱ��an style

none — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 10:05:00 +0000

People around the world greet the New Year with fireworks and other celebrations. This year, 91ֱ�� Volcanoes National Park visitors greeted the New Year with displays of lava fountaining from the southwest part of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kilauea volcano.

Volcano Watch: Kilauea summit erupts again

none — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Kilauea began erupting again on December 23, 2024. This is the eighth eruption of Kilauea, and the sixth within Kaluapele, since 2020. These previous eruptions within Kaluapele lasted from less than one week to more than a year in duration. This history of activity, along with continued summit inflation, suggests that eruptive activity may continue to pause and resume in the coming days or weeks.

Volcano Watch: The USGS review process: Checking and verifying our information

none — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the science agency of the U.S. Department of Interior. Our job is to obtain and share science-based information about the volcanoes of 91ֱ�� and American Samoa and earthquakes across the state. What are the different types of information that HVO provides and how do we ensure its accuracy?

Volcano Watch: How have eruptions shaped 91ֱ��? Volcano Awareness Month 2025, with a twist

none — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory monitors the six currently active volcanoes in 91ֱ��, but past eruptions have shaped all of the 91ֱ��an Islands. Join us in January 2025 for Volcano Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn about volcanic activity in 91ֱ�� over the past year and beyond, or — new for this upcoming edition — submit art or poetry recognizing 91ֱ��’s volcanic history.

Volcano Watch: What sounds the (automated) alarms at HVO?

none — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory keeps its eyes on active volcanoes in many ways. While old fashioned eyes and a notebook are used when field teams are near a volcano, modern volcano observatories also utilize rapidly collected data and computers to support monitoring.

Volcano Watch: Quantifying corrosion downwind of Kilauea

none — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

In December 2022, a team of scientists from Aotearoa, New Zealand teamed up with scientists from the USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory (HVO) to carry out a small pilot study of atmospheric corrosion rates on the island of 91ֱ��. The purpose was to expand our knowledge base of how metal corrodes in different environments — specifically metal that is often used as building and roofing material.

Volcano Watch — ʻAilaʻau or Kualoloa? 91ֱ��an chants suggest lava flow name change

none — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Native 91ֱ��an oral traditions record a rich history of the changing volcanic landscape in Hawai‘i. Interweaving cultural knowledge with scientific disciplines can provide a more complete understanding of past events, including the largest known lava flow eruption of Kilauea.

Volcano Watch: The art and science of geologic mapping

none — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Geologic mapping has been one of the most fundamental mandates of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) since its establishment in 1879. Congress created the USGS to “classify the public lands and examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain.”

Volcano Watch: How tiltmeters monitor volcano activity

none — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Over the past century, technological advancements have vastly improved volcano monitoring. One key innovation was the introduction of modern borehole tiltmeters, devices that measure very small changes in the inclination of the volcano’s surface.

Volcano Watch: The East Rift Zone of Kilauea was a busy place in the 1960s

none — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The recent eruption at Napau Crater was the first on Kilauea’s middle East Rift Zone (ERZ) in six years. We often remember the Pu‘u‘o‘o and Maunaulu eruptions when thinking about the middle East Rift Zone, but many lesser-known eruptions occurred on the rift zone in the past 200 years, including 11 during the 1960s!

Volcano Watch: Potential long-term outcomes of recent intrusions in Kilauea East Rift Zone

none — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The intense seismicity and ground deformation along the East Rift Zone of Kilauea in the past couple of months is interpreted to indicate intrusion of magma. Some of this magma can leak to the surface in eruptions, but there are less likely long-term consequences that have historical analogues.

Volcano Watch: First light (and flight) for HVO’s new airborne lidar system

none — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Topographic mapping has been a key component of volcano monitoring for decades, helping scientists to study morphologic changes and predict the paths of lava flows during eruptions. Lidar systems are a preferred mapping tool and the USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory now has a lidar system of its own to generate mapping products more frequently than ever before.

Volcano Watch: Understanding magma storage and migration in Kilauea’s active East Rift Zone

none — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world with eruptions common both at its summit caldera and within its two rift zones. Frequent earthquakes associated with volcanic activity can help us understand the magma structures below and the East Rift Zone (ERZ) of Kilauea has proven to be a perfect laboratory recently.

Volcano Watch: A new Kilauea eruption

none — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A new Kilauea eruption began in a remote area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, Sept. 15. This is the first eruption on Kilauea’s middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) since 2018 and it poses no immediate threat to life or infrastructure. The USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory is closely monitoring this eruption.

Volcano Watch: Recent intrusions follow pattern of previous events

none — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Since July 2024, activity at Kilauea has been punctuated by two periods of intense unrest, centered on the upper East Rift Zone (ERZ). The periods included hundreds of earthquakes per day and high rates of tilting in the upper ERZ. Monitoring data have shown that the unrest was the result of two intrusions into a region of the ERZ between Pauahi and Makaopuhi Craters.

Volcano Watch: Webcam upgrades keep a sharp eye on 91ֱ��an volcanoes

none — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Photography has been a crucial part of volcano monitoring in 91ֱ�� going back to the start of the USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory. In 1911, Frank Perret spent a summer capturing stunning black and white photos of Kilauea’s summit lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater. Fast forward a century, and webcams are scattered across the island, snapping images of the volcanoes 24/7 in 4K resolution.

Volcano Watch: The Island of Hawaiʻi Interagency Operations Plan for Volcanic Eruptions

none — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Last month, the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and the U.S. Geological Survey 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory adopted the Island of Hawai‘i Interagency Operations Plan for Volcanic Eruptions (hereafter referred to as the Interagency Volcano Plan).

Volcano Watch: Volcanic tremor or distant earthquake? Distinguishing seismic signals

none — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The island of 91ֱ�� is one of the most seismically active areas in the world, producing thousands of earthquakes every year. It also commonly produces a signal called tremor that can originate from the volcanic system.

Volcano Watch: Aʻo pu makou: We learn together with PIPES

none — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science is celebrating its 30th anniversary of growing the next generation of aloha ‘aina leaders in 91ֱ�� and the Pacific through transformative place-based internships, mentorship, innovative programming, and strategic partnerships.

Volcano Watch: Kilauea’s 2019–2020 lake: recalling the watery intermission between eruptions

none — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Remember when a little puddle of green water was spotted in Halema‘uma‘u? Time flies, because that was late July 2019 — over five years ago! And because we’ve had multiple eruptions and intrusions since then, the water lake sometimes feels forgotten in the larger history of Kilauea.

Volcano Watch: HVO bids farewell to its Uekahuna location

none — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 10:05:00 +0000

“Time to go”… words that none of us at the USGS 91ֱ��an Volcano Observatory (HVO) wanted to hear.

Volcano Watch: Measuring volcanic gases: The answer is blowin’ in the wind

none — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Measurement of volcanic gases is critical for both public safety and understanding volcanic activity — and everything we measure relies on the wind.

Volcano Watch: More shaking on Kilauea’s south flank. Did you feel it?

none — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Island of 91ֱ�� residents are used to feeling the ground shake beneath them. From subtle shakes that feel like wind, to abrupt jolting that knocks dishes off the counter, living on this volcanically active island means accepting that the ground beneath our feet will not always keep still.