Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea Summit Overflight, Seismic Imaging Project Continues, Vibroseis Demonstration – May 6, 2023

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By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory May 9, 2023

HVO scientists conducted a Kīlauea summit overflight on May 3, 2023. The Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project continues, as more nodes are deployed in the Kīlauea summit region and the Vibroseis truck was tested on May 8, 2023.

May 6, 2023 — USGS scientists install seismic nodes as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project

Color photograph of scientists deploying instrument in the field

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USGS scientists deploy a bucket, containing a seismic node, which was set on a hard lava flow surface. There are now about 1,800 seismic nodes deployed around the Kīlauea summit region to record seismic signals for the next three weeks. If you happen to come across a seismic node, or any instrumentation, please do not touch or disturb it, as that will corrupt the data that is being collected. USGS photo taken on May 6, by L. DeSmither.

Color photograph earthquake-detecting device

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This photo shows a spiked seismic node, and the tools used to deploy it, in the Hilina Pali area on May 6. USGS scientists use a compass to orient the node so it faces north, while using a level bubble to keep the instrument level when it is spiked into the ground. Then, the location of each node is documented on a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) device so crews can find it when the experiment is complete. Scientists also take detailed notes to ensure all the necessary information is collected for each node. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither.

May 8, 2023 — USGS scientists test the Vibroseis for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project

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USGS scientists conducted a test of the Vibroseis vehicle in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at the summit of Kīlauea on May 8, 2023. Over the next month, the truck will be operating on roads in Kīlauea summit region. It will generate signals that will be recorded on the network of 1,800 seismic nodes that have been deployed across Kīlauea summit as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The Vibroseis vehicle belongs to the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) experimental facility at the University of Texas at Austin. The Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157) and the National Science Foundation.

May 3, 2023 — Kīlauea summit overflight over Halema‘uma‘u

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HVO scientists conducted a routine overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. No eruptive activity was observed. This video shows a wide view of Halema‘uma‘u crater followed by two closer views of the crater.