Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Intrusion Quakes Ease, Summit Resumes Inflation

Over the first part of the past week, seismic unrest at Kīlauea decreased significantly while the summit halted its rise. In the last three days, the summit has resumed inflating, suggesting more adjustments will be needed in the coming days and weeks as magma continues to feed into its reservoirs. The intrusion may still be producing ground movement further from the summit as its effects continue to play out following the same patterns as last week, even as the summit appears to be collecting magma again.

Gas emissions remain at background levels for the volcano around 100 tonnes of SO2 per day, but can still affect sensitive individuals in downwind areas. Typically gas emissions are at their worst at the start of each eruption, thus between eruptions is the best time for those exposed to prepare.

Maunaloa's deep earthquakes decreased this week, but not before apparently inducing a shallow swarm closer to the surface, still below sea level. That adjustment coincides with the resumption of Maunaloa's increasing ground tilt, the slowing of its deep earthquakes, and also the slowdown in Kīlauea's earthquakes, as the stacked volcanoes continue to influence one another. Within its shallow, near-surface system, Maunaloa continues passively filling following its 2022 eruption, and while the occurrence of shallower seismicity may signal a change in the coming months, for now the volcano 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. To support our productions please like, share and subscribe, and consider making a donation at https://hveri.org/donate .