May 8, 2024 — Kīlauea gravity survey

On May 8, 2024, HVO staff conducted a gravity survey around Kaluapele (the summit caldera of Kīlauea) in response to current unrest and to supplement a larger survey done in March 2024. Measurements of gravity over time can show how mass is distributed beneath a volcano. At Kīlauea, these routine microgravity surveys help the observatory to monitor volcanic activity and to determine changes occurring below the surface. This photo shows a gravimeter taking measurements near the rim of Kīlauea caldera. USGS photo by A. Ellis.