October 3, 2023 — Kīlauea GPS campaign continues

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicists continue performing the annual GPS survey of Kīlauea. Most Kīlauea and Mauna Loa GPS campaign survey sites have been occupied every year since the early 1990s, whereas the less active volcanoes Hualālai and Haleakalā are surveyed every 3–5 years.



During the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign, 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. In this photo from October 3, a GPS antenna is mounted on a fixed rod and a GPS receiver, housed in the yellow box, collects data. USGS image by A. Ellis.