Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

News

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.

Filter Total Items: 1795
Volcano Watch - Why do some Hawaii earthquakes occur so far offshore?

Volcano Watch - Why do some Hawaii earthquakes occur so far offshore?

Earthquakes in Hawaii are intimately related to the volcanoes. In addition to helping scientists track moving magma, sometimes they happen simply...

Read Article
Volcano Watch - Geology of the past, how long will the eruption last?

Volcano Watch - Geology of the past, how long will the eruption last?

The 2018 lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption of Kīlauea brought an end to the 35+ year eruption at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. With the draining of the summit and the...

Read Article
Volcano Watch - 7 months of no lava at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō heralds end of an era

Volcano Watch - 7 months of no lava at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō heralds end of an era

One of the most frequent questions asked of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists the last several months has been, “Is the lower East...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — A Field Trip to the Mountain of Water

Volcano Watch — A Field Trip to the Mountain of Water

The field day begins with a summit weather check at first light. It is a reflective moment at 6:15 AM atop Kīlauea Volcano, and the fumarole cracks...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — January is Volcano Awareness Month

Volcano Watch — January is Volcano Awareness Month

January 2019 marks the 10th annual “Volcano Awareness Month” on the Island of Hawai‘i.

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Ninety days with no lava: a milestone for Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption

Volcano Watch — Ninety days with no lava: a milestone for Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption

One of the most frequently asked questions of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists over the last several months has been, “Is the...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Now is an exciting time at Kīlauea

Volcano Watch — Now is an exciting time at Kīlauea

This is, without a doubt, the most intellectually exciting time to be a volcanologist at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The current inactivity...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — We're giving thanks for clean air, but what's that new smell?

Volcano Watch — We're giving thanks for clean air, but what's that new smell?

In this season of giving thanks, Island of Hawai‘i residents and visitors can be thankful for the return of good air quality, generally free of...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes

Volcano Watch — The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory adapts to recent changes

November 2018. Has it already been six months since lava began flowing through Hawai‘i County's lower Puna District? Has it only been three months...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — A summit collapse 150 years ago had similarities to the 2018 collapse

Volcano Watch — A summit collapse 150 years ago had similarities to the 2018 collapse

The prolonged yet dramatic partial collapse of Kīlauea caldera this past summer was the first to be observed in detail and the largest measured by...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — How are lava-flow maps made during an eruption?

Volcano Watch — How are lava-flow maps made during an eruption?

During Kīlauea Volcano's recent lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption, lava-flow maps were a staple of the public outreach effort by the USGS Hawaiian...

Read Article
Volcano Watch — Kīlauea 2018 events mark a watershed for volcano science

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea 2018 events mark a watershed for volcano science

The 2018 summit collapse and lower East Rift Zone eruption at Kīlauea Volcano were dramatic and, for many Island of Hawai‘i residents, tragic events...

Read Article
Was this page helpful?