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Volcano Watch

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

Filter Total Items: 1779
Volcano Watch — Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky

Volcano Watch — Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky

This month, our Volcano Watch articles are focusing on how the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) monitors Kīlauea's June 27th lava flow. Last...

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Volcano Watch — Satellites are now an essential tool for tracking lava flows

Volcano Watch — Satellites are now an essential tool for tracking lava flows

As part of Volcano Awareness Month, our January Volcano Watch articles are addressing how the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) responds to...

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Volcano Watch — Communicating information during a lava flow crisis

Volcano Watch — Communicating information during a lava flow crisis

January 2015 marks the 6th annual Volcano Awareness Month on the Island of Hawai‘i.

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Volcano Watch — Plumbing the depths of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

Volcano Watch — Plumbing the depths of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

January 3, 2015, marks the 32nd anniversary of the ongoing Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone. Over that time, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō has...

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Volcano Watch — What does it take to successfully divert a lava flow?

Volcano Watch — What does it take to successfully divert a lava flow?

In discussions about lava diversion, Italy and Iceland are often touted as places where lava flows have been successfully diverted. But what did it...

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Volcano Watch — HVO ushers in the New Year with "Volcano Awareness Month"

Volcano Watch — HVO ushers in the New Year with "Volcano Awareness Month"

January is "Volcano Awareness Month."

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Volcano Watch — Revisiting Kalapana amidst the current flow activity

Volcano Watch — Revisiting Kalapana amidst the current flow activity

As lava once again wends its way downslope towards populated areas of lower Puna, we are reminded of the stop-and-start advancement of flows into the...

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Volcano Watch — What is the fate of Fogo?

Volcano Watch — What is the fate of Fogo?

Fogo, the youngest and most active volcano in the Cape Verde Islands, lies at the western end of a short chain of volcanic islands off the west coast...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea is a moody volcano

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea is a moody volcano

Trekkers to the summit were used to seeing explosions, but nothing like this.

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Volcano Watch — HVO Looks Ahead While There's a Break(Out) in the Activity

Volcano Watch — HVO Looks Ahead While There's a Break(Out) in the Activity

U.S. Geological Survey scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), scanning HVO's Kīlauea East Rift Zone webcam images, noted a new breakout...

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Volcano Watch — Coming up for air in lower Puna

Volcano Watch — Coming up for air in lower Puna

The past several weeks have been full of suspense and emotion for residents of the lower Puna District of the Island of Hawai‘i. Rather than being...

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Volcano Watch — How long will Kīlauea Volcano's June 27th flow last?

Volcano Watch — How long will Kīlauea Volcano's June 27th flow last?

With the June 27th lava flow entering Pāhoa this past week, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense have been...

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Volcano Watch — The June 27th lava flow slows, surges into Pāhoa, then slows again

Volcano Watch — The June 27th lava flow slows, surges into Pāhoa, then slows again

Just over a week ago Kīlauea Volcano's June 27th lava flow was barely moving forward, but then it surged into Pāhoa. With that in mind, the USGS...

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Volcano Watch — Pāhoehoe lava makes for fitful advance of the June 27th lava flow

Volcano Watch — Pāhoehoe lava makes for fitful advance of the June 27th lava flow

The June 27th lava flow, named for the date that it began erupting from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone, continued to move toward Pāhoa...

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Volcano Watch — A mile-high offshore segment of Kahuku pali reveals clues about Mauna Loa

Volcano Watch — A mile-high offshore segment of Kahuku pali reveals clues about Mauna Loa

One of the more spectacular geologic features on the Island of Hawai‘i can easily be seen from Highway 11 near South Point. It is a cliff, informally...

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Volcano Watch — The current state of activity in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone

Volcano Watch — The current state of activity in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone

In web forums and at recent public meetings, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists have been asked about conditions in Kīlauea Volcano's...

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Volcano Watch — Emergency preparedness in Hawaii encompasses multiple hazards

Volcano Watch — Emergency preparedness in Hawaii encompasses multiple hazards

First, it was Tropical Storm Iselle. Now, it's lava wending its way down the slope of Kīlauea toward housing subdivisions and essential infrastructure...

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Volcano Watch — Why do lava flows stop advancing?

Volcano Watch — Why do lava flows stop advancing?

Much scientific study has been done to determine what types of eruptions produce long lava flows. In the 1970s, a very simple idea seemed to guide...

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Volcano Watch — HVO and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense jointly track the June 27th lava flow

Volcano Watch — HVO and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense jointly track the June 27th lava flow

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense (HCCD) are working closely together to gather and share information about...

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Volcano Watch — The June 27th flow advances toward Pāhoa

Volcano Watch — The June 27th flow advances toward Pāhoa

In an August 22, 2014, news release, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) stated that a new lava flow, dubbed the June 27th flow for the date...

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Volcano Watch — HVO scientists are closely watching Kīlauea—and Mauna Loa

Volcano Watch — HVO scientists are closely watching Kīlauea—and Mauna Loa

Volcanoes are prominent in the news lately with new eruptions near Barbardunga volcano in Iceland and Tavurvur volcano in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, as...

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