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Volcano Watch

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

Filter Total Items: 1672
Volcano Watch — Explosive eruptions from Kīlauea: beneficial or dangerous depending on location

Volcano Watch — Explosive eruptions from Kīlauea: beneficial or dangerous depending on location

Twenty-five years ago, the frequently explosive activity of Kīlauea was unappreciated. Since then, continuing research has emphasized Kīlauea’s past...

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Volcano Watch — Volcano monitoring can be a risky business: how scientists work safely

Volcano Watch — Volcano monitoring can be a risky business: how scientists work safely

Active volcanoes are inherently hazardous places to work. Even when a volcano is quiet, volcanic gases, ground cracks, earthquakes, and uneven...

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Volcano Watch — Fostering Prepared Youths on the Natural Hazards of Backyard Volcanoes

Volcano Watch — Fostering Prepared Youths on the Natural Hazards of Backyard Volcanoes

During volcanic crises, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) plays a pivotal role, sharing information on activity and associated hazards with...

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Volcano Watch — What’s shaking beneath Mauna Loa?

Volcano Watch — What’s shaking beneath Mauna Loa?

It’s hard to believe that nearly one year has passed since Mauna Loa erupted. Mauna Loa has been mostly quiet since the end of the 2022 eruption, but...

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Volcano Watch — Not just polka dots: the hidden dance of processing GPS data

Volcano Watch — Not just polka dots: the hidden dance of processing GPS data

For over thirty years, high-precision GPS (Global Positioning System) measurements have been a key tool used by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory...

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Volcano Watch — Unrest Continues at Kīlauea Summit

Volcano Watch — Unrest Continues at Kīlauea Summit

The most recent eruption at Kīlauea’s summit began on Sunday, September 10, 2023. Following weeks of heightened unrest, fissures opened on the Halema...

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Volcano Watch — Aloha ʻOe to a Remarkable and Beloved Volcanologist, Dr. Jim Kauahikaua

Volcano Watch — Aloha ʻOe to a Remarkable and Beloved Volcanologist, Dr. Jim Kauahikaua

Distinguished volcanologist Dr. James P. “Jim” Kauahikaua, Ph.D., passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 8, 2023. James Puupai...

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Volcano Watch — The Great Hawaiʻi ShakeOut and the Earthquake Energy Budget

Volcano Watch — The Great Hawaiʻi ShakeOut and the Earthquake Energy Budget

The Great Hawaii ShakeOut is a yearly event for kamaʻāina and visitors to practice and prepare for when a large damaging earthquake hits the Hawaiian...

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Volcano Watch — Hawaii’s volcanoes are quiet and it’s a bit spooky

Volcano Watch — Hawaii’s volcanoes are quiet and it’s a bit spooky

Here in Hawaii nei, we don’t have the dramatically changing leaf colors and brisk temperatures that mark the arrival of Fall. And as October arrived...

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Volcano Watch — What do we know about the Kulanaokuaiki Tephra of Kīlauea volcano?

Volcano Watch — What do we know about the Kulanaokuaiki Tephra of Kīlauea volcano?

Kīlauea’s recent summit eruptions and lava lakes are exciting for residents, visitors, and scientists. However, Kīlauea has had numerous explosive...

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Volcano Watch — Tsunamis pose a major threat to Hawaii: 24/7 monitoring at PTWC

Volcano Watch — Tsunamis pose a major threat to Hawaii: 24/7 monitoring at PTWC

It’s 3 a.m. and you’re halfway through a 12-6 a.m. graveyard shift at the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

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Volcano Watch — Another Kīlauea summit eruption, another opportunity to learn

Volcano Watch — Another Kīlauea summit eruption, another opportunity to learn

Kīlauea is now erupting at the summit for the fifth time since 2020! The ongoing eruption offers an opportunity for Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)...

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