USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event is in progress. A small hole deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor revealed an active lava pond overnight. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the pali; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The edges of the hole deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity continued to break off yesterday evening. Stronger glow was visible after 11 pm at the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense off-white plume moves to the southwest through beautiful clear skies. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,100 tonnes/day on November 19, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the start of DI deflation at about 2:30 pm yesterday and switched to DI inflation at 7 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with episodic tremor dying off by 4:30 pm yesterday and a single 40-minute burst starting at 6:10 am this morning. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes increased yesterday evening, probably reflecting the rockfalls within the Overlook vent, but remained below background levels. Six earthquakes were strong enough to be located - two beneath the summit caldera, one beneath the area just west of the lower southwest rift zone, and three on south flank faults, including an offshore quake of preliminary magnitude 3.0.
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 an unusually low 800 tonnes/day on November 17, well below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day; extended rainfall can temporarily diminish emissions. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded DI deflation starting at 5 pm yesterday and, as of this writing, has not yet recorded the switch to DI inflation. 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 flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. The intensity of the GOES-WEST thermal anomalies on the coastal plain dropped around 2 am suggesting either a decrease in surface activity or blockage by clouds. This morning, CD officials and HVO geologists on an overflight reported that two ocean entries and surface flows on the pali are active.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The edges of the hole deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity continued to break off yesterday evening. Stronger glow was visible after 11 pm at the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense off-white plume moves to the southwest through beautiful clear skies. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,100 tonnes/day on November 19, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the start of DI deflation at about 2:30 pm yesterday and switched to DI inflation at 7 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with episodic tremor dying off by 4:30 pm yesterday and a single 40-minute burst starting at 6:10 am this morning. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes increased yesterday evening, probably reflecting the rockfalls within the Overlook vent, but remained below background levels. Six earthquakes were strong enough to be located - two beneath the summit caldera, one beneath the area just west of the lower southwest rift zone, and three on south flank faults, including an offshore quake of preliminary magnitude 3.0.
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 an unusually low 800 tonnes/day on November 17, well below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day; extended rainfall can temporarily diminish emissions. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded DI deflation starting at 5 pm yesterday and, as of this writing, has not yet recorded the switch to DI inflation. 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 flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. The intensity of the GOES-WEST thermal anomalies on the coastal plain dropped around 2 am suggesting either a decrease in surface activity or blockage by clouds. This morning, CD officials and HVO geologists on an overflight reported that two ocean entries and surface flows on the pali are active.
Update in Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format
