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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: 1680
Volcano Watch — Bench collapse sparks lightning, roiling clouds

Volcano Watch — Bench collapse sparks lightning, roiling clouds

Four of us HVO lava junkies had the rare opportunity to witness a partial bench collapse on Monday evening, June 8. The collapse began at 7:40 p.m...

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Volcano Watch — Just how hot is that ocean at the lava entry?

Volcano Watch — Just how hot is that ocean at the lava entry?

Billowing clouds of steam rising from two discrete locations along the Kamokuna-Waha`ula coastline are often the only reminders we have of Kīlauea...

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Volcano Watch — Earth tides and volcano monitoring

Volcano Watch — Earth tides and volcano monitoring

The gravitational attraction of the Sun and the Moon produce the familiar ocean tides and the less familiar earth tides. Why are volcanologists...

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Volcano Watch — A look back at powerful Halemaumau eruptions of 1924

Volcano Watch — A look back at powerful Halemaumau eruptions of 1924

Precisely 74 years ago today, the final chapter of one of Kīlauea's most alarming displays of volcanic power came to a close. Halema`uma`u, the fire...

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Volcano Watch — Youngest flows in Haleakalā Crater about 800-1,000 years old

Volcano Watch — Youngest flows in Haleakalā Crater about 800-1,000 years old

The story is told of how Maui snared the sun, holding it hostage atop Haleakalā until he slowed its passage across the sky. One result of this slow...

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Volcano Watch — The dating game

Volcano Watch — The dating game

The announcement last week that astronomers at Keck Observatory had looked back 12.3 billion years in time was astounding. When you think about it...

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Volcano Watch — Living Intelligently with geological hazards

Volcano Watch — Living Intelligently with geological hazards

As April draws to a close, so ends Tsunami Awareness Month in the State of Hawai`i. Tsunami Awareness Month featured programs and events coordinated...

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Volcano Watch — Shhh! Don't tell there is an eruption - Eruption of 1942

Volcano Watch — Shhh! Don't tell there is an eruption - Eruption of 1942

The eruption of 1942 was noteworthy for several reasons. (1) It was declared a secret so the press was not allowed to publicize the event. (2) This...

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Volcano Watch — Lest we forget

Volcano Watch — Lest we forget

Govenor Ben Cayetano's proclamation of April as "Tsunami Awareness Month" in Hawai`i is a timely one, for a generation of residents has grown up...

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Volcano Watch — Sleeping giants Hualālai and Haleakalā require prudent monitoring

Volcano Watch — Sleeping giants Hualālai and Haleakalā require prudent monitoring

In some regards, monitoring an active volcano is easy; the constant bustle keeps a watcher on his or her toes. But what if a volcano hasn't erupted in...

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Volcano Watch — Where will the next Hawaiian volcano appear?

Volcano Watch — Where will the next Hawaiian volcano appear?

As we all know, there are no facts about the future. We cannot know for sure what will happen tomorrow, much less next year or 1,000 years from now...

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Volcano Watch — How fast does Hawaiian lava flow?

Volcano Watch — How fast does Hawaiian lava flow?

While watching the Olympics a few weeks ago, I started wondering how our lava flows would place in typical competitions. Of course, it wouldn't be...

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