Recent Magma Movement and Surface Changes at Kīlauea Volcano
Recent satellite images and earthquakes show that magma is pushing into cracks near the surface at Kīlauea volcano. Scientists say this activity changes the volcano's normal eruption patterns, but the exact future outcome is still unknown.
In short: Recent satellite images and earthquakes show that magma is pushing into cracks near the surface at Kīlauea volcano. Scientists say this activity changes the volcano's normal eruption patterns, but the exact future outcome is still unknown.
Deep beneath the surface of Kīlauea volcano, molten rock is squeezing into old cracks and shaking the ground, pushing scientists to update how they track its ongoing eruption.
What happened, in plain words
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory tracked a series of about 130 earthquakes and ground tilting at Kīlauea. Satellite images later revealed that magma moved into a sheet-like body called a dike near the surface of the volcano's summit caldera.
Key points
- Magma Intrusion and Earthquakes An earthquake swarm began on September 30, with about 130 total events recorded, including a magnitude-3.5 earthquake on October 2.
- Satellite Mapping Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite images from the Italian Space Agency helped scientists map the narrow path of the underground magma.
- Changing Eruption Patterns The volcano's usual patterns of steady inflation before lava fountaining have shifted, pointing to growing instability in the system.
- Possible Future Scenarios Scientists outlined several potential outcomes, ranging from a return to lava fountaining and new vents to continued underground intrusions or even the end of the eruption.
Terms explained
- Magma — Molten or melted rock located beneath the Earth's surface. Example: Melted wax inside a sealed candle that is getting very hot underground.
- Caldera — A large crater that forms when the ground sinks after an eruption empties magma from beneath it. Example: A large bowl-shaped depression left behind in the dirt after a heavy weight collapses the center.
- Dike — A sheet-like vertical body of magma that squeezes into cracks underground. Example: A thin layer of frosting squeezed straight up into a crack between two layers of cake.
- Seismicity — The occurrence or frequency of earthquakes in a specific area. Example: A series of small table rumbles and shakes happening over and over in a room.
Why it matters
Understanding how magma moves helps officials and park staff keep visitors safe from hazards like unexpected rockfalls, volcanic gases, and ground cracks.
What we still don't know
Scientists cannot forecast the exact outcome of the current activity, and the exact shape and size of the underground dike could not be determined by earthquakes and tilt data alone.
Source: USGS. The original is licensed Domínio público (EUA), exceto conteúdo de terceiros. This text is an AI-assisted adaptation (summarized, simplified and translated) and may differ from the original.