The movement of magma can be tracked by mapping the distribution of earthquakes.
Earthquakes can precede an eruption by years, months, days, and, in a few cases, hours.
Activity 14 shows the migration of epicenters preceding and accompanying dike emplacement and the onset of the current eruption of Kilauea Volcano in January 1983. Students must interpret the distribution of the earthquakes to answer the following questions. Click here for a copy of Activity 6. Seismicity began in the upper east rift zone near Makaopuhi Crater. Seismicity migrated down rift to the east.