USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-09-11T19:05:44+00:00

Activity Summary: Kīlauea is not erupting. Earthquake activity in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone (UERZ) has been low over the last 24 hours. Additional pulses of unrest in the upper to middle East Rift Zone are possible and may evolve quickly. 

Summit Observations: 16 earthquakes were detected beneath Kīlauea’s broader summit region over the past 24 hours, all below magnitude-2 and most at depths shallower than 3 km (1.9 mi) below the surface. Rates of deformation at the summit remain relatively low, with slightly fluctuating tilt at summit tiltmeters over the past day. An overall inflationary trend has been measured by GPS instruments around the summit region in recent months. The most recent measurement of the summit's SO₂ emission rate was 75 tonnes per day on August 20, 2024. 

Rift Zone Observations: Over the past 24 hours, there have been 37 earthquakes recorded beneath Kīlauea’s UERZ region, extending from Puhimau Crater southeast to Maunaulu, as well as 32 earthquakes recorded within Kīlauea’s south flank.  This is an increase over recent days, but still far below the levels of activity seen during episodes of unrest.  Rates of deformation have remained stable over the past 24 hours.

Activity in the middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) remains low. There were no significant changes at tiltmeter POC, located at Puʻuʻōʻō (the site of 1983–2018 eruptive activity) during the past day. GPS instruments have recorded periods of inflation in portions of the the MERZ uprift of Puʻuʻōʻō during the past month.  

Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the MERZ remain below detection limits for SO₂, indicating that SO₂ emissions from this area are negligible. 

Elevated seismicity or ground deformation has not been detected beneath the lower East Rift Zone, and Southwest Rift Zone activity remains low. Current activity is restricted to the summit and upper East Rift Zone regions.  

Analysis: Recent UERZ unrest may represent pulses of magma being supplied to the UERZ. An intrusive event occurred near Pauahi Crater over July 22–25, 2024, and another intrusive event happened near the same vicinity on August 20, 2024. Currently, the MERZ has not shown signs of increased unrest; however, magma has recently re-established a path to Kīlauea’s MERZ. Unrest could potentially extend to the MERZ with continued magma supply.   

A reference map of the UERZ is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/kilauea-upper-east-rift-zone-reference-map   

A reference map of the MERZ is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/maps/kilauea-middle-east-rift-zone-reference-map  

For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes.  

Updates: The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is watching the situation closely and is in close contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Additional messages will be issued as needed. Currently, there are no signs of an imminent eruption; however, conditions could change quickly.  

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.