HAWAII NATIONAL PARK — In recent weeks, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory joined forces with several other agencies to talk about Mauna Loa at community events and other public meetings.

If you visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s Jaggar Museum Overlook when the wind is calm, you might be able to hear the sounds of gas bubbles bursting and lava splashing in the Halemaumau lava lake at the summit of Kilauea. What you hear is only part of a rich chorus of sounds emitted from many processes near the surface of an active lava lake.

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays upon us, Hawaii Island residents are likely giving little thought to the volcanic terrain beneath their feet. And that’s all right — for now.

A widely held belief is that Thomas Jaggar, founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, was able to stop a Mauna Loa lava flow in 1935. But is it true?

If you follow Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing East Rift Zone eruption, you are likely aware that when lava enters the ocean, it often forms new land. But what is this new land called?

Route 200, the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, crosses Humuula Saddle, which separates Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the two largest volcanoes on Hawaii Island. This Saddle showcases outstanding volcanic geology and is easy to reach for “roadside geologists.”

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory routinely collect lava samples from Kilauea and use the chemistry of these samples to infer the temperature of magma (molten rock below Earth’s surface).

Careful readers of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website might have noticed mention of “threat rankings” in the lower right corner of our new home page (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/). There, you’ll find a listing of Hawaii’s active volcanoes — Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, Haleakala, Mauna Kea and Loihi — with their associated rankings, which range from “very high threat potential” to ”moderate threat potential,” and, in the case of Loihi, “not ranked.”

The primary goal of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is to provide scientific information to reduce risks due to volcanic and seismic activity. To this end, HVO scientists assess volcano hazards and inform the public and civic officials using media outlets, community forums, and other outreach activities.

In March 2008, a new volcanic vent opened within Halemaumau, a crater at the summit of Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The eruption continues today, with continuous degassing, occasional explosive events, and an active, circulating lava lake.

As the summer months began to wind down this year, Nature’s fury began to wind up and grab much of the news cycle.