Volcano Watch: A pupu platter of earthquakes

Seismic hazard across the State of Hawaii, with high seismic hazards depicted with warm colors (red-orange) and relatively low seismic hazards depicted with cool colors (green). Engineers use these types of maps to prescribe building codes known as Seismic Design Codes (SDC) and create earthquake resistant structures. Quantitatively, the map colors are defined by the maximum ground-motion acceleration (in percentage of gravity) over the next 50 years that have a 2% chance of exceedance. The southeast part of the Island of Hawai‘i has the highest expected ground acceleration (195 percent of gravity) that has a 2% chance of occurrence during a 50-year time period. For source data description, see Klein et al (2001) plus associated published online data. (courtesy photo/ HVNP)

A pupu platter is an assortment of appetizers commonly served at social gatherings in Hawaii. During one week in December 2023, island of Hawaii residents and visitors were treated to an assortment of earthquakes resulting from a variety of different geologic processes, like a pupu platter of earthquakes!