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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: 1681
Volcano Watch — Ninety days with no lava: a milestone for Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption

Volcano Watch — Ninety days with no lava: a milestone for Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption

One of the most frequently asked questions of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists over the last several months has been, “Is the...

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Volcano Watch — Now is an exciting time at Kīlauea

Volcano Watch — Now is an exciting time at Kīlauea

This is, without a doubt, the most intellectually exciting time to be a volcanologist at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The current inactivity...

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Volcano Watch — We're giving thanks for clean air, but what's that new smell?

Volcano Watch — We're giving thanks for clean air, but what's that new smell?

In this season of giving thanks, Island of Hawai‘i residents and visitors can be thankful for the return of good air quality, generally free of...

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Volcano Watch — The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes

Volcano Watch — The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes

November 2018. Has it already been six months since lava began flowing through Hawai‘i County's lower Puna District? Has it only been three months...

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Volcano Watch — A summit collapse 150 years ago had similarities to the 2018 collapse

Volcano Watch — A summit collapse 150 years ago had similarities to the 2018 collapse

The prolonged yet dramatic partial collapse of Kīlauea caldera this past summer was the first to be observed in detail and the largest measured by...

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Volcano Watch — How are lava-flow maps made during an eruption?

Volcano Watch — How are lava-flow maps made during an eruption?

During Kīlauea Volcano's recent lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption, lava-flow maps were a staple of the public outreach effort by the USGS Hawaiian...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea 2018 events mark a watershed for volcano science

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea 2018 events mark a watershed for volcano science

The 2018 summit collapse and lower East Rift Zone eruption at Kīlauea Volcano were dramatic and, for many Island of Hawai‘i residents, tragic events...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea hazard assessments include analyses of salts on volcanic ash

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea hazard assessments include analyses of salts on volcanic ash

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)-rich emissions have long been a feature of Kīlauea Volcano's summit activity. However, vigorous volcanic ash production during...

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Volcano Watch — Aftershocks of the 2018 magnitude-6.9 earthquake expected to continue

Volcano Watch — Aftershocks of the 2018 magnitude-6.9 earthquake expected to continue

On May 4, 2018, a powerful magnitude-6.9 earthquake on the south flank of Kīlauea Volcano shook the Island of Hawai‘i. It was the largest quake in...

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Volcano Watch — Volcano collapses mark the beginning and end of USGS scientist’s career

Volcano Watch — Volcano collapses mark the beginning and end of USGS scientist’s career

My 37-year stint with the U.S. Geological Survey—16 years at the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and 21 at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)...

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Volcano Watch — Tiltmeters measure tiny changes that can have big consequences

Volcano Watch — Tiltmeters measure tiny changes that can have big consequences

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) uses a diverse set of instruments to monitor active volcanoes in Hawaii. These include seismometers, gas...

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Volcano Watch — Will this summer's limited collapse of Kīlauea caldera eventually widen?

Volcano Watch — Will this summer's limited collapse of Kīlauea caldera eventually widen?

The limited collapse of the inner part of Kīlauea Volcano's caldera this summer fell well short of the larger summit-wide collapses that occurred in...

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