Landsat 9 Captures Mauna Loa and Kilauea Eruption
Visit the Volcano Hazards Program
USGS Volcanoes Hazards Program (VHP) monitor 61 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S. The mission of the VHP is to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption from volcanic unrest and eruption. They deliver effective forecasts, warnings, and information about volcano hazards based on scientific understanding of volcanic processes.
Stay Up to Date with Hawaiian Volcanoes
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) monitors earthquakes and active volcanoes in Hawaii, assesses their hazards, issues warnings, and advances scientific understanding to reduce the impacts of volcanic eruptions. Communicating the results of our work to the public, emergency managers, and the scientific community is an important aspect of the HVO mission.
Detailed Description
Rare spotting! Dueling volcanoes captured by Landsat 9 satellite. Mauna Loa's 11.3-mile-long lava flow illuminates the plume of ash in the atmosphere above. The small red spot in the lower right is Kilauea—it began erupting nine days ago. USGS Volcanoes says a dual eruption has not occurred in Hawaii since 1984, making this a rare event.
For months data from the Hawaiian shield volcano indicated it was creeping closer to an eruption. Volcanologists monitor many kinds of data sources: seismic readings, low-frequency infrasound, and thermal satellite imagery.
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.