USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: The second DI event in as many days is nearing completion. Spatter has nearly closed the hole in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor allowing only indirect views of the glow from a lava pond surface below. 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.
DI events often affect surface flow activity on the flow field. Typically, surface flow activity will decrease about 12 hours after the start of deflation and resume about 12 hours after the start of inflation. The last two DI events were of short duration and small amplitude and have not produced the typical effects, but if this most recent one does, we might expect some, probably small, changes in activity this afternoon or evening.
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; spatter build up around the rim almost completely closed the opening overnight. 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 700 tonnes/day on November 6, 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 DI deflation just after 3 pm yesterday and the switch to DI inflation at 5 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded little net deformation since mid-August.
Seismic tremor levels increased slightly during DI deflation but remained at low values. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes remained below background levels. Four earthquakes were strong enough to be located - one beneath the summit caldera, one beneath the lower southwest rift zone, 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 1,200 tonnes/day on November 6, slightly lower than the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Glow was recorded from the east wall and the floor of the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded DI deflation starting at around 6 pm yesterday and the switch to DI inflation at 6 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, 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 west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists reported scattered active surface flows on the coastal plain with a minimally active lobe in the kipuka west and upslope of the County Viewing Area trail head; the Waikupanaha entry was going strong, the west Waikupanaha entry was barely going (see update photos). CD officials reported a similar situation last night. GOES-WEST thermal anomalies were again strong through dawn indicating continuing surface flow activity on the coastal plain. CD officials report a broad ocean entry plume rising this morning.
DI events often affect surface flow activity on the flow field. Typically, surface flow activity will decrease about 12 hours after the start of deflation and resume about 12 hours after the start of inflation. The last two DI events were of short duration and small amplitude and have not produced the typical effects, but if this most recent one does, we might expect some, probably small, changes in activity this afternoon or evening.
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; spatter build up around the rim almost completely closed the opening overnight. 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 700 tonnes/day on November 6, 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 DI deflation just after 3 pm yesterday and the switch to DI inflation at 5 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, has recorded little net deformation since mid-August.
Seismic tremor levels increased slightly during DI deflation but remained at low values. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes remained below background levels. Four earthquakes were strong enough to be located - one beneath the summit caldera, one beneath the lower southwest rift zone, 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 1,200 tonnes/day on November 6, slightly lower than the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Glow was recorded from the east wall and the floor of the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded DI deflation starting at around 6 pm yesterday and the switch to DI inflation at 6 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, 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 west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists reported scattered active surface flows on the coastal plain with a minimally active lobe in the kipuka west and upslope of the County Viewing Area trail head; the Waikupanaha entry was going strong, the west Waikupanaha entry was barely going (see update photos). CD officials reported a similar situation last night. GOES-WEST thermal anomalies were again strong through dawn indicating continuing surface flow activity on the coastal plain. CD officials report a broad ocean entry plume rising this morning.
Update in Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format
