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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 — Voggy skies from days gone by: reviewing Kīlauea Volcano's gas release

Volcano Watch — Voggy skies from days gone by: reviewing Kīlauea Volcano's gas release

Many Island of Hawai‘i residents are familiar with the volcanic air pollution known as "vog." The main culprit in the formation of vog is sulfur...

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Volcano Watch — Submarine Kīlauea also impacted by recent events on the volcano

Volcano Watch — Submarine Kīlauea also impacted by recent events on the volcano

The visible part of Kīlauea from the summit to the Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) makes up only a small portion of the total volcano. Much of Kīlauea...

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Volcano Watch — Is Kīlauea Volcano's summit and rift zone activity pau or paused?

Volcano Watch — Is Kīlauea Volcano's summit and rift zone activity pau or paused?

Since the morning of August 4, 2018, activity at Kīlauea Volcano's summit and its lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) has diminished dramatically—and the...

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Volcano Watch — How long will Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone eruption continue?

Volcano Watch — How long will Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone eruption continue?

"How long will it last?" is one of the most challenging questions asked about a volcanic eruption, including Kīlauea Volcano's current lower East Rift...

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Volcano Watch — Geochemical detective work helps answer questions about Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption

Volcano Watch — Geochemical detective work helps answer questions about Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption

"What's happening inside the volcano?" is just one of many questions asked about Kīlauea's ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption. Looking at the...

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Volcano Watch — The mixture of lava and seawater creates an explosive hazard

Volcano Watch — The mixture of lava and seawater creates an explosive hazard

Since May 3, 2018, Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone eruption has destroyed more than 700 structures, covered more than 32 sq km (12.4 sq mi) of...

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Volcano Watch — Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano

Volcano Watch — Many forms of sulfur are found on Kīlauea Volcano

For many Hawaii residents, interactions with Kīlauea Volcano's eruptions is through vog—a hazy mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and sulfate particles...

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Volcano Watch — How does the current activity at Kīlauea caldera stack up against those of other volcanoes worldwide?

Volcano Watch — How does the current activity at Kīlauea caldera stack up against those of other volcanoes worldwide?

We are currently witnessing extraordinary events at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. For weeks the summit has subsided both in a continuous fashion and...

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Volcano Watch — What causes the collapse/explosion events at Kīlauea’s summit?

Volcano Watch — What causes the collapse/explosion events at Kīlauea’s summit?

At the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Halema‘uma‘u has changed dramatically since early May 2018. As the crater walls and inner caldera slump inward, the...

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Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa Back to Normal

Volcano Watch — Mauna Loa Back to Normal

For more than six months, earthquakes at Mauna Loa have diminished and deformation has slowed, indicating that the volcano is no longer at an elevated...

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Volcano Watch — Colorful plumes – can we see volcanic gases?

Volcano Watch — Colorful plumes – can we see volcanic gases?

When volcanic gases are released into the atmosphere, resulting plumes sometimes appear to have a faint color. Is this color indicative of a certain...

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Volcano Watch — How to protect yourself from volcanic ash produced by Halema‘uma‘u explosions

Volcano Watch — How to protect yourself from volcanic ash produced by Halema‘uma‘u explosions

Small explosions that produce ashfall from Kīlauea Volcano's summit are not new. However, the mechanism, vigor, plume heights, and extent of ash...

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