Earthquakes in Hawaii are intimately related to the volcanoes. In addition to helping scientists track moving magma, sometimes they happen simply because the earth under the island chain gets bent out of shape.
Earth’s tectonic plates are made of the lithosphere, which is a mostly rigid layer extending from the crust into the upper mantle. As the Hawaiian Islands ride on top of the Pacific Plate, their immense weight bends, or flexes, the lithosphere. Like a bowling ball resting on a soft mattress, this bows the lithosphere downward in a moat-like depression centered on the main loading center under the Island of Hawaii. This results in stresses that can lead to earthquakes.
Seismologists call these events “flexural earthquakes” to reflect their cause (plate bending). The massive Island of Hawaii produces the largest force on the lithosphere because of its relatively young age, which results in forces on the underlying lithosphere that have not yet evened out.
The zone of maximum bending stress from this load extends about 100 km (62 mi) offshore from the island. As the plate readjusts back to a neutral position, it results in a raised bulge in the lithosphere that extends around Oahu about 300 km (186 mi) away. This is why earthquakes occasionally happen so far from the main area of seismic and volcanic activity on Hawaii Island.
There have been two examples of offshore flexural earthquakes in the past month. They include a magnitude-3.7 event Jan. 21 that occurred about 240 km (149 mi) east of the Island of Hawaii, and a magnitude-4.6 event Feb. 7, about 84 km (52 mi) southwest of the island.
The January event was too small and distant for anyone to feel. But the February earthquake produced shaking intensity up to VI on the Modified Mercalli scale (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/mercalli.php) and was reported by 115 citizens from Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu, up to 370 km (230 mi) from the epicenter. It was the largest earthquake felt in Hawaii since Aug. 9, 2018, when a magnitude-4.4 earthquake shook the Island of Hawaii.
Most earthquakes felt beyond Hawaii Island are presumed flexural earthquakes based on their estimated locations. Some historical examples include the magnitude-6.8 Lanai earthquake Feb. 19, 1871; magnitude-6.8 Maui earthquake Jan. 22, 1938; magnitude-5.2 Oahu earthquake June 28, 1948; magnitude-6.2 Honomu earthquake April 26, 1973; and magnitude-6.7 Kiholo Bay and 6.1 Mahukona earthquakes Oct. 15, 2006.
Flexural earthquakes are sometimes called “mantle earthquakes,” reflecting the fact that they often occur at depths within the Earth’s upper mantle rather than within the crust. Seismic waves travel more efficiently through the mantle compared with the crust. This is one reason why mantle earthquakes can have widespread and sometimes damaging effects, especially as their sizes can exceed the magnitude-6 range.
Thankfully, lithospheric flexure produces earthquakes in Hawaii less frequently than those directly related to active volcanism. Each year, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory records tens of thousands of earthquakes on and near Hawaii Island’s active volcanoes, compared with only a few hundred offshore flexural events.
The locations and magnitude parameters of earthquakes far offshore are not as well-constrained as events closer to the land-based seismic monitoring network. This is one reason why it’s more difficult for scientists to determine precise locations and depths for earthquakes that happen far from the islands.
Nevertheless, any type of earthquake can have hazard implications, so HVO maintains a constant vigil and closely monitors seismic activity in Hawaii.
The next time you feel an earthquake, even if you’re far from it, we encourage you to submit a felt report via the USGS “Did You Feel It?” website at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/. We also invite you to track earthquakes on HVO’s website at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes/.
Volcano activity updates
Kilauea is not erupting. Rates of seismicity, deformation and gas release have not changed significantly during the past week.
Three earthquakes with three or more felt reports occurred in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a magnitude-3.3 quake at 4:42 p.m. Feb. 13 occurred 13 km (8 mi) east of Honokaa at 6 km (4 mi) depth; a magnitude-2.1 quake at 9:43 a.m. Feb. 7 occurred 14 km (9 mi) southwest of Leilani Estates at 3 km (2 mi) depth; and a magnitude-4.6 quake at 9:06 a.m. Feb. 7 occurred 85 km (53 mi) southwest of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates at 27 km (17 mi) depth.
Deformation signals are consistent with refilling of Kilauea Volcano’s deep East Rift Zone. Sulfur dioxide emission rates in the lower ERZ have been below detection limits since early September 2018. Sulfur dioxide emission rates at Kilauea’s summit and middle ERZ remain low, with each generally less than 30 tonnes/day. Occasional sulfur odors detected in some areas of Hawaii Island are explained in a previous Volcano Watch article: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html?vwid=1392.
Hazardous conditions still exist at the lower ERZ and summit of Kilauea. Residents and visitors in the lower Puna District and Kilauea summit areas should stay informed and heed Hawaii County Civil Defense closures, warnings and messages (http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts). HVO continues to closely monitor Kilauea for any sign of increased activity.
The USGS Volcano Alert level for Mauna Loa remains at Normal.
Visit HVO’s website (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo) for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info and more. Call 808-967-8862 for weekly Kilauea updates. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html) is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.