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Volcano Watch

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

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

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Filter Total Items: 1680
Volcano Watch — Scientists share lessons from Kīlauea at "Cities on Volcanoes" conference

Volcano Watch — Scientists share lessons from Kīlauea at "Cities on Volcanoes" conference

In 1902, Thomas A. Jaggar, a geologist and founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), visited the scene of one of the most deadly volcanic...

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Volcano Watch — Scientific community lends a hand to measure Kīlauea's changing shape

Volcano Watch — Scientific community lends a hand to measure Kīlauea's changing shape

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has an extensive network of instruments that helps us monitor how the ground deforms due to magma moving...

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Volcano Watch — Voggy skies from days gone by: reviewing Kīlauea Volcano's gas release

Volcano Watch — Voggy skies from days gone by: reviewing Kīlauea Volcano's gas release

Many Island of Hawai‘i residents are familiar with the volcanic air pollution known as "vog." The main culprit in the formation of vog is sulfur...

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Volcano Watch — Submarine Kīlauea also impacted by recent events on the volcano

Volcano Watch — Submarine Kīlauea also impacted by recent events on the volcano

The visible part of Kīlauea from the summit to the Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) makes up only a small portion of the total volcano. Much of Kīlauea...

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Volcano Watch — Is Kīlauea Volcano's summit and rift zone activity pau or paused?

Volcano Watch — Is Kīlauea Volcano's summit and rift zone activity pau or paused?

Since the morning of August 4, 2018, activity at Kīlauea Volcano's summit and its lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) has diminished dramatically—and the...

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Volcano Watch — How long will Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone eruption continue?

Volcano Watch — How long will Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone eruption continue?

"How long will it last?" is one of the most challenging questions asked about a volcanic eruption, including Kīlauea Volcano's current lower East Rift...

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Volcano Watch — Geochemical detective work helps answer questions about Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption

Volcano Watch — Geochemical detective work helps answer questions about Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption

"What's happening inside the volcano?" is just one of many questions asked about Kīlauea's ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption. Looking at the...

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Volcano Watch — The mixture of lava and seawater creates an explosive hazard

Volcano Watch — The mixture of lava and seawater creates an explosive hazard

Since May 3, 2018, Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone eruption has destroyed more than 700 structures, covered more than 32 sq km (12.4 sq mi) of...

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Volcano Watch — Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano

Volcano Watch — Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano

For many Hawaii residents, interactions with Kīlauea Volcano's eruptions is through vog—a hazy mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and sulfate particles...

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Volcano Watch — How does the current activity at Kīlauea caldera stack up against those of other volcanoes worldwide?

Volcano Watch — How does the current activity at Kīlauea caldera stack up against those of other volcanoes worldwide?

We are currently witnessing extraordinary events at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. For weeks the summit has subsided both in a continuous fashion and...

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Volcano Watch — What causes the collapse/explosion events at Kīlauea’s summit?

Volcano Watch — What causes the collapse/explosion events at Kīlauea’s summit?

At the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Halema‘uma‘u has changed dramatically since early May 2018. As the crater walls and inner caldera slump inward, the...

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Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa Back to Normal

Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa Back to Normal

For more than six months, earthquakes at Mauna Loa have diminished and deformation has slowed, indicating that the volcano is no longer at an elevated...

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