On March 30, 2018, a change occurred within the ranks of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s staff when geophysicist Asta Miklius retired. One month later, a collapse at Pu‘u ‘O‘o heralded the start of Kilauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapses.
In the subsequent chaos of the 2018 volcanic events, Asta’s 30-year career with the HVO deformation group was never properly acknowledged.
With the volcanic crisis underway, Asta immediately stepped up to assist with HVO’s eruption response — a testament to her commitment to HVO and the Island of Hawaii. She then accepted a part-time position with HVO, where she continued working through 2019.
Today, we honor the exceptional contributions of our HVO colleague and friend, who at the end of this month, again, “retires” — for real, this time.
Asta grew up in Chicago and earned bachelor and master of science degrees in geology, petrology and geophysics from the University of Illinois. In 1988, she joined HVO’s staff.
At HVO, Asta monitored the deformation of Hawaiian volcanoes and researched how this information could be used to better understand the inner workings of Kilauea and Mauna Loa. She oversaw the transition from older technologies, such as measuring surface motion with lasers, to modern techniques — most notably the continuous global positioning system (GPS) network on the Island of Hawaii. Asta also worked to install and operate several other sophisticated instruments, including borehole tiltmeters, borehole strainmeters and continuous gravimeters.
Her job at HVO was neither small nor easy. Instruments needed maintenance, data analysis involved complex computer processing routines and new technologies required evaluation. This meant Asta had to be a research scientist, electrical engineer, IT specialist, office manager and field technician all at the same time.
Thanks to her commitment to excellence, Asta ensured HVO’s geodesy network was always one of the best, if not the best, in the world. Particularly adept at collaboration, she worked with U.S. and international scientists to conduct experiments and pursue cutting-edge research.
During Asta’s career, HVO hosted numerous USGS scientists who generally rotated in from mainland positions for a few years. Through these many transitions, Asta was the glue that kept HVO’s deformation effort together. Credit for HVO’s reputation as a leader in volcano deformation research and monitoring largely belongs to her.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Asta led the charge to better instrument Mauna Loa with GPS stations and was the first to recognize the complex deformation occurring at the volcano. She showed that the south side of Mauna Loa is sliding southward, much like at Kilauea, and that the complex pattern of uplift at Mauna Loa’s summit is because of multiple magma reservoirs rather than one simple source as had long been assumed.
Asta also lent her expertise to studies of Kilauea, recognizing that magma supply to the volcano fluctuates and impacts eruptive activity. In staff discussions, especially during the dramatic events leading to the 2018 summit collapse, Asta’s voice was one of the most respected in the room. She used her incredible experience and insight to guide scientific and societal responses to Kilauea’s activity, and mentored HVO staff in their responses to volcanic events.
In addition to her research and monitoring work, Asta led the effort to modernize HVO’s data management system, helping integrate all data streams (deformation, seismic, gas and others) into a common database so scientists can better understand changes that occur on volcanoes. Tools that Asta maintained are now used by volcano observatories around the world.
Asta also tirelessly contributes time to island communities. Her well-known efforts include the restoration of native ecosystems and the rescue of animals, especially during volcanic crises. In 1990, Asta evacuated cats and dogs from Kalapana as lava flows approached, adopting her long-time feline companion, Lili, in the process. In 2018, Asta again helped save hundreds of pets and livestock from encroaching lava flows. Her kindness touches everyone she meets.
We thank you, Asta, for your friendship and unselfish dedication to HVO and Hawaii. Both are better places because of your wisdom and compassion — and we are all better people for knowing and working alongside you.
You are indeed a shining star. We wish you all the best!
Volcano activity update
Kilauea Volcano is not erupting and its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at Normal (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Updates for Kilauea are now issued monthly.
Kilauea monitoring data showed no significant changes in activity during the past month. Seismicity was relatively consistent with some episodic increased rates at the summit coincident with inflation. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are low at the summit and below detection limits at Pu‘u ‘O‘o and the lower East Rift Zone. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at Advisory. This alert level does not mean an eruption is imminent or progression to an eruption is certain.
This past week, about 70 small-magnitude earthquakes (all less than M2.0) were detected beneath the upper elevations of Mauna Loa. Deformation measurements show continued summit inflation. Fumarole temperature and gas concentrations on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable.
Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly. For more info on the status of the volcano, go to https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/status.html
Two earthquakes with three or more felt reports occurred on Hawaii Island this past week: a magnitude-3.3 quake 53 km (33 mi) northeast of Hawaiian Beaches at 34 km (21 mi) depth at 6:07 p.m. Dec. 2 at 6:07 p.m. and a magnitude-3.4 quake 10 km (6 mi) north of Pahala at 12 km (7 mi) depth at 8:47 p.m. Nov. 30.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kilauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
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. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html) is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.