Kīlauea Volcano Rumbles, Eruption ‘Potential Outcome’, USGS Says

Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is once again showing an increase in activity.

There have been increased earthquakes and ground deformation at the summit of the volcano ever since the early hours of January 31, an update from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

For this reason, the volcano’s alert level has been raised from yellow to orange, prompting scientists to keep a close eye on the volcano.

“At this time, it is not possible to say with certainty if this activity will lead to an eruption; the activity may remain below ground. However, an eruption in Kilauea’s summit region, within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and away from infrastructure, is one potential outcome,” the update said.

At the moment, earthquake activity around the volcano is occurring to the south of its caldera or the site of the depression formed shortly after a volcano erupts and collapses. If an eruption were to occur, it would probably be confined to the Halemaʻumaʻu crater or the south of the caldera.

This sort of activity is very common at Kīlauea. It is an extremely active volcano and has been erupting regularly since 1983.

Although Kīlauea’s regular eruptions rarely pose danger to surrounding communities, it is still considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Hawaii as it has produced some extremely destructive eruptions in the past, although they are very rare.

In 2018, a huge eruption caused large lava flows throughout the nearby Puna District, which destroyed more than 700 homes from May until August. The summit area of the national park was drastically changed as the volcano triggered tens of thousands of earthquakes.

This was the largest eruption of the volcano in around 200 years. Most of the volcanic eruptions are confined to the crater, meaning they are not as destructive. But while the 2018 was unusual, officials keep a close eye on the volcano and its activity.

During an eruption, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory streams it live on its website, so it can be watched in real-time. Webcams are set up to view many different angles of the volcano and its caldera.

At the moment, the current activity around the volcano is “confined entirely” within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, meaning it is unlikely to cause danger to surrounding communities.

“HVO is in constant communication with Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park as this situation evolves,” the update said. “HVO continues to closely monitor this activity. Should activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued. Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow County of Hawai’i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.”

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