Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Summit & East Rift Inflating, August 8, 2024

Overall, not much has changed over the past week on Kīlauea, with the previous week’s pattern of ground movements largely continuing. Both the summit and the Middle East Rift show ongoing uplift due to the underground build-up of magma, inflating relatively slowly and passively. Earthquakes continue most abundantly in the Upper East Rift and also east of Maunaulu near Makaopuhi Crater, though at much lower rates than the recent pulses of intrusion from July 22-25. For now, the dynamic growth of Kīlauea’s active magma system into the Middle East Rift is progressing quietly, though renewed earthquake pulses and other activity remain possible at any time. 

All of this action is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, posing no increased threat to people. Volcanic gas remains the primary threat to people, with emissions currently around volcanic background rates of 65 tonnes per day of SO2, still of concern for sensitive individuals nearby.

Maunaloa volcano remains quiet, continuing to recharge in the normal pattern following its 2022 eruption, with perhaps only minor visible influence from neighboring Kīlauea. This past week a small tilt variation followed the return of inflation to Kīlauea by a few days, perhaps suggesting some influence, but overall not affecting the long-term pattern of recharge.

On the 1st anniversary of the tragic fire in Lahaina, we reflect on those events and subsequent findings, drawing lessons which we can apply on Hawaiʻi Island to improve our own disaster preparedness. We must consider parallels to our own 2018 eruption as well as other catastrophic fires on the mainland, and collaborate on solutions to the most pressing issues. We feel like our work at HVERI contributes to that effort, and dedicate this update to the victims of the fire and their extended ʻohana.

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

To support our productions please like, share and subscribe, and consider making a donation athttps://hveri.org/donate .