Volcano Watch

With heavy heart, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) bids aloha to Janet Babb, outreach geologist and educator extraordinaire who retired...

Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth, has erupted, on average, every 5–6 years during the past 3,000 years.

The presence of water in Halema‘uma‘u has sparked an important discussion about what the pond means for future eruptions at Kīlauea Volcano. There are...

In the past, HVO would occasionally post images of people collecting lava samples on our website. These photos usually featured a person (with little...

Last week's Volcano Watch provided details of events leading up to the dropping of bombs on a Mauna Loa lava flow on December 27, 1935. Here's the...

In late February 2020, Hawaii media reported on the recent discovery of two bombs on the north flank of Mauna Loa, but details were lacking. Today, we...

February 28, 2020, marks the 65th anniversary of Kīlauea Volcano's 1955 lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption. In recognition of this historic event...

The origin(s) of volcanic ash deposits on the Island of Hawai‘i have been an enigma, especially those found on and between Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. We...

Portulaca sclerocarpa (also known as ‘Ihi mākole) is a critically endangered small succulent plant in the purslane family (Portulacaceae). It only...

Continuing with the Volcano Awareness Month theme of people and their work at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, we move on to another role at HVO...

When I was seven years old, I won my county's earthquake safety poster contest. I remember going to a special award luncheon with the mayor, who...

As many residents of the Island of Hawai‘i can attest, volcanic gases can stink—literally. But for those of us at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano...

Since the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) was founded by the visionary Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar in 1912, a senior scientist has been responsible for...

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is responsible for monitoring active volcanoes in Hawaii, which involves assessing hazards and...

The Halema‘uma‘u crater lake at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano is on everyone's mind at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).

Kīlauea Volcano attracts researchers from all over the world.

When you think of GPS, what typically comes to mind? Your phone, the navigation in your car or maybe your watch?

Neither Kīlauea nor Mauna Loa erupted in 2019, but this period of relative quiet must not lead to complacency about Hawaii's two most active volcanoes...

On March 30, 2018, a change occurred within the ranks of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's (HVO's) staff when geophysicist Asta Miklius retired...

Over the last two centuries, six lava flows erupted from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone and advanced toward Hilo.