Hawaiian Volcano Update: New Intrusion on Kīlauea, Inflation Deep Near Puʻuʻōʻō

Another round of excitement rocked Kīlauea this past week as magma intruded near Pauahi Crater in the early hours of August 20, just north of the July 22-25 intrusion closer to Maunaulu. The tiltmeter at Escape Road recorded significant ground movement during the brief event, but stabilized over the following days, while at the same time the ground at the summit deflated as its magma presumably fed the Upper East Rift intrusion. GPS stations on the central south flank continue to move seaward at an accelerated pace, as magma continues to refill the Middle East Rift reservoirs at Makaopuhi Crater and near Puʻuʻōʻō. Satellite radar imagery suggest the filling of these reservoirs is occuring at moderate depths unlike the two intrusions, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, with no signs of an imminent eruption. 

These changes are contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and pose no increased threat to people. Volcanic gas remains the primary threat, with emissions currently around volcanic background rates of 70 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 combining with the long-term pattern of recharge.

As a special this week, we commemorate the anniversaries of the August 21-23, 1963 eruption in ʻAlae Crater and the August 22-27, 1968 eruption which began at Hiʻiaka Crater but propagated 15 miles east. These are 2 of the 9 Middle East Rift eruptions which characterized the 1960s between the Kapoho and Maunaulu eruption. Combined with Southwest Rift intrusions and the summit eruption of 1967-68, this historical period could inform potential outcomes of our current activity.

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 at https://hveri.org/donate .