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Earthquake Under Kilauea Volcano Shakes Hawaii

August 13, 2013 by
A USGS map of the earthquake under Kilauea Volcano.

A 4.9 earthquake strikes beneath Kilauea Volcano, August 11, 2013 – USGS

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Hawaii, 5 miles south of the summit of Kilauea Volcano and at a depth of about 20 miles under the island. Tsunami watches went out, but no tsunami was generated – luckily.

Many “Big Island” residents felt the shaking and people as far away as Oahu and Maui reported feeling the earthquake. Over 400 reports were received within the first hour of the earthquake.

The 5.9 quake was followed minutes later by a 3.4 quake and a 2.9 quake as the activity settled down and the region reached equilibrium.

A Volcano-Quake

An underwater volcano smoking ash.

Underwater volcanic earthquakes should be taken seriously – especially for the residents on the island.

Wes Thelen, Hawaii’s Seismic Network Manager, said that these earthquakes were most likely structural adjustment of the Earth’s crust due to the weight of the island on the underlying mantle.

I disagree, and wonder why he doesn’t take this deeper (sorry about the pun). The Pacific Rim is more active today than it has been in recorded history, with an increase in both large earthquakes and volcanic activity.

The Earth’s oceans are warming, the crust is heating up, and the planet is shifting – big time. 

This 4.9 magnitude quake under the Kilauea Volcano signals that the magma deep beneath Kilauea is moving upward. For this much movement to occur, a shift in the mantle has taken place, yes, but this is not due to the weight of the “island” – it is due to the movement of hot magma coming closer to the Earth’s surface under Kilauea.

THIS was a volcano-quake.

Take It In Stride

Sometimes I wonder if earthquake magnitudes are kept just under the mark to make the increase in magnitudes seem lower – like 4.9 amd 5.9 as opposed to 5.0 and 6.0. This sounds less threatening, right? It serves little purpose to keep the people living near an active volcano in the dark. Have you ever watched the movie Dante’s Peak?

Watch it!

Be prepared, and stay aware. Enjoy the Hawaiian paradise, but also know that things are heating up under your feet!

Filed Under: Earthquakes, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , ,

Volcanic Earthquakes Increase Threats Of Eruptions

June 5, 2013 by
A picture of a volcano erupting.

Earthquakes increase in volcanic areas.

Earthquake activity is increasing in areas of dangerous volcanism, and when quakes increase in volcanic areas, the threat of natural disasters doubles.

Quakes and Eruptions June 4, 2013

Kuril’sk, Russia – Chirinkota Volcano

  • 5.1, 4.7, 4.6, 5.5, 5.3, 4.7 magnitude quakes

Solomon Islands – Yasur Volcano (N of Vanuatu)

  • 6.1 magnitude quake

South America:

Chile – Copahue Volcano

  • 4.7 magnitude quake

Peru – Sabancaya Volcano

  • 5.2, 4.6 magnitude quakes

Argentina – Copahue Volcano

  • 4.5 magnitude quake

Guatemala – Pacaya Volcano

  • 4.4 magnitude quake

Pahala and Volcano, Hawaii – Underwater Volcanoes

One of the many underwater volcanoes erupting today.

Highly active underwater volcanos off Pahala, Hawaii.

  • 2.9, 2.5, 2.7, 5.3, 2.9, 3.0 magnitude quakes

Greenville, California – Lassen Volcano

  • 2.8, 2.7, 2.7, 2.7, 2.5, 3.1 magnitude quakes

Volcanic earthquakes are increasing as magma rises to the top of these volcanoes. Watch for an increase in Earth activity both above and below the ground.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Earthquakes, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , ,

5.2 Vanuatu And 5.3 Solomon Island Quakes Cause Flood Advisory For Hawaiian Islands

April 25, 2013 by
An USGS map of the Vanuatu island chain in the South Pacific Ocean.

The Vanuatu island chain in the South Pacific Ocean – USGS

The Pacific Rim woke up again on Wednesday morning. After another 6.5 magnitude quake hit the New Ireland Region of Papua, New Guinea in the midnight hours, Vanuatu started the day with a 5.2 magnitude quake, followed by a 5.3 on the Solomon Islands. These large earthquakes exacerbated flooding on the Hawaiian islands and along the island chains north of Australia and New Guinea.

Remember to keep an eye on earthquakes along the Vanuatu island chain – when big ones start in this island region, they create a chain reaction around the world.

Hawaii Under Water

Because of Hawaii’s location in the Pacific Ocean, large earthquakes occurring along the Pacific Rim (Ring of Fire) can create the threat of tsunami waves that travel toward this vulnerable island chain. Earthquakes from Alaska to the west coast of South America, as well as quakes on the western side of the Ring of Fire create underwater vibrations that “paddle” large waves into Hawaii’s path.

Less than a decade ago, you could count on one hand the number of large earthquakes occurring along the Ring of Fire . Today, the increase in significant earthquakes is occurring weekly, and now – daily. 

Will Hawaii get a break from the stirring ocean waters? Probably not as more earthquakes increase worldwide, and along the Ring of Fire.

Surf’s Up!

 

 

Filed Under: Earthquakes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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