Water molecules (H₂O) are made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, but these atoms aren't always the same. Tracking how these atoms in water molecules differ is a powerful tool for tracing where snowmelt or rain seep into the ground, how water flows beneath the ground, and how long does water flow until the arrives at a hot spring.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) monitors volcanic activity across the Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa, helping to ensure public safety and support scientific research. Behind the scene...

Thermophiles thrive in hydrothermal features where scalding temperatures would burn other life. What can we learn from the unique adaptations of these heat-loving microorganisms?

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Apply now for a fully funded Postdoctoral position in Geosciences and Volcanology at CNRS, Paris. ERC-funded - Deadline: 3 Oct 2025.

If only we could stick a thermometer into a magma chamber…  That’s not really possible, but fortunately each mineral in a volcanic deposit is like a microscopic thermometer that records magma chamber ...

Ever wonder who collects hats blown into Yellowstone hot springs, repairs damage to bacterial mats or thermal ground, and monitors the health of Yellowstone’s thermal features?  Meet the Yellowstone G...

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Geologic mapping has come a long way—from paper maps to powerful digital databases. But how do researchers store and organize all this data? Join us as we explore the role of geodatabases.

Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption transformed the lower Puna District of the Island of Hawaiʻi, including its coastline, where 875 acres of new land were added in a large lava delta. The area is still subject t...

Massive volcanoes dot the Cascade Range from British Columbia into Northern California, but what about the space in between the peaks? Volcanoes in those places aren’t unlike those found along the tra...

The past eight months have provided the Island of Hawaiʻi with spectacles of lava fountains at Kīlauea’s summit. These historic episodes began on December 23, 2024, consistently offering locals and vi...

Deformation of Earth’s surface can be very subtle.  Accurately detecting how the ground moves in the Yellowstone area requires the right frame of reference.

When most people think of erupting water, they probably have geysers, like Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, in mind. However, Kīlauea and its diverse style of eruptions are also signi...

The are many types of fluids that flow between the deep mantle underlying Yellowstone National Park and the atmosphere above it. These fluids drive volcanic and geyser eruptions and transport the sign...

As part of a growing national effort to understand seafloor hazards, scientists from the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Volcano Science Center (VSC) are working across agencies to investigat...

Sasquatch is a mythical creature with scant evidence to support its existence.  Likewise, eruptions from Black Diamond Pool since last July were almost mythical, with few sightings and ambiguous evide...

Earthquakes and tsunamis in the news over the past few days are a reminder that we live on a dynamic planet with different hazards and associated response times. While tsunamis generated by large, dis...

Online sources are saying that animals are fleeing Yellowstone National Park.  This isn’t the first time such claims have been made. And just like before, they aren’t true.

Calculating earthquake magnitudes can be a challenge in places like Yellowstone, where lots of small seismic events can occur in rapid succession. But artificial intelligence approaches offer a potent...

Lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea have been shining a spotlight on Hawaii’s most active volcano but let us not forget the larger one looming in the background of Kīlauea. Mauna Loa is currently ...