HONOLULU (AP) – Lands on the summit of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii have been reeling and swelling in recent days, prompting scientists to warn that the mountain could once again erupt the lava. But there are no indications that an eruption is imminent. The volcano, which is one of the most active in the world, has behaved similarly in the past without any magma breaking the surface.
Here’s an overview of Kilauea’s latest developments:
WHAT ACTIVITY DO SCIENTISTS SEE?
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Monday observed a wave of earthquakes and a swelling of the ground in the southern part of the crater at the summit of Kilauea. There are indications that the magma is moving approximately 1 to 2 kilometers below the surface.
It is not uncommon for Kilauea to have earthquakes, which could indicate that rocks are moving. Nor is it uncommon for the ground to swell, as the heat of the sun and the saturation of the rain can cause the ground to expand and contract.
However, earthquakes and ground swelling at the same time may indicate that magma is moving.
“We have a lot of earthquakes here and we have a lot of deformation here, but the combination of the two makes us much more aware,” said Jefferson Chang, the observatory’s geophysicist, who is part of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Since Monday there have been hundreds of earthquakes, which struck up to 25 times per hour. The strongest measured magnitude 3, with the majority between magnitude 1 and 2 At these levels, earthquakes are usually too small for people to notice. Chang said there have been no reports of people hearing them.
WHERE IS THE ACTIVITY?
It takes place at the top of Kilauea Volcano, an uninhabited area within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. It is located about 200 kilometers southeast of Honolulu, which is on a different island called Oahu.
The place is located miles from the nearest town. The park has been closing this part of the summit to the public since 2008.
Ben Hayes, manager of the park’s interpretation and education program, said the park is preparing for a possible eruption, but said there is nothing to be alarmed about. “It’s a natural process in one of the most active volcanoes in the world,” he said.
HAS IT HAPPENED BEFORE?
Chang said scientists observed activity in the same part of the summit in 2015. That episode lasted three days and the volcano did not erupt. Like this time, the ground swelled. One difference is that then there were more earthquakes.
The last time Kilauea exploded in the southern part of its caldera or crater was in 1974.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION?
The earthquake group stopped around 4:30 a.m. Monday. The swelling of the ground has also decreased. But the activity could return. Chang said there is sometimes a break in activity that lasts a day or two.
WHAT DOES CHANGING THE ALERT LEVEL MEAN?
The observatory changed the alert level of Kilauea volcano to observe it from advice on Tuesday, meaning the mountain showed intense discomfort with a greater potential for eruption.
But scientists do not know when this eruption may occur. If scientists believe a dangerous eruption is imminent, they will change the alert level to warn.
The observatory also changed the aviation’s color code to “orange,” alerting pilots that there is potential for an eruption and that, if it occurs, they may have to avoid the area.
HOW MANY TIMES HAS KILAUEA BEEN BURSTED BEFORE?
Hawaiian songs and stories tell stories of countless eruptions. According to 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 covering farms and houses. At the end of this decade of eruption, Kilauea threw lava from the ventilation ducts of a residential neighborhood on its eastern flank and destroyed more than 700 homes.
In December, Kilauea erupted in the crater, creating a lake with enough lava to fill 10 Hoover dams. That eruption ended in May.