Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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: 1685
Volcano Watch — How do we "account" for a volcano's magma budget?

Volcano Watch — How do we "account" for a volcano's magma budget?

We conclude our Volcano Awareness Month series on the important questions about how Hawaiian volcanoes work with an article on monitoring volcanic...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Slip-sliding away—Disassembling Hawaiian volcanoes

Volcano Watch — Slip-sliding away—Disassembling Hawaiian volcanoes

In our January Volcano Watch articles during Hawai‘i Island's 5th annual Volcano Awareness Month, we are exploring important questions about how...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Assembling Hawai‘i Island's volcanoes: Does size really matter?

Volcano Watch — Assembling Hawai‘i Island's volcanoes: Does size really matter?

In this second of four Volcano Watch articles addressing the "big" questions faced by volcanologists studying Hawaiian volcanoes today, we will focus...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Exploring the deep source of Hawaiian volcanoes

Volcano Watch — Exploring the deep source of Hawaiian volcanoes

Welcome to Hawai‘i Island's 5th annual Volcano Awareness Month!

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Kīlauea’s Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption still going after 31 years

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea’s Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption still going after 31 years

On January 3, 2014, Kīlauea's Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption surpasses 31 years of activity. The ongoing eruption has evolved tremendously during its complex...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Important lessons from a deadly lahar in New Zealand 60 years ago

Volcano Watch — Important lessons from a deadly lahar in New Zealand 60 years ago

During the course of an eruption, a volcano can produce a variety of hazards, such as lava flows, pyroclastic flows, and lahars (volcanic mudflows)...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Gas numbers are up but emission rates are not

Volcano Watch — Gas numbers are up but emission rates are not

The gas emissions from Kīlaueaa volcano have been variable within a fairly steady range for the past few years; however, the numbers that we use to...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — January 2014—Hawai‘i Island's 5th annual Volcano Awareness Month

Volcano Watch — January 2014—Hawai‘i Island's 5th annual Volcano Awareness Month

During the past year, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), like other federal agencies, dealt with the challenges of budget cuts...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Fallen ash has a story to tell

Volcano Watch — Fallen ash has a story to tell

Last week we showed that Kīlauea has explosive eruptions that can carry volcanic ash (less than 2 mm or 0.08 in across) and small lapilli (2–64 mm or...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — What goes up must come down, at least at volcanoes

Volcano Watch — What goes up must come down, at least at volcanoes

In past Volcano Watches, we've emphasized a radically new way to view Kīlauea—as an explosive volcano. Though not explosive now, it was dominantly...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Changing old seismological habits at HVO

Volcano Watch — Changing old seismological habits at HVO

At the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), we focus on keeping up with the flow of data coming into our systems and...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Online tools help Hawai‘i breathe easier during trade wind time-outs

Volcano Watch — Online tools help Hawai‘i breathe easier during trade wind time-outs

We are currently sandwiched between the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays as the inexorable march of time brings the winter festivals ever closer...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Lake Waiau is shrinking fast

Volcano Watch — Lake Waiau is shrinking fast

About a year ago, a Volcano Watch article described recent changes at Lake Waiau, the tiny lake just below Mauna Kea's summit that is Hawai‘i's only...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Innovation and vigilance keys to first 25 years of the Alaska Volcano Observatory

Volcano Watch — Innovation and vigilance keys to first 25 years of the Alaska Volcano Observatory

Earlier this year, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) completed its first 25 years of operation. It received widespread acknowledgement for its...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — First “official” Great Hawaii ShakeOut is a success

Volcano Watch — First “official” Great Hawaii ShakeOut is a success

On October 17, at 10:17 a.m., HST, thousands of Hawai‘i residents took part in the state’s first Great Hawaii ShakeOut. The Hawaiian Volcano...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — After 50 years, a renewed effort to drill to the Moho

Volcano Watch — After 50 years, a renewed effort to drill to the Moho

The Earth's surface, oceans, and atmosphere are readily accessible to direct exploration.

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Volcano Watch for October 10, 2013

Volcano Watch — Volcano Watch for October 10, 2013

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will remain operational during the lapse of federal government appropriations.

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Volcano Watch for October 3, 2013

Volcano Watch — Volcano Watch for October 3, 2013

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will remain operational during the lapse of federal government appropriations.

Read Article
Volcano Watch — HVO bids aloha to two friends

Volcano Watch — HVO bids aloha to two friends

This week, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is saying goodbye to two good friends: Jessica Johnson and Ben McLeod. Jess and Ben arrived in Hawai‘i in...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — The Great Hawaii ShakeOut: Get ready to…Drop, Cover, and Hold on!

Volcano Watch — The Great Hawaii ShakeOut: Get ready to…Drop, Cover, and Hold on!

Get ready! The Great Hawaii ShakeOut will "rumble" across the islands at 10:17 a.m., HST, on October 17, 2013.

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa is still the largest ACTIVE volcano on Earth

Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa is still the largest ACTIVE volcano on Earth

Despite reports to the contrary, Mauna Loa is still the largest ACTIVE volcano on Earth. The volcano off the east coast of Japan, which made the news...

Read Article