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HONOLULU (AP) – The ground atop the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has rumbled and swelled in recent days, prompting scientists to warn the mountain may again be disgorging lava. But there is no indication that an eruption is imminent. The volcano, which is among the most active in the world, behaved similarly in the past without any magma erupting on the surface.
Here is an overview of the latest developments at Kilauea:
WHAT ACTIVITY ARE SCIENTISTS AIMING FOR?
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Monday noticed a wave of earthquakes and swelling of the ground in the southern part of the crater atop Kilauea. There are indications that the magma is moving about half a mile to a mile (1 to 2 kilometers) below the surface.
It is not uncommon for Kilauea to experience earthquakes, which could indicate that the rocks are moving. It is also not unusual for the soil to swell, as the heat of the sun and the saturation of the rain can cause the soil to expand and contract.
However, earthquakes and swelling of the ground at the same time can indicate that the magma is moving.
“We have a lot of earthquakes here and we have a lot of warping here, but the combination of the two makes us a lot more aware,” said Jefferson Chang, a geophysicist at the observatory, part of the US Geological Survey.
There have been hundreds of earthquakes since Monday, hitting up to 25 times per hour. The highest measured magnitude is 3, with most falling between magnitudes 1 and 2. At these levels, earthquakes are usually too small for people to notice. Chang said there had been no reports of people feeling them.
WHERE DOES THE ACTIVITY TAKE PLACE?
It occurs atop Kilauea Volcano, an uninhabited area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. It’s about 200 miles southeast of Honolulu, which is on another island called Oahu
The site is miles from the nearest town. The park has closed this part of the summit to the public since 2008.
Ben Hayes, responsible for the park’s interpretive and education program, said the park was bracing for a potential eruption, but said there was no cause for concern. “It’s a natural process on one of the most active volcanoes in the world,” he said.
HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?
Chang said scientists observed activity in the same part of the summit in 2015. This episode lasted for three days and the volcano did not erupt. Just like this time, the ground swelled. One difference is that there were more earthquakes then.
Kilauea’s last eruption in the southern part of its caldera or crater dates back to 1974.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION ?
The earthquake swarm stopped around 4.30am on Monday. The swelling of the soil also decreased. But activity could resume. Chang said that sometimes there is a lull in activity that lasts for a day or two.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CHANGE THE ALERT LEVEL?
The observatory changed the alert level of the Kilauea volcano to pass Tuesday’s advisory, meaning the mountain was showing increased unrest with increased eruption potential.
But scientists don’t know when this rash may occur, if it does. If scientists believe a dangerous eruption is imminent, they will change the alert level to a warning.
The observatory also changed the aviation color code to “orange,” alerting pilots that there is a potential for a blowout and that they may need to avoid the area if a blowout occurs.
HOW FREQUENCY HAS THE KILAUEA ELECTED BEFORE?
Hawaiian songs and stories tell the tales of countless eruptions. In Hawaiian tradition, Kilauea is home to the volcano goddess Pele.
Kilauea has erupted 34 times since 1952. From 1983 to 2018, it erupted almost continuously, in some cases sending lava flows that covered farms and homes. At the end of this decades-long eruption, Kilauea spat out lava through the vents of a residential neighborhood on its eastern flank and destroyed more than 700 homes.
In December, Kilauea erupted at the crater, creating a lake with enough lava to fill 10 Hoover Dams. This eruption ended in May.
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