USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-08-09T19:57:17+00:00

AActivity Summary: Kīlauea is not erupting. Over the past 24 hours, the number of earthquakes detected in the summit and middle East Rift Zone remained similar to the previous day, while there was a notable decrease in the number of earthquakes in the upper East Rift Zone. Gradual inflationary ground deformation continues at the summit while elevated rates of ground deformation continue in the middle East Rift Zone. New seismic swarms may occur with little or no warning and result in either intrusion of magma or eruption of lava in these regions. There are no significant changes in activity elsewhere on the volcano. HVO released an Information Statement last night summarizing recent activity, interpretations, and possible scenarios associated with recent activity in the middle East Rift Zone.

Summit Observations: Approximately 2 earthquakes were detected beneath Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) over the past 24 hours, at depths of 1–3 km (0.6–1.8 mi) below the ground surface, and with magnitudes of less than M2. Tiltmeters in the summit region (UWE, northwest of the summit, and SDH, southwest of the summit) were stable over the past day (less than 1 microradian of change). GPS instruments around the summit region show continued gradual inflation. The most recent measurement of the summit's SO₂ emission rate was approximately 64 tonnes per day on August 7, 2024.

Rift Zone Observations: Approximately 5 earthquakes were detected beneath the upper East Rift Zone (UERZ) over the past 24 hours (compared to 75 over the previous day), at depths of 1–5 km (0.6–3 mi) below the ground surface, and with magnitudes of less than M2. The ESC tiltmeter in the UERZ recorded no significant changes.

The cluster of earthquakes in the middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) near Makaopuhi Crater and Napau Crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park continued, with about 13 events detected over the past day (compared to 14 the day before), at depths of 1–5 km (0.6–3 mi) below the ground surface, and with magnitudes of less than M2. GPS and tiltmeter instruments in the MERZ show ongoing inflation of this area. Over the past week, extension and uplift has continued but the rates have slowed over time. In total, the area across Makaopuhi Crater has extended approximately 12.5 cm (5 inches) and uplifted about 7 cm (2.8 inches) since July 23. Starting yesterday, the POC tiltmeter located on the north flank of Puʻuʻōʻō began to show movement consistent with the ongoing MERZ inflation, with about 7 microradians of change over the past 24 hours. Ground deformation signals recorded by POC and nearby GPS stations indicate the center of deformation remains west of Puʻuʻōʻō. HVO released an Information Statement last night summarizing recent activity, interpretations, and possible scenarios associated with recent activity in the MERZ.

Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone—the site of 1983–2018 eruptive activity—remain below detection limits for SO₂, indicating that SO₂ emissions from this area are negligible.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the lower East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. 

Analysis: Pulses of earthquakes and ground deformation beneath Kīlauea's upper East Rift Zone from July 22–25, 2024, represented stages of an intrusion between Pauahi Crater and Maunaulu. The intrusive event is over, and magma has been repressurizing the storage system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region. Continuing MERZ earthquakes and ground deformation indicate that magma is accumulating beneath the ground in the area of Makaopuhi Crater and Napau Crater, a well-known magma storage region in Kīlauea’s remote middle East Rift Zone. Additional earthquake swarms may occur with little or no warning and result in either intrusion of additional magma or eruption of lava in these regions. 

Updates: The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) will continue to provide daily updates for Kīlauea volcano. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued. HVO is in close contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park website will have information about any temporary closures: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/news/newsreleases.htm 

Recent Eruption Information: Kīlauea erupted briefly on June 3, 2024, southwest of the summit region within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. For more information about this eruption, see this webpage: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/june-2024-kilauea-southwest-rift-zone-eruption.

Hazards: Shallow magma movement can produce minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features, which can affect the landscape, human activity, and infrastructure. These ground cracks can continue to widen and offset as magma migration continues, may have unstable overhanging edges, and should be avoided. 

Hazards remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of the rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since early 2008.

Near the recent Southwest Rift Zone eruption site, minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features may continue to widen and offset, may have unstable overhanging edges, and should be avoided. Hazards associated with the recent lava flows include glassy (sharp) surfaces that can cause serious abrasions, and lacerations upon contact with unprotected or exposed skin; uneven and rough terrain that can lead to falls and other injuries; or, locally elevated levels of volcanic gases that can lead to breathing difficulty.

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.

Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.