USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2023-10-10T10:06:16-07:00

Activity Summary: Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. The area just south of Kīlauea's summit is showing signs of episodic heightened unrest. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Summit Observations:  Episodic heightened unrest continues in the south summit area of Kīlauea and an eruption in the region from Halemaʻumaʻu south to the December 1974 vents could emerge with little notice (1-2 hours) during peaks in this activity. Inflation at the summit of Kīlauea remains at about its highest level in over 5 years and has nearly returned to the level seen just before the last eruption on September 10th. The Uēkahuna summit tiltmeter located north of the caldera recorded very slight inflation over the past 24 hours.  The Sand Hill tiltmeter located just south of the caldera went off scale during the peak activity on October 6th, but has been reset and is showing continued inflation but at a lower rate than before the event.  GPS units within the south end of the caldera and further south also show continued uplift of this region.  Elevated seismicity is being recorded beneath the south end of Kīlauea caldera and extends to the southwest along the trend of December 1974 vents.  Seismicity increased on October 4, peaked at over 250 earthquakes per day on October 5 and 6, and continues dispersed over this area. Over the past 24 hours approximately 110 earthquakes were recorded in Kīlauea summit region compared to about 125 earthquakes occurring over the previous day. Most of the earthquakes from the seismic swarm south of the caldera are at depths of around 2.5–3.5 km (1.5–2 mi) below the surface. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates remain low and were measured at a rate of about 100 tonnes per day on October 6.

Rift Zone Observations: No unusual activity has been noted along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone; steady rates of ground deformation and seismicity continue along both. 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 Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.

Hazard Analysis: Levels of volcanic gas (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) can remain locally hazardous even though Kīlauea is no longer erupting. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas emissions have greatly decreased; however, local concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) 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.