On June 8, many Hawaii Island residents were awakened by a sharp jolt just past 7 a.m. This natural wake-up call was caused by a magnitude-5.3 earthquake, the largest to strike Hawaii in more than a decade.
As seismic waves rippled across the island, people described a roaring or rumbling sound as vibrations passed through their homes, rattling items on walls and shelves.
Almost 1,000 people submitted felt reports for the earthquake through the USGS Did You Feel It? website (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi).
Submissions came in from as far away as the leeward coast of Oahu, some 310 miles away.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory received several reports of moderate shaking from around Hawaii Island.
There also were reports of minor damage from Volcano to Hilo, including a small rockfall on Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Mahalo to everyone who submits Did You Feel It? (DYFI) reports after an earthquake. By doing so, you contribute to the USGS monitoring program and help us keep you informed and safe.
Data from DYFI reports are translated into felt intensity, which describes what people experience during an earthquake. The USGS also records ground shaking intensity with strong motion accelerometers.
The geographic distribution of these intensities is portrayed through a USGS product called ShakeMap. The maps combine quantitative data from seismometers and qualitative data from DYFI felt reports to paint a picture of shaking for each earthquake.
This information aids post-disaster response, as well as earthquake risk mitigation.
The ShakeMap for the June 8 earthquake shows that the strongest ground motions corresponded to a maximum intensity of VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/mercalli.php). An intensity value of VI means strong shaking was felt by all and minor damage occurred in the earthquake vicinity.
This was the highest intensity recorded for any earthquake in the state since the Kiholo Bay and Mahukona earthquake sequence in 2006.
Instruments near the epicenter of the June 8 earthquake recorded maximum accelerations of 0.16g, which is 16 percent as strong as Earth’s gravitational force.
Accelerations vary up and down as the seismic waves pass. If the earthquake had been larger (greater than magnitude 6.0), the acceleration likely would have exceeded 1g, or 100 percent times Earth’s gravity.
When that happens, objects can be lifted off the ground momentarily. People have observed such “jumping rocks” during past large earthquakes on Hawaii Island.
The June 8 earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers (4 miles) beneath Kilauea Volcano’s south flank, slightly above the fault separating the old oceanic crust from younger volcanic rocks that make up the island. Earthquakes along this fault occur when the massive volcanic pile shifts relative to the oceanic crust.
The largest Hawaiian earthquakes in recorded history, including the destructive magnitude-7.9 and -7.7 events in 1868 and 1975, respectively, have occurred along this interface.
Thankfully, the impacts of last month’s magnitude-5.3 earthquake were relatively light. But the next big earthquake could have a different outcome.
Before it happens, create a quake-safe plan, put together an emergency kit and keep it handy.
And the next time you feel strong shaking, remember these three actions: Drop, cover and hold on! (https://www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon/).
If you’re near the beach when a strong earthquake strikes, head to higher ground away from the shore as soon as shaking stops.
This could save your life in case of a locally generated tsunami.
To learn more about how you, your family and co-workers can prepare for the next big earthquake, we invite you to participate in the Great Hawaii ShakeOut on Oct. 19 (http://shakeout.org/hawaii).
The ShakeOut website features educational videos, fliers and other materials that describe what to do in a variety of earthquake hazard scenarios.
The June 8 earthquake served as a wake-up call in more ways than just disturbing sleep.
It reminded us that Hawaii is earthquake country, and we all should be prepared for the next one.
Volcano activity updates
This past week, Kilauea Volcano’s summit lava lake level was relatively stable, ranging from 25-30 meters (82-98 feet) below the vent rim, with fluctuations in concert with summit inflation and deflation.
On the East Rift Zone, the 61g flow remained active, with lava entering the ocean near Kamokuna and surface breakouts downslope of Pu‘u ‘O‘o. The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. During the past week, small-magnitude earthquakes continued to occur beneath the volcano, primarily in the south caldera and upper Southwest Rift Zone, at depths of less than 5 kilometers (3 miles).
GPS measurements continue to show deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone.
No significant changes in volcanic gas emissions were measured.
One earthquake with three or more felt reports occurred on Hawaii Island during the past week.
At 9:46 a.m. July 24, a magnitude-3.3 earthquake struck 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of Kalaoa at a depth of 34 kilometers (21 miles).
Visit the HVO website (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo) for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, recent earthquakes info, and more.
Call for summary updates at 967-8862 (Kilauea) or 967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/) is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists.
