What do we know about American Samoa’s volcanoes?

"What do we know about American Samoa’s volcanoes?" University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

Did you know that the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors not only 6 Hawaiian volcanoes, but also the 3 volcanoes that make up the populated islands of American Samoa: Taʻū, Ofu-Olosega, and Tutuila volcanoes? Residents felt earthquakes that occurred on Taʻū volcano from late July to early October 2022; fortunately, no eruption occurred. Join USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Natalia Deligne as she journeys to the South Pacific to describe the easternmost islands of the volcanic archipelago formed by the Samoan hotspot. Learn how these volcanoes are monitored and what a future eruption in American Samoa might look like. Natalia will cover what’s known about the most recent eruption at each volcano, drawing on historical accounts of the 1866 eruption off the coast of Ofu-Olosega, what archeological records tell us about the last eruption on Tutuila about 1,500 years ago, and the limited information about the last eruption on Taʻū, thought to have occurred thousands of years ago. We extend a special invitation to the Samoan community living on the Island of Hawaiʻi. #volcano #science #hawaii

Broadcast live by HVERI on January 31, 2024