USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-01-13T10:54:38-08:00

Activity Summary:  Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. Over the past day there has been a slight increase in seismicity in the summit area. Seismicity in the upper East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remains low. Unrest may continue to wax and wane with fluctuating input of magma to the area, and eruptive activity could occur in the near future with little or no warning. No unusual activity has been noted along the middle and lower sections of Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone. 

Summit Observations:  Over the past day there has been a slight increase in seismicity in the summit area with a total of approximately 30 earthquakes occuring over the past 24 hours, compared to approximately 20 earthquakes in the preceding 24 hours. The increase in seismicity was from a small earthquake swarm that occured directly south of the caldera, between 0.3 to 1.3 miles (0.5 to 2 km) depth. Periods of increased shallow seismicity can be expected to continue during repressurization of the summit magma reservoir, which has been ongoing since the end of the September 2023 eruption. Seismicity has not reached the levels that immediately preceded recent summit eruptions at Kīlauea.

Kīlauea's summit region remains at a high level of inflation; relative tilt is above the level reached prior to the most recent eruption in September 2023, and it is higher than at any time since the 2018 eruption.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas emission rates remain low. Field measurements indicated an SO₂ emission rate of approximately 80 tonnes per day on December 28, which was similar to measurements in October, November, and early December.

The swarm of earthquakes and rapid inflation that occurred south of the caldera on December 29 and 30 indicated that magma was being intruded at relatively shallow depths. Previous summit eruptions have been marked by similar swarms of earthquakes caused by magma moving towards the surface 1–2 hours before the appearance of lava. This type of earthquake activity is not being detected at this time and there are currently no signs of an imminent eruption at Kīlauea, however the volcano's summit region remains at a state of heightened unrest.

The information statement released on October 23, 2023, provides additional information and context related to recent unrest at Kīlauea's summit: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans2/view/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2023-10-23T22:33:18-07:00

A map summarizing recent unrest around Kilauea’s summit (activity from November 30, 2023 to January 8, 2024) can be found here: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/january-8-2024-summary-map-recent-unrest-kilauea-volcano

Rift Zone Observations:  Seismicity in Kīlauea's upper East Rift Zone in the past 24 hours remained low, with only a couple of events (smaller than M2). Kīlauea's middle and lower East Rift Zones remain relatively seismically quiet. In the Southwest Rift Zone, seismicity has also remained low over the past 24 hours, with only about a dozen events (smaller than M2).

We continue to closely monitor the summit and both rift zones. No unusual activity has been noted along the middle and lower sections of Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone—the site of 1983–2018 eruptive activity—have been below detection limits for SO₂, indicating that SO₂ emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.

Hazard Analysis:  Levels of volcanic gases (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) can remain locally hazardous even when Kīlauea is not erupting. Local concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and/or hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) may persist in downwind areas, and residents may notice odors of these gases occasionally. Significant hazards also remain around Halemaʻumaʻu from crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea volcano.

Next Notice: HVO will issue daily Kīlauea updates. Additional messages will be issued as needed.