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Daily updates about ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, maps, and data about recent earthquakes in Hawaii are posted on the HVO website. 

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and colleagues.

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Volcano Watch — Remembering Mauna Loa’s eruption on July 5–6, 1975

Volcano Watch — Remembering Mauna Loa’s eruption on July 5–6, 1975

Mauna Loa erupted forty-six years ago this week, on July 5–6, 1975, in a 20-hour event with vents confined to the summit region (the area above 3,660...

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Volcano Watch — Volcanoes in Canada, eh?

Volcano Watch — Volcanoes in Canada, eh?

Happy Canada Day/Bonne Fête du Canada! While some past "Volcano Watch" articles have had a July 4th theme for the USA, this year we’re taking the...

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Volcano Watch — Seismic halfalogues: earthquakes are only part of the conversation

Volcano Watch — Seismic halfalogues: earthquakes are only part of the conversation

The journey from volcanic repose to a climactic eruption is like a mystery movie that keeps you at the edge of your seat. The story is filled with...

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Volcano Watch — New Instrument Measures Lava Lake with Laser 

Volcano Watch — New Instrument Measures Lava Lake with Laser 

The night sky over Kīlauea summit lit up with the glow of lava Sunday, December 20th, 2020. Deep in the caldera, the gathered lake water was boiled by...

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Volcano Watch — Campaign season is here! Another way HVO tracks changes on Hawaiian volcanoes

Volcano Watch — Campaign season is here! Another way HVO tracks changes on Hawaiian volcanoes

Geodetic surveys measure the change in shape of our volcanoes due to changes in magma supply and storage. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)...

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Volcano Watch — What defines an eruption pause?

Volcano Watch — What defines an eruption pause?

Kīlauea’s recent volcano alert-level change, from Watch to Advisory, has attracted some attention.  

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Volcano Watch — Pau or Paused? What’s the difference?

Volcano Watch — Pau or Paused? What’s the difference?

The Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake celebrated its 5-month anniversary by doing what we all like to do on our special day, taking a break. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes...

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Volcano Watch — New research sheds light on recent Pāhala earthquake swarms

Volcano Watch — New research sheds light on recent Pāhala earthquake swarms

Many people in Kaʻū have noticed the swarm of earthquakes taking place during the past few years. These earthquakes are happening in a zone that is 29...

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Volcano Watch — How are lava levels and volumes measured at the Kīlauea summit lava lake?

Volcano Watch — How are lava levels and volumes measured at the Kīlauea summit lava lake?

Kīlauea’s summit lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu is approaching its five-month anniversary on Thursday, May 20, while the water lake that occupied the...

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Volcano Watch — Tiny changes at Mauna Loa’s summit hold big clues

Volcano Watch — Tiny changes at Mauna Loa’s summit hold big clues

Although Mauna Loa is Earth’s largest active volcano, it has lived in the shadow of Kīlauea since it last erupted in 1984.  The geologic record shows...

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Volcano Watch — The rise and fall of lava lakes

Volcano Watch — The rise and fall of lava lakes

May 3rd marks three years since the start of the devastating lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea. In 2018, rising summit lava lake levels, caused...

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Volcano Watch — How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa

Volcano Watch — How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa

Gravimeters, essentially extremely precise pendulums, can measure a change in the force of gravity to one-in-one billionth of the force you feel every...

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