(BIVN) – Kīlauea is not erupting, and the USGS Volcano Alert Level remains at ADVISORY. 

The magma intrusion that generated seismic swarms and increased ground deformation from July 22 to July 25 is no longer occurring, however minor seismic activity and ground deformation has continued at the summit and upper-to-middle East Rift Zone. That includes a cluster of earthquakes east of Maunaulu near Makaopuhi Crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Scientists say this activity “does not currently indicate intrusion growth via new magma being supplied from the summit.” 

All roads in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that were temporarily closed due to the recent magma intrusion have been reopened. The Maunaulu parking lot and access road remain closed to vehicles due to significant cracks and buckling in the pavement. 

From the Thursday update provided by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: 

Summit Observations: Over the past 24 hours, a few earthquakes were detected beneath Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) at depths of 1–3 km (0.6–1.8 mi) below the ground surface. Tiltmeters in Kīlauea summit region recorded minor inflation. The most recent measurement of the summit’s SO2 emission rate was approximately 65 tonnes per day on July 23, 2024.

Above Top: Number of earthquakes per day during the past week (blue bars). The red line is the cumulative moment (energy) release. Bottom: Depth of earthquakes during the past week in the area shown on the map above. Depth is reported relative to sea level, which is equal to a depth of zero on the above plot. On both figures, circle-size represents magnitude, and color indicates depth. (USGS graphs)

Rift Zone Observations: Approximately 86 earthquakes were detected beneath the upper East Rift Zone (UERZ) over the past 24 hours, at depths of 1–5 km (0.6–3 mi) below the ground surface. The ESC tiltmeter in the UERZ recorded no inflation or deflation. The cluster of earthquakes east of Maunaulu near Makaopuhi Crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park continued, with about 26 events detected over the past day. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone—the site of 1983–2018 eruptive activity—remain below detection limits for SO2, indicating that SO2 emissions from this area are negligible.

Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the lower East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low.

Analysis: Pulses of earthquakes and ground deformation beneath Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone from July 22-25, 2024, represented stages of an intrusion between Pauahi Crater and Maunaulu. Continuing earthquakes and ground deformation in the area between Maunaulu and Makaopuhi Crater slightly downrift, in the middle East Rift Zone, likely reflect local adjustments due to changes in pressurization from the intrusion. This activity does not currently indicate intrusion growth via new magma being supplied from the summit. Additional swarms may occur with little or no warning and result in either intrusion of additional magma or eruption of lava.