Activity Summary: Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. A seismic swarm that began on June 27 beneath the upper East Rift Zone -- just southeast of the summit region -- escalated in intensity last night, though the earthquake rate has eased slightly this morning. There were no significant changes in ground deformation associated with this escalation of seismicity, but longer-term inflation of the summit and upper rift zones has persisted since the end of the June 3, 2024, eruption. Any substantial increases in seismicity and/or deformation could result in a new eruptive episode, but there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time.
Summit and Upper Rift Zone Observations: There were over 500 earthquakes detected beneath the upper East Rift Zone and surrounding areas over the past 24 hours, mostly at depths of 1.5-3 km (1-1.8 mi). Seismicity was already elevated as part of a swarm that began on June 27, then the earthquake rate further escalated late yesterday, reaching a peak of approximately 30 events per hour around midnight. The largest of these earthquakes were four M3.0 events that occurred near the intersection between Chain of Craters Road and Hilina Pali Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, at similar depths to the rest of the swarm. This morning, the earthquake rate has slowed to approximately 20 earthquakes per hour, which still represents heightened unrest compared to before the June 27 swarm.
There were no obvious changes in ground deformation associated with the escalation of seismicity, but slowing inflationary tilt over the past few days has transitioned to slight deflationary tilt: instruments at Uēkahuna northwest of the summit and at Sand Hill southwest of the summit respectively recorded approximately 7 microradians and 2 microradians of net deflation over the past 24 hours. GPS instruments around the summit region continue to show slow, longer-term inflation since the end of the June 3, 2024 eruption. The most recent measurement of the summit's SO emission rate was approximately 75 tonnes per day on June 28.
For more information about the escalation of the seismic unrest, see the Kīlauea Status Report issued early this morning: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-06-30T10:25:17+00:00.
Middle and Lower Rift Zone Observations: Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the middle and lower East Rift Zone and lower Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Recent eruptive activity and ongoing unrest have been restricted to the summit and upper rift zone regions. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone -- the site of 1983-2018 eruptive activity -- remain below detection limits for SO, indicating that SO emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.
Analysis: Following the eruption on June 3, 2024, magma has been repressurizing the storage system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region, activating earthquakes in the upper East Rift Zone and in the caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu. At this time, it is not possible to say whether this increase in activity will lead to an intrusion or an eruption in the near future, or simply continue as seismic unrest at depth. With the earthquake rate easing slightly this morning, there are no signs of an imminent eruption at this time.
Previous eruptions and intrusions beneath the upper East Rift Zone have occurred in the vicinity of Pauahi Crater and Hiʻiaka Crater to the southeast of the summit, and around Luamanu and Keanakākoʻi Craters at the margin of the summit caldera. This region erupted several times during the 1960s-1970s; the most recent eruption took place over a single day in November 1979 within and near to Pauahi Crater.
Currently, there is no indication that magma is moving towards the June 3, 2024, eruption site southwest of the caldera. However, changes in the character and location of unrest can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption.
Updates: The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) will continue to provide daily updates for Kīlauea volcano. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.
Recent Eruption Information: Kīlauea erupted briefly on June 3, 2024, southwest of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. For more information about this eruption, see this webpage: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/june-2024-kilauea-southwest-rift-zone-eruption.
Hazards: Hazards remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of the rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since early 2008.
Near the recent Southwest Rift Zone eruption site, minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features may continue to widen and offset, may have unstable overhanging edges, and should be avoided. Hazards associated with the recent lava flows include glassy (sharp) surfaces that can cause serious abrasions, and lacerations upon contact with unprotected or exposed skin; uneven and rough terrain that can lead to falls and other injuries; or, locally elevated levels of volcanic gases that can lead to breathing difficulty.
For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea Volcano.
Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.