August 6, 2021 — Kīlauea GPS campaign

In recent weeks, HVO geophysicists have been undertaking a Global Positioning System (GPS) campaign across Kīlauea. During such a campaign—which is completed annually—scientists temporarily deploy a number of GPS instruments at established benchmarks; their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity. These data augment the permanent, continuously recording GPS instruments in HVO's monitoring network. Here, a HVO geophysicist is leveling and centering one of the survey tripods over a benchmark southwest of Halema‘uma‘u in the Ka‘ū Desert.