Researchers Map Twin Magma Reservoirs Beneath Kīlauea

A dense seismometer array revealed two separate magma storage zones under the Hawaiian volcano's summit caldera.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Geology

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of a dark layered rock cutaway with two glowing orange magma pockets at different depths. — Researchers using a dense seismometer array identified two separate magma storage reservoirs beneath the summit of Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Researchers identified two magma storage reservoirs beneath Kīlauea's summit, one beneath the Halemaʻumaʻu crater and another beneath the south caldera. The findings were published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth.

Why it matters

Kīlauea erupted almost continuously from 1983 to 2018 and began a new eruption series in late 2024, yet scientists previously lacked a sharp seismic image of magma storage beneath the summit. The clearer picture of how magma is stored helps explain the volcano's behavior for residents across Hawaii.

The study combined natural seismic signals with controlled vibrations from the T-Rex vibroseis truck across a 1,815-seismometer network spanning about 12 kilometers on each side. The imaging is limited in resolving whether the two reservoirs link at depth, a question left open by the researchers.

The players

Kīlauea

Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, located on the Big Island of Hawaii and part of the Hawaiian volcano system.

The details

The team combined natural seismic signals with artificial signals generated by the T-Rex vibroseis truck to image the subsurface beneath the caldera. One reservoir lies beneath the Halemaʻumaʻu crater in the main caldera, while the other sits beneath the south caldera.

Kīlauea erupted almost continuously from 1983 to 2018.
Kīlauea began a new series of eruptions in late 2024 that continue as of late 2026.
The study was published in 2026.

The Big Picture

The findings extend decades of monitoring at Kīlauea by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, adding a sharper subsurface image of how magma is stored beneath the summit. The hybrid seismic approach may also be applied to other active volcanoes and seismically interesting sites.

Clearer subsurface imaging may help scientists better anticipate how Kīlauea behaves during future eruptions, which affects communities and visitors across Hawaii. The hybrid methodology could also be used to study other active volcanoes and seismically interesting sites.

The takeaway

Mapping magma storage at depth gives scientists a clearer foundation for forecasting volcanic behavior. Combining natural and controlled seismic signals offers a practical method for imaging other volcanoes.