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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: 1780
Volcano Watch — Perched lava channel elevates the flows

Volcano Watch — Perched lava channel elevates the flows

Despite the potential hazards, the ongoing eruption from Kīlauea's east rift zone is a remarkable and fascinating sight.

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Volcano Watch — Changes in lava flows intensify questions to scientists

Volcano Watch — Changes in lava flows intensify questions to scientists

As soon as lava began flowing on the north side of Kīlauea's east rift zone from a new vent on July 21, questions arose among residents of the Puna...

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Volcano Watch — OK, you felt it, but did it move you?

Volcano Watch — OK, you felt it, but did it move you?

Every week Hawai`i residents feel earthquakes. Some weeks the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory receives only a few reports, but...

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Volcano Watch — Glaciers on Mauna Kea? You crazy? In the middle of the Pacific? YES!

Volcano Watch — Glaciers on Mauna Kea? You crazy? In the middle of the Pacific? YES!

Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in the post-shield stage, last erupted about 4,500 years ago. Its oldest exposed lavas are about 250,000 years old.

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Volcano Watch — At Kīlauea, it's always "Time to make the doughnuts"

Volcano Watch — At Kīlauea, it's always "Time to make the doughnuts"

Some years ago, a series of commercials for a popular doughnut shop was aired on television. In the scene, Fred the baker would leave his house early...

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Volcano Watch — How much lava is being erupted at the July 21 fissure?

Volcano Watch — How much lava is being erupted at the July 21 fissure?

This has been a popular question posed by scientist and citizen alike but is currently a difficult one to answer accurately. It is also one of the...

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Volcano Watch — Progress in the year following the Kiholo Bay earthquake

Volcano Watch — Progress in the year following the Kiholo Bay earthquake

This coming October 15 will mark one year since last October's damaging earthquakes that rocked Hawai`i County. To briefly recall them, at 7:07 AM on...

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Volcano Watch — Earthquakes can give you that sinking feeling

Volcano Watch — Earthquakes can give you that sinking feeling

Most of us who were in the islands on October 15, 2006, are familiar with ground motion associated with earthquakes. On that day, two quakes, both...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's eruption building perched lava channel and feeding many short flows

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's eruption building perched lava channel and feeding many short flows

Lava flows from the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea Volcano have traveled only short distances during the past week from the impressive open lava channel...

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Volcano Watch — Almost nothing is enough: reticulite helps measure depth of Kīlauea's caldera 500 years ago

Volcano Watch — Almost nothing is enough: reticulite helps measure depth of Kīlauea's caldera 500 years ago

Pumice is glassy volcanic ejecta so full of bubbles that it floats in water. Reticulite is an extreme form of pumice in which all bubbles have burst...

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Volcano Watch — New report details July 21 fissure eruption hazards

Volcano Watch — New report details July 21 fissure eruption hazards

For the past six weeks, lava erupting from a fissure east of Pu`u `O`o has been flowing on the surface through an open channel and feeding a series of...

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Volcano Watch — Oldest radiometric ages from Kīlauea about 275,000 years

Volcano Watch — Oldest radiometric ages from Kīlauea about 275,000 years

On an active volcano like Kīlauea, it's easy to point to the youngest volcanic features. Although the specific lava flow or vent may change daily, its...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's south flank earthquakes more common than hurricanes

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's south flank earthquakes more common than hurricanes

Early Wednesday morning, as most island residents slept peacefully in the knowledge that we were to be spared by hurricane Flossie, some of us were...

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Volcano Watch — What does it take to become a volcanologist?

Volcano Watch — What does it take to become a volcanologist?

Staff members at the U.S. Geological Survey's volcano observatories frequently receive requests for career guidance from aspiring volcanologists...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's newest fissure eruption forming perched lava ponds

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's newest fissure eruption forming perched lava ponds

If you've been keeping up with the on-line eruption updates from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, then you know that there's something peculiar that...

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Volcano Watch — Volcanic selenium and sulfur - a delicate balance

Volcano Watch — Volcanic selenium and sulfur - a delicate balance

A stroll through any local health food store will reveal dozens of vitamin and mineral supplements lining the shelves. An alert shopper perusing...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's School of Magma and Motion trumps Hogwarts?

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea's School of Magma and Motion trumps Hogwarts?

For the Harry Potter fans of the world, the stroke of midnight on July 21 was a momentous event. The final episode of J.K. Rowling's tale centered on...

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Volcano Watch — Kīlauea update: An eruptive sequel with a new twist?

Volcano Watch — Kīlauea update: An eruptive sequel with a new twist?

Volcano watchers, like recent movie-goers, are enjoying another summer sequel. Amidst new renditions of popular flicks like Spiderman, Pirates, Harry...

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Volcano Watch — "It's like déjà vu all over again!"

Volcano Watch — "It's like déjà vu all over again!"

Many people are watching the filling of Pu`u `O`o crater live via a webcam on the rim. Since July 4, traffic to our web site has quadrupled, and we...

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Volcano Watch — Lava back in the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater as scientists mull over Kīlauea's future

Volcano Watch — Lava back in the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater as scientists mull over Kīlauea's future

The answer to the question asked by Hawai`i's residents and volcano enthusiasts since June 19—where is Kīlauea going to erupt next—is clear, now that...

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Volcano Watch — Magma, magma, who's got the magma?

Volcano Watch — Magma, magma, who's got the magma?

Last week's Volcano Watch described HVO's most recent and exciting challenge: to figure out what might happen next with Kīlauea's marked change in...

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