USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event is nearing completion. Growth and partial collapse of the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor continued to alternately obscure and reveal the circulating lava pond surface. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on 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 a single elongated hole deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; the hole continued to narrow as spatter built the rim inward and enlarge as rim pieces broke off. Glow from the vent was visible from Jaggar Museum overnight. This morning, a white plume is moving southwestward and low over the Ka`u Desert. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 500 tonnes/day on November 3, which is elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of ash-sized tephra continued to be dropped from the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the switch to DI inflation at 4 pm yesterday afternoon. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded little net deformation since mid-August.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values; several seismic rockfall signatures were recorded. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes increased overnight but were back below background levels by dawn. Seven earthquakes were strong enough to be located - five beneath the summit caldera and two on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued 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 1,400 tonnes/day on November 4, which is close to the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Moon glow was recorded by the Pu`u `O`o webcam last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded the switch to DI inflation at 5 pm yesterday afternoon. 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 from the TEB vent flows 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 (west Waikupanaha). Yesterday, HVO and UHH geologists and CD officials reported sluggish flows west of the Public Viewing Area trail head and more active surface flows on the coastal plain feeding the west Waikupanaha entry; in addition, flows were active in the kipuka upslope of the trail head. GOES-WEST thermal anomalies were again strong through dawn indicating continuing surface flow activity on the coastal plain.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The Overlook vent webcam images again showed fluctuating glow and spattering from a single elongated hole deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; the hole continued to narrow as spatter built the rim inward and enlarge as rim pieces broke off. Glow from the vent was visible from Jaggar Museum overnight. This morning, a white plume is moving southwestward and low over the Ka`u Desert. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 500 tonnes/day on November 3, which is elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of ash-sized tephra continued to be dropped from the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the switch to DI inflation at 4 pm yesterday afternoon. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded little net deformation since mid-August.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values; several seismic rockfall signatures were recorded. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes increased overnight but were back below background levels by dawn. Seven earthquakes were strong enough to be located - five beneath the summit caldera and two on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued 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 1,400 tonnes/day on November 4, which is close to the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Moon glow was recorded by the Pu`u `O`o webcam last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded the switch to DI inflation at 5 pm yesterday afternoon. 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 from the TEB vent flows 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 (west Waikupanaha). Yesterday, HVO and UHH geologists and CD officials reported sluggish flows west of the Public Viewing Area trail head and more active surface flows on the coastal plain feeding the west Waikupanaha entry; in addition, flows were active in the kipuka upslope of the trail head. GOES-WEST thermal anomalies were again strong through dawn indicating continuing surface flow activity on the coastal plain.
Update in Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format
