Volcano awareness month

“Volcano Awareness Month” events in January 2012 offer island residents and visitors many opportunities to learn more about Hawaii’s active volcanoes.

During the month of January 2012, Hawaii Island residents and visitors are invited to participate in a number of events to learn more about the volcanoes on which they live, work, and play.

These events are part of Hawaii Island’s 3rd annual Volcano Awareness Month and a celebration of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s 100th anniversary.

Throughout the month, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, in cooperation with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, will offer talks in both East and West Hawaii, weekly guided hikes in the park, and other informative programs to promote awareness of Hawaii’s active volcanoes and the importance of understanding how volcanoes and earthquakes can impact the island.

HVO will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding with an Open House on Saturday, Jan. 21. Residents and visitors are invited to tour the observatory — not ordinarily open to the public — to see how volcanic and earthquake activity is monitored.

HVO staff will be available to answer questions about Hawaii’s volcanoes and to provide demonstrations about their work. HVO is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park next to the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, named for the geologist who founded HVO in 1912.

Topics

• Story of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s First 100 Years
• Mauna Loa: How Well Do You Know the Volcano in Your Backyard?
• A Seismic Time Machine: 100 Years of Earthquake Monitoring in Hawai‘i
• Explosive Eruptions at Kīlauea: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
• What's Up with Kīlauea and Mauna Loa?