USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Glowing and spattering holes continued to be active deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; six episodes of lava rising and fully or partially covering the bottom were recorded. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active at the base of the pali and the coastal plain. Lava is also flowing through tubes to the coast and entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The Overlook vent webcam images again showed fluctuating glow and spattering from several holes deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; in addition, lava rose briefly through the northernmost hole and covered the bottom of the cavity before draining six times between 9:30 am and 11:15 pm yesterday. Glow from the vent was visible from Jaggar Museum overnight. This morning, a wispy off-white plume is moving southwestward over the Ka`u Desert. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on October 30, which is elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Small amounts of ash-sized tephra continued to be dropped from the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded little net deformation since mid-August.
Seismic tremor levels were at low values with irregular tremor bursts that became almost periodic after midnight with bursts every 20-30 minutes. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes were below background levels. Five small earthquakes were strong enough to be located - two beneath the summit caldera and three on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continues to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,440 tonnes/day on October 16, which is close to the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Glow was recorded from the east wall and floor of the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows from the TEB vent through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and is entering the ocean at two locations - Waikupanaha and a site 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists reported stalled flows near the Public Viewing Area trail head and active surface flows on the coastal plain feeding the western ocean entry. Last night, CD officials reported that there were two ocean entry plumes with a few explosions and no visible lava entering the ocean, minimal incandescence in the flows around the trail head, and glow from a spot at the base of the pali. GOES-WEST thermal anomalies were again strong through dawn. CD officials report plumes rising this morning though it was blowing to the east.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The Overlook vent webcam images again showed fluctuating glow and spattering from several holes deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; in addition, lava rose briefly through the northernmost hole and covered the bottom of the cavity before draining six times between 9:30 am and 11:15 pm yesterday. Glow from the vent was visible from Jaggar Museum overnight. This morning, a wispy off-white plume is moving southwestward over the Ka`u Desert. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on October 30, which is elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Small amounts of ash-sized tephra continued to be dropped from the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded little net deformation since mid-August.
Seismic tremor levels were at low values with irregular tremor bursts that became almost periodic after midnight with bursts every 20-30 minutes. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes were below background levels. Five small earthquakes were strong enough to be located - two beneath the summit caldera and three on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continues to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,440 tonnes/day on October 16, which is close to the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Glow was recorded from the east wall and floor of the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows from the TEB vent through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and is entering the ocean at two locations - Waikupanaha and a site 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists reported stalled flows near the Public Viewing Area trail head and active surface flows on the coastal plain feeding the western ocean entry. Last night, CD officials reported that there were two ocean entry plumes with a few explosions and no visible lava entering the ocean, minimal incandescence in the flows around the trail head, and glow from a spot at the base of the pali. GOES-WEST thermal anomalies were again strong through dawn. CD officials report plumes rising this morning though it was blowing to the east.
Update in Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format
