One of the marvelous aspects of our modern, Internet-connected world is the ability to share vast amounts of data at the speed of light across the globe.
Increasingly, government agencies responsible for monitoring hazardous processes (such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) are taking advantage of technology to use resources efficiently and support public safety. A great example is how the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo., helps us here in Hawaii.
The location of NEIC seems odd at first. We are often asked, “There aren’t many earthquakes in Colorado, why is the NEIC there?”
The relatively low seismic hazard in Colorado compared to Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast makes it an ideal backup location in case a large earthquake or other natural disaster disrupts a local seismic network (such as the one used by Hawaii Volcano Observatory) to monitor earthquake and volcanic activity here in Hawaii). In addition, there are major telecommunications hubs that run through the Denver area.
The NEIC takes advantage of these to ensure highly reliable connectivity with lots of communication capacity.
The role of NEIC as remote backup already has proven its worth.
Indeed, during Hurricane Iselle, HVO systems were down for several days, during which the NEIC backed up HVO’s earthquake monitoring operations. Though there weren’t any large earthquakes during the outage, NEIC could have located the event and assigned a magnitude, if needed.
HVO personnel also were in contact with scientists at the NEIC to provide local expertise.
Also during the outage, a single temporary station was installed to monitor Kilauea volcano’s summit. Data from this station was collected by the NEIC using a cell modem radio because HVO had no communications or power. When Internet was available, HVO scientists based in Hilo could then see the data in Golden and
keep track of Kilauea volcano.
But, the NEIC is much more than just a backup for the local authorities.
The NEIC monitors earthquakes worldwide using a global network of seismometers supplemented by regional seismic networks (such as those operated by HVO).
With this global coverage, the NEIC is able to analyze earthquakes worldwide down to about M4.5 or less.
So, when a large earthquake occurs in Japan, Indonesia, Nepal or elsewhere in the world, the magnitude and location reported in the news typically are from the NEIC.
In order to be able to respond to earthquakes anywhere in the world at any hour, the NEIC is in operation 24 hours each day, seven days a week.
At least two geophysicists are on duty at the NEIC at all times.
HVO now uses the NEIC’s 24/7 capability to better monitor volcanoes on Hawaii Island. Currently, geophysicists at the NEIC check on Kilauea and Mauna Loa in the middle of the night Hawaii time to make sure nothing out of the ordinary is happening at either volcano.
This helps HVO more closely provide 24/7 “eyes on the data” without additional staffing.
The program has been successful enough thus far that the Alaska Volcano Observatory is planning to use NEIC for overnight checks of critical volcanoes in Alaska by the end of the summer.
The NEIC also is a leader in software and data visualization innovation.
Several powerful computer programs HVO relies on to monitor earthquakes were developed at the NEIC. Of public interest, the NEIC develops and operates the Earthquake Notification Service, where anyone can sign up to receive notices of earthquakes around the world (https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/).
The NEIC also developed and operates Hawaii’s Shakemap, Did You Feel It? and PAGER products, all very popular among earthquake enthusiasts and emergency managers, far and wide. The NEIC website that delivers these products along with earthquake locations and magnitudes is a rich source of earthquake information. We invite you to check it out: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/
So, despite its location in landlocked Colorado, the National Earthquake Information Center is an important part of the seismic and volcano monitoring effort at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Working with NEIC, HVO will continue to improve the ability of the public in Hawaii to explore earthquake information in intuitive and useful ways.
Kilauea activity update
Kilauea’s summit lava lake level fluctuated during the past week, but remained well below the Overlook crater (vent) rim and out of direct view from Jaggar Museum.
On the morning of June 11, the lake was about 49 m (161 ft) below the current floor of Halema‘uma‘u.
Kilauea’s East Rift Zone lava flow continues to feed widespread breakouts northeast of Pu‘u ‘O‘o. Active flows remain within about 8 km (5 mi) of Pu‘u ‘O‘o.
No felt earthquakes were reported on the Island of Hawaii in the past week.
Visit the HVO website (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov) for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea daily eruption updates and other volcano status reports, current volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary update; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/) is a weekly article and activity update written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey`s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
