Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Earthquakes Slow, Inflation & Intrusion Continue, January 11, 2024

Over the past week, Kīlauea’s earthquakes slowed significantly as its most recent magma pulse into the south caldera and Southwest Rift was accommodated by the filling of underground cracks and other spaces. Low level seismicity continues in the Upper East Rift Connector adjacent to the Koaʻe Fault Zone, as the intrusion has recently focused uplift in that area as evident through satellite data.

Inflation is ongoing around the summit and Southwest Rift as magma continues to likely fill established pathways at a lower rate, without triggering swarms of earthquakes. The potential remains for the pulses of intrusion to continue up to several months, or to quickly ramp up to an eruption in those dynamic areas.

Gas emissions remain at background levels for the volcano around 80 tonnes of SO2 per day, but can still affect sensitive individuals downwind. Maunaloa remains relatively quiet with few earthquakes, still inflating as it recharges with magma, and remains at the lowest USGS warning level.

As usual we review the monitoring signals, imagery and reports available courtesy of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, annotating the presentation on screen and discussing live viewer questions as we go.