Volcano Watch

While breakouts in the coastal area below Pu`u `O`o, attract renewed attention from scientists and visitors alike, seismologists at the U.S...

Scientists have all sorts of ways to remotely monitor volcanoes. Here at Hawaiʻian Volcano Observatory, for example, we use seismometers, GPS...

Lava erupting from the Pu`u `O`o vent is again spilling into the sea and adding new land along Kīlauea's shoreline to the delight of red-rock junkies...

Thomas Jaggar, the first director of the Hawaiʻian Volcano Observatory, from 1912-1940, probably never imagined that the gas compositions he measured...

As we await the next eruption of Mauna Loa, some HVO scientists have been looking at old eruption records which enable us to see trends that could...

The Hawaiʻian Volcano Observatory website (hvo.wr.usgs.gov) gets over half-a-million visitors a month. Most of those hits are folks checking out the...

In the last few days, two scientists stationed at the Hawaiʻian Volcano Observatory (HVO) have packed their bags and headed for Mount St. Helens...

As most readers probably know, Mount St. Helens has reawakened after 18 years of repose. Here are some of the many questions HVO has received in the...

Jim Kauahikaua has been named the new Scientist-in-Charge (SIC) of the Hawaiʻian Volcano Observatory, starting October 3. Jim is currently a...

Mauna Loa's recent indigestion has attracted a lot of attention, stealing the limelight from Kīlauea, which has been in nearly continuous eruption for...

The sight of stately Mauna Loa rising over 3,960 m (13,000 feet) above sea level is a familiar and welcome view to Hawai`i Island residents and...

We have a number of ways to monitor a volcano, each tuned to different sets of measurements or observations and telling us different things that we...

People sometimes ask if there's any obsidian in Hawaiʻi. The short answer is yes, but if you want to see an obsidian flow, you'll have to go to the...

As we work to increase monitoring capabilities on our restless neighbor Mauna Loa Volcano, our colleagues at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) are...

As you make the drive from Waimea to Kona, you may notice a peculiar grassy knoll and an associated hummocky ridge on the northern slope of Hualālai...

If you walk along the coast to where the Banana flow has been entering the sea, you will see a steam plume rising from the surface of the water. The...

Pu`u `O`o is a tough place to get to. This is true not only for the general public but also for HVO scientists. Day-long hikes are needed if you don't...

Aircraft and volcanic ash and gases do not mix well.

Jet aircraft are designed to fly through clean air, but volcanic eruptions can dirty clean air...

In 1790, possibly November, explosions from Kīlauea killed between about 80 and about 800 people belonging to Keoua's party traveling to battle...

Visitors and residents of the Big Island's "gold" or Kona coast enjoy beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and lovely sunsets. Early risers may also...