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The Pacific Region has nine USGS Science Centers in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The Regional Office, headquartered in Sacramento, provides Center oversight and support, facilitates internal and external collaborations, and works to further USGS strategic science directions.
News
Volcano Watch - Scientific community lends a hand to measure Kīlauea's changing shape
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has an extensive network of instruments that helps us monitor how the ground deforms due to magma moving underground. However, we are fortunate that scientific colleagues also pitched in to support our responses to Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and summit collapse.
Volcano Watch - Kīlauea hazard assessments include analyses of salts on volcanic ash
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)-rich emissions have long been a feature of Kīlauea Volcano's summit activity. However, vigorous volcanic ash production during the 2018 eruption raised new concerns about potential impacts for downwind communities.
New USGS geonarrative describes Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 events
A new USGS geonarrative provides a brief overview of recent Kīlauea eruptions, highlighting the circumstances leading up to and summarizing the 2018 events.
Publications
Organic geochemical investigation of far‐field tsunami deposits of the Kahana Valley, O'ahu, Hawai'i
Far‐field tsunami deposits observed in the Kahana Valley, O'ahu, Hawai'i (USA), were investigated for their organic‐geochemical content. During short high‐energy events, (tsunamis and storms) organic and chemical components are transported with sediment from marine to terrestrial areas. This study investigates the use of anthropogenic based...
Bellanova, Piero; Frenken, Mike; Richmond, Bruce M.; Schwarzbauer, Jan; La Selle, Seanpaul; Griswold, Frances; Jaffe, Bruce E.; Nelson, Alan R.; Reicherter, Klaus Physicochemical controls on zones of higher coral stress where Black Band Disease occurs at Mākua Reef, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Pervasive and sustained coral diseases contribute to the systemic degradation of reef ecosystems, however, to date an understanding of the physicochemical controls on a coral disease event is still largely lacking. Water circulation and residence times and submarine groundwater discharge all determine the degree to which reef organisms are exposed...
Oberle, Ferdinand; Storlazzi, Curt D.; Cheriton, Olivia; Takesue, Renee K.; Hoover, Daniel J.; Logan, Joshua B.; Runyon, Christina M.; Kellogg, Christina A.; Johnson, Cordell; Swarzenski, Peter W.
Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous economic terms as artificial defenses, such as seawalls, and therefore often are not considered in decision making...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Reguero, Borja G.; Cole, Aaron D.; Lowe, Erik; Shope, James B.; Gibbs, Ann E.; Nickel, Barry A.; McCall, Robert T.; van Dongeren, Ap R.; Beck, Michael W.
The Value of U.S. Coral Reefs for Risk Reduction
Summary of the report, “Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction”
U.S. Seismic Hazard Maps – Hawaii
Seismic hazard maps for Hawaii.
Developing optimal post-fire restoration strategies to build ecosystem resilience - Stephanie Yelenik
Grass-fire cycles are a problem globally, contributing to expanding exotic grasslands, decreased forest area, and increased fire frequency/size worldwide. Thus, to create resilience to fire in these landscapes, we need to better understand grass-fire interactions and how to restore communities that can resist grass invasion.
Modeling invasion risk and impacts to inform management responses - Helen Sofaer
Where are invasive species likely to be introduced or become abundant? How should managers respond? On Hawaii and other Pacific Islands numerous invasive species have altered ecosystems, and new species continue to be introduced. Statistical analyses can characterize risk and inform response strategies.
Modeling invasion risk and impacts to inform management responses - Helen Sofaer
Where are invasive species likely to be introduced or become abundant? How should managers respond? On Hawaii and other Pacific Islands numerous invasive species have altered ecosystems, and new species continue to be introduced. Statistical analyses can characterize risk and inform response strategies.
Update of the Hawaii Seismic Hazard Model Workshop
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Honolulu, HI
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Agenda – PDF (47KB)
The following links are to PDF versions of the workshop presentations. All workshop participants have granted permission to post their...
Coral Reef Project: Kauaʻi
As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, the USGS is working on the island of Kauaʻi to identify circulation patterns and a sediment budget for Hanalei Bay to help determine any effects to the coastal marine ecosystem.
Circulation and Sediment, Nutrient, Contaminant, and Larval Dynamics on Reefs
This study is part of the USGS Coral Reef Project.
Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change Impacts to Reefs
This study is part of the USGS Coral Reef Project.
Coral Reef Project: Hawaiʻi
As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, the USGS is working on the Kona (west) coast of Hawaiʻi to evaluate geologic resources at two historical parks.
Coral Reef Project: Kahoʻolawe
As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, the USGS is trying to better understand how nearshore processes impact the deeper, scattered coral reef communities of Kahoʻolawe.
Coral Reef Project: Maui
As part of USGS Coral Reef Project studies, the USGS has been heavily involved in efforts to improve the health and resilience of Maui's coral reef system, bringing expertise in mapping, circulation and sediment studies, and seismic surveys.
This geonarrative summarizes Kīlauea’s 2018 events, highlighting the historical context and contributions to science.
This data package includes two tables of data for Bristle-thighed curlews (Numenius tahitiensis) captured 2012-2014 on the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge O'ahu, Hawaii (21.68 N, 157.95 W). One table provides capture, banding, morphology, and genetic data. The second table provides mark-resight data for estimating the size of the wintering population on Oahu in April of 2014.
This data set contains bill and tarsal measurements from 114 Bristle-thighed Curlews, captured on breeding grounds in Alaska, and non-breeding areas in Hawaii and Reitoru atoll, French Polynesia.
This data release includes measurements of circulation and waves, profiles of seawater properties, and profiles of resistivity on the shoreline, which can be used to assess the potential for terrestrial groundwater intrusion on the reef and the sources and fate of these water masses. The recent discovery of coral Black Band Disease at Mākua Reef on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi prompted an investigation...
To better constrain the influence of sea-level rise on waves and sediment transport over a fringing coral reef flat, an experiment was conducted across a large fringing reef off the south shore of Molokai, Hawai’i. Here we provide data on water levels, waves, currents observed during this field effort. Additional data sets will be added as they become available.
This data set contains one table with mark-resight observations of Bristle-thighed Curlews marked on Oahu, Hawaii, with plastic color leg flags, 2012-2017.
Information about scientific data collected through field activities conducted by scientists in the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources program
This data release supports a study that reports on efforts to estimate future tsunami inundation through stratigraphic analyses of potential tsunami deposits beneath present and former Hawaiian wetlands, coastal lagoons, and river floodplains.
The NWIS mapper provides access to over 1.5 million sites contained in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), including sites where current and historical surface-water, groundwater, springs, and atmospheric data has been collected. Users can search by site type, data type, site number, or place.
The data described here were collected as part of a larger study to examine habitat conditions and coral health with respect to exposure to submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and urban land uses.
Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe; Kohler and Gill, 2006) was used to help calculate percent of coral cover or other benthic substrates from a randomly selected subset of seafloor photographs collected on the west Hawaii Island coast.
Observations of coral disease and health indicators were documented by scuba divers along pre-determined transects and are presented here in comma-separated format. Included in the table are coral species observed, colony size, types and number of indicators observed, and a size range of indicators observed.
Thermal map of Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow field
This preliminary thermal map shows relative surface temperatures across Kīlauea's 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flow field.
Thermal map of Kīlauea summit
This thermal map was constructed from 1008 images collected by a thermal camera during a helicopter overflight on August 22, 2019.
Kīlauea Caldera Thermal Map 2019 April 08
This thermal map, which was constructed by merging about 1300 images from a morning helicopter overflight on April 8, shows the distribution of some prominent thermal features in Kīlauea's summit caldera.
Kīlauea 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flow thicknesses: a PRELIMINARY MAP
Data depicted on this preliminary map of Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow thicknesses are subject to change.
August 15—Thermal map of fissure system and lava flows
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 am on Wednesday, August 15.
Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, August 14, 2018 2:00 p.m. HST
Map as of 12:00 p.m. HST, August 14, 2018.
August 11—Thermal map of fissure system and lava flows
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 am on Saturday, August 11.
August 9—Thermal map of fissure system and lava flows
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 am on Thursday, August 9.
Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, August 9, 2018 2:00 p.m. HST
Map as of 2:00 p.m. HST, August 9, 2018.
Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, August 7, 2018 11:00 a.m. HST
Map as of 11:00 a.m. HST, August 7, 2018.
August 6—Thermal map of fissure system and lava flows
This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 am on Monday, August 6.
Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, August 6, 2018 2:00 p.m. HST
Map as of 2:00 p.m. HST, August 6, 2018.
Physicochemical controls on zones of higher coral stress where Black Band Disease occurs at Mākua Reef, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Pervasive and sustained coral diseases contribute to the systemic degradation of reef ecosystems, however, to date an understanding of the physicochemical controls on a coral disease event is still largely lacking. Water circulation and residence times and submarine groundwater discharge all determine the degree to which reef organisms are exposed...
Oberle, Ferdinand; Storlazzi, Curt D.; Cheriton, Olivia; Takesue, Renee K.; Hoover, Daniel J.; Logan, Joshua B.; Runyon, Christina M.; Kellogg, Christina A.; Johnson, Cordell; Swarzenski, Peter W. Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous economic terms as artificial defenses, such as seawalls, and therefore often are not considered in decision making...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Reguero, Borja G.; Cole, Aaron D.; Lowe, Erik; Shope, James B.; Gibbs, Ann E.; Nickel, Barry A.; McCall, Robert T.; van Dongeren, Ap R.; Beck, Michael W. Sedimentary evidence of prehistoric distant-source tsunamis in the Hawaiian Islands
Over the past 200 years of written records, the Hawaiian Islands have experienced tens of tsunamis generated by earthquakes in the subduction zones of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" (e.g., Alaska-Aleutian, Kuril-Kamchatka, Chile, and Japan). Mapping and dating anomalous beds of sand and silt deposited by tsunamis in low-lying areas along Pacific...
La Selle, Seanpaul; Richmond, Bruce M.; Jaffe, Bruce E.; Nelson, Alan; Griswold, Frances; Arcos, Maria E.M.; Chague, Catherine; Bishop, James M.; Bellanova, Piero; Kane, Haunani H.; Lunghino, Brent D.; Gelfenbaum, Guy R. Organic geochemical investigation of far‐field tsunami deposits of the Kahana Valley, O'ahu, Hawai'i
Far‐field tsunami deposits observed in the Kahana Valley, O'ahu, Hawai'i (USA), were investigated for their organic‐geochemical content. During short high‐energy events, (tsunamis and storms) organic and chemical components are transported with sediment from marine to terrestrial areas. This study investigates the use of anthropogenic based...
Bellanova, Piero; Frenken, Mike; Richmond, Bruce M.; Schwarzbauer, Jan; La Selle, Seanpaul; Griswold, Frances; Jaffe, Bruce E.; Nelson, Alan R.; Reicherter, Klaus
Honolulu Magnetic Observatory
Tucked in a grove of thorny mesquite trees, on an ancient coral reef on the south side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, west of Pearl Harbor, a small unmanned observatory quietly records the Earth’s time-varying magnetic field. The Honolulu Magnetic Observatory is 1 of 14 that the U.S. Geological Survey Geomagnetism Program operates at various...
Love, Jeffrey J.; Finn, Carol A.
Groundwater-level, groundwater-temperature, and barometric-pressure data, July 2017 to February 2018, Hālawa Area, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, operated by the U.S. Navy and located in the Hālawa area, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, includes 20 underground storage tanks that can hold a total of 250 million gallons of fuel. In January 2014, the U.S. Navy notified the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of release of an estimated...
Mitchell, Jackson N.; Oki, Delwyn S.
Volcanic aquifers of Hawai‘i—Hydrogeology, water budgets, and conceptual models
Hawai‘i’s aquifers have limited capacity to store fresh groundwater because each island is small and surrounded by saltwater. Saltwater also underlies much of the fresh groundwater. Fresh groundwater resources are, therefore, particularly vulnerable to human activity, short-term climate cycles, and long-term climate change. Availability of fresh...
Izuka, Scot K.; Engott, John A.; Rotzoll, Kolja; Bassiouni, Maoya; Johnson, Adam G.; Miller, Lisa D.; Mair, Alan
Spatially distributed groundwater recharge estimated using a water-budget model for the Island of Maui, Hawai`i, 1978–2007
Demand for freshwater on the Island of Maui is expected to grow. To evaluate the availability of fresh groundwater, estimates of groundwater recharge are needed. A water-budget model with a daily computation interval was developed and used to estimate the spatial distribution of recharge on Maui for average climate conditions (1978–2007 rainfall...
Johnson, Adam G.; Engott, John A.; Bassiouni, Maoya; Rotzoll, Kolja Rigorously valuing the role of coral reefs in coastal protection: An example from Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A.
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by exposing communities to flooding hazards. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous, economic terms as artificial defenses such as seawalls, and therefore often not considered in decision-making. Here we present a new...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Reguero, Borja G.; Lowe, Erik; Shope, James B.; Gibbs, Ann E.; Beck, Mike; Nickel, Barry A.
Measuring surface-water loss in Honouliuli Stream near the ‘Ewa Shaft, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is currently concerned with the possibility of bacteria in the pumped water of the ‘Ewa Shaft (State well 3-2202-21). Groundwater from the ‘Ewa Shaft could potentially be used to meet future potable water needs in the ‘Ewa area on the island of O‘ahu. The source of the bacteria in the pumped water is unknown,...
Rosa, Sarah N.
Spatially distributed groundwater recharge for 2010 land cover estimated using a water-budget model for the Island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
Owing mainly to projected population growth, demand for freshwater on the Island of Oʻahu is expected to increase by about 26 percent between 2010 and 2030, according to the City and County of Honolulu. Estimates of groundwater recharge are needed to evaluate the availability of fresh groundwater. For this study, a water-budget model with a daily...
Engott, John A.; Johnson, Adam G.; Bassiouni, Maoya; Izuka, Scot K.; Rotzoll, Kolja Panel regressions to estimate low-flow response to rainfall variability in ungaged basins
Multicollinearity and omitted-variable bias are major limitations to developing multiple linear regression models to estimate streamflow characteristics in ungaged areas and varying rainfall conditions. Panel regression is used to overcome limitations of traditional regression methods, and obtain reliable model coefficients, in particular to...
Bassiouni, Maoya; Vogel, Richard M.; Archfield, Stacey A.
The Pedestrian Evacuation Analyst is an ArcGIS extension that estimates how long it would take for someone to travel on foot out of a hazardous area that was threatened by a sudden event such as a tsunami, flash flood, or volcanic lahar. It takes into account the elevation changes and the different types of landcover that a person would encounter along the way.
Living with Earthquakes in Hawaii
Tens of thousands of earthquakes occur each year in Hawaii, making it one of the most seismically active places in the United States. Brian Shiro, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seismologist, talks about the different types of earthquakes in Hawaii and how they are monitored to help forecast volcanic eruptions and recounts the dramatic seismicity that happened during
...
Transitions: What's next for HVO and the volcanoes it monitors?
2018 and 2019 were years of profound change at Kīlauea Volcano and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Devastation caused by the largest lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse in at least 200 years resulted in many transitions for island residents, including HVO. Tina Neal, Scientist-in-Charge of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, describes the current status
...
Hawaiʻi Coral Reefs and Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Hawaiʻi’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Maps of Hawaiʻi showing the distribution of the value of averted direct building damages, indirect economic activity losses, and population annually protected from flooding by coral reefs. Results at 10 m2 resolution are aggregated into
...
Electronic Tilt at Mauna Loa Summit - Past Month
Electronic Tilt at Mauna Loa Summit - Past Month. Tilt data from a site near the northwest rim of Mauna Loa's summit caldera. The tiltmeter responds to daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations as well as possible changes in Mauna Loa's magma storage system.
Earthquake Rates - Past Year - Kīlauea
Number of earthquakes per week during the past year (blue bars). The red line is the cumulative moment (energy) release.
Earthquake Hypocenters Map and Cross Section - Past Week Kilauea
Map showing locations of earthquakes during the past week. Bottom: Depth of earthquakes (circles) during the past week. Circle-size represents magnitude, and color indicates depth. An interactive earthquake plot can be found on the HVO Earthquakes page.
Earthquake Depths - Past Year - Kīlauea
Depth of earthquakes during the past year. Circle-size represents magnitude, and color indicates depth.
Electronic Tilt at Mauna Loa Summit - Past Week
Electronic Tilt at Mauna Loa Summit - Past Week
Earthquake Hypocenters Map - Past 5 Years Mauna Loa
Earthquake Hypocenters Map - Past 5 Years Mauna Loa. Map showing locations of earthquakes during the past year.
Earthquake Rates and Depths - Past Week Monitoring Data for Kīlauea
Number of earthquakes per day during the past week (blue bars). The red line is the cumulative moment (energy) release.
Global Positioning System - Past Year - Kīlauea
Change in distance between two Global Positioning System (GPS) stations located on opposite sides of Kīlauea's caldera. A rapid increase in distance can be interpreted as inflation of the summit magma reservoir or Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō magma storage chamber.
Electronic Tilt at Mauna Loa Summit - Past Month
Electronic Tilt at Mauna Loa Summit - Past Month
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has an extensive network of instruments that helps us monitor how the ground deforms due to magma moving underground. However, we are fortunate that scientific colleagues also pitched in to support our responses to Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and summit collapse.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)-rich emissions have long been a feature of Kīlauea Volcano's summit activity. However, vigorous volcanic ash production during the 2018 eruption raised new concerns about potential impacts for downwind communities.
A new USGS geonarrative provides a brief overview of recent Kīlauea eruptions, highlighting the circumstances leading up to and summarizing the 2018 events.
An early morning view looking north across Moku‘āweoweo, Mauna Loa's summit caldera, from a spot near the summit cabin on the volcano's south caldera rim.
On July 25, 2019, a helicopter pilot flying a U.S.Geological Survey mission over Kīlauea noticed an unusual green patch at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, the crater at the summit of the volcano.
Last month, the entire world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's triumphant flight to the moon and the first human footsteps on the surface of another planetary body on July 20, 1969.
HVO geophysicist Jim Kauahikaua discusses the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u and what it means.
In the land of Kamehameha, south of Kona on the big island of Hawaii, a sacred landscape called Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau faces the uncertainty of the rising seas.
The bones of royal chiefs rest there. Stories of how ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers flocked to this place of refuge still resonate throughout the 180-acre national historic park that surrounds Hōnaunau Bay.
The slowly deepening pond of water on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u, the first in recorded history, has captured the interest of media and the public, both locally and nationally. Many questions are being asked. The two most frequent are, where is the water coming from and what is its importance?
The recent appearance of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, has attracted wide attention and generated many questions. To understand the significance of this water, we must first gather accurate information on its behavior.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists usually base their research on observations, either visual or instrumental. Interpretations come from these observations, so they must be as good as possible. Incorrect observations can, and have, led to erroneous interpretations.
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Locations
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Phone: (808) 985-6420
Fax: (808) 967-8568
Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center
Pacific Islands Water Science Center
Phone: 808-690-9600
Fax: 808-690-9599
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
askHVO@usgs.gov
Phone: (808) 967-7328
Fax: (808) 967-8890
O'ahu Field Station
Phone: 808-690-9571
Fax: 808-690-9599
National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station
Phone: (808) 792-9520
Fax: (808) 792-9596