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Loihi Volcano

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 08:49 GMT -
Submarine volcano -975 m / - 3,199 ft
United States, Hawaiian Islands, 18.92°N / -155.27°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 20 Jul 2022 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

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Typical eruption style: unspecified
Loihi volcano eruptions: 1996 

Latest nearby earthquakes

TimeMag. / DepthDistance / Location
Mar 25, 11:17 am (Honolulu)
Mar 25, 21:17 GMT
2.2

2.2 km
27 km (17 mi) to the N North Pacific Ocean, United States, 10.7 mi east of Pāhala, Hawaii County, Hawaii Info
Mar 24, 06:02 pm (Honolulu)
Mar 25, 04:02 GMT
2.3

27 km
27 km (17 mi) to the NW 12 km SSE of Pāhala, Hawaii Info
Friday, March 15, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 14, 02:39 pm (Honolulu)
Mar 15, 00:39 GMT
2.0

33 km
22 km (14 mi) to the NW 14 Km Ese of Naalehu, Hawaii Info
Sunday, March 24, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 24, 12:30 am (GMT -10)
Mar 24, 10:30 GMT
1.9

30 km
17 km (10.5 mi) to the NW 21 km SE of Pāhala, Hawaii Info
Friday, March 15, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 14, 05:56 pm (GMT -10)
Mar 15, 03:56 GMT
1.9

37 km
19 km (12 mi) to the NW 18 Km E of Naalehu, Hawaii Info
Monday, March 25, 2024 GMT (1 quake)
Mar 25, 01:16 am (Honolulu)
Mar 25, 11:16 GMT
1.8

26 km
27 km (17 mi) to the N 13 km ESE of Pāhala, Hawaii Info

Background

Loihi seamount, the youngest volcano of the Hawaiian chain, lies about 35 km off the SE coast of the island of Hawaii. Loihi (which is the Hawaiian word for "long") has an elongated morphology dominated by two curving rift zones extending north and south of the summit. The summit region contains a caldera about 3 x 4 km wide and is dotted with numerous lava cones, the highest of which is about 975 m below the sea surface. The summit platform includes two well-defined pit craters, sediment-free glassy lava, and low-temperature hydrothermal venting. An arcuate chain of small cones on the western edge of the summit extends north and south of the pit craters and merges into the crests of Loihi's prominent rift zones. Deep and shallow seismicity indicate a magmatic plumbing system distinct from that of Kilauea volcano. During 1996, a new pit crater was formed at the summit of the volcano, and lava flows were erupted. Continued volcanism is expected to eventually build a new island at Loihi; time estimates for the summit to reach the sea surface range from roughly 10,000 to 100,000 years.
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Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Latest satellite images

loihi satellite image sat1loihi satellite image sat2
Wed, 20 Jul 2022, 14:00

Kama'ehuakanaloa volcano (Hawaiian Islands, USA) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 13 July-19 July 2022 (Continuing Activity)

An earthquake swarm began at Kama'ehuakanaloa at about 0200 on 16 July and was characterized by seismic tremor accompanied by pulses of seismic energy every 15-20 seconds. The pattern of elevated seismicity continued through at least 1453 on 17 July, the posting time of the HVO's information statement. The report also noted that around 24 earthquakes in the M 1.8-3 range were recorded during 0130-0600 on 17 July. ... Read all
Mon, 18 Jul 2022, 18:37

Kama’ehuakanaloa submarine volcano (Hawai'i): seismic swarm

Swarm distribution under Kama’ehuakanaloa submarine volcano (image: HVO)
An elevated seismic activity has been registered beneath the submarine volcano by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) instruments starting about 02:00 local time on 16 July. ... Read all

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