Earthquake Swarm VS20140218.1: Seismic Activity Near Volcano, Hawaii

Earthquake swarm VS20140218.1 was recorded 7 km SSW of Volcano, Hawaii, on the Big Island. The sequence began at 17:16 on 17 February 2014 and concluded at 17:31 on 20 February 2014, spanning 72 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 53 earthquakes were registered during this period.

The events clustered at shallow depths, predominantly between 0 and 7 km, with one outlier at 28 km. Magnitudes ranged from 0.7 to 2.2. Representative events include a magnitude 2.0 quake at 3 km depth on 17 February at 23:18, a magnitude 2.1 event at 2 km on 18 February at 06:00, and a magnitude 2.2 shock at 2 km on 19 February at 11:39. Three entries recorded as magnitude -9.0 appear in the dataset but do not alter the overall pattern of low-to-moderate intensity, shallow seismicity.

This swarm reflects typical unrest in Hawaii’s volcanic environment. The region lies within the active volcanic zone influenced by Kilauea, where magma movement and associated fluid pressure changes frequently generate earthquake sequences. Depths under 7 km align with the brittle upper crust above shallow magma reservoirs that feed the island’s shield volcanoes.

Hawaii’s geological setting results from hotspot volcanism. The Pacific Plate moves over a mantle plume, sustaining long-term eruptive activity. Kilauea, located near the swarm epicenter, has produced repeated effusive and explosive episodes throughout recorded history. Seismic swarms in this area often accompany dike intrusions or summit inflation, serving as indicators of subsurface magma transport.

Historical records maintained by SeismoSight document 34 swarms in the same locale since 1 January 2000. Annual counts show notable activity in 2003 (8 swarms) and 2004 (5 swarms), with additional clusters in 2007, 2011, and 2012. These recurring episodes underscore the persistent volcanic-tectonic stress regime that characterizes the southeast flank of the Big Island.

The February 2014 swarm fits within this established pattern of episodic, low-magnitude unrest. Such sequences provide valuable data for monitoring magma system dynamics without necessarily indicating imminent surface eruption. Continued seismic surveillance remains essential for interpreting future activity in this geologically dynamic setting.

References
SeismoSight internal swarm classification records (VS20140218.1).
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geological summaries of Kilauea activity.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park volcanic history documentation.