Earth’s magnetic field surrounds us every second of the day, everywhere on the planet. Anyone who has picked up a pocket compass and seen the magnetic needle quickly align itself has seen the action of this ever-present invisible field. But can we harness the magnetic field to forecast volcanic activity? Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid us in doing so.
Volcano Watch: Staff at HVO study volcanic processes and associated hazards in Hawaiʻi, with the emphasis and end goal of protecting life and property. The backbone of the observatory is the monitoring network, consisting of a diverse array of instruments located on the flanks of the volcanoes. These instruments relay data back to the observatory, providing information on the behavior of Hawaiʻi’s active volcanoes.
There is no tsunami threat to Maui following a preliminary magnitude 4.6 earthquake, located in the deep ocean northeast of Maui. The quake occurred at 11:29 a.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
A shallow earthquake swarm has been detected beneath the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, accompanied by significant surface tilt excursion, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. HVO scientists say resumption of eruptive activity at Kīlauea summit is likely imminent.
Measurements of gravity can be used to determine how mass is distributed beneath a volcano. At Kīlauea, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory performs routine microgravity surveys to monitor volcanic activity and to determine changes in gravity.