Scientists detect earthquake swarm at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano

More than 140 earthquakes were recorded.

Geologists on August 24 said they had detected a swarm of earthquakes at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, though it was not erupting.

The quakes began overnight and continued into the morning, The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.

More than 140 earthquakes were recorded as of 4.30 a.m. The largest was magnitude 3.3. Most were less than magnitude 1.

At the same time as the swarm, scientists recorded changes to the ground surface of the volcano. That may indicate magma was moving beneath the southern part of Kilauea’s caldera, the observatory said. There was no evidence of lava at the surface.

The observatory changed its volcano alert level to ‘watch’ from ‘advisory’, meaning Kilauea is showing heightened or escalating unrest with more potential for an eruption.

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, having erupted 34 times since 1952. Kilauea is about 200 miles south of Honolulu, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Source: Read Full Article