USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: At the summit, DI inflation started overnight and the summit lava lake rose with it. At Pu`u `O`o, there were no significant changes in the crater. To the southeast of Pu`u `O`o, lava flow activity on the coastal plain was weak and scattered while new pali breakouts started overnight. Seismic tremor levels were low; gas emissions were elevated.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeters recorded the switch to DI inflation about 8 pm last night. The lava lake level rose with the inflation. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 700 tonnes/day on July 26, 2012. In addition to gas, very small amounts of ash-sized tephra (spatter bits and Pele's hair) were carried out of the vent in the gas plume and deposited on nearby surfaces.
The GPS network recorded no significant changes (neither extension nor contraction) since mid-June; summit tilt records also showed no significant long-term trend. Seismic tremor levels were low. Only one earthquake was strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea volcano on south flank faults.
Background: The summit lava lake is deep within a ~160 m (520 ft) diameter cylindrical vent with nearly vertical sides inset within the east wall and floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. Its level fluctuates from about 60 m to more than 150 m (out of sight) below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. The vent has been mostly active since opening with a small explosive event on March 19, 2008. Most recently, the lava level of the lake has remained below an inner ledge (60 m or 200 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater on May 9, 2012) and responded to summit tilt changes with the lake receding during deflation and rising during inflation.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents: Webcams recorded weakened breakouts on the pali being overridden by new breakouts from the top of the pali overnight. In addition, there were a few scattered active lava lobes on the coastal plain.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded DI inflation that slowly increased in rate overnight. There were no significant changes in Pu`u `O`o crater: glow from the lava pond in the northeastern collapse pit (7-8 m, or 23-26 ft, below its rim on July 12 and out of direct view of the PTcam) and the two sources along the south edge of the crater floor were visible. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o remained low. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the cone recorded no contraction or extension since mid-June. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 300 tonnes/day on August 2, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.
Background: The eruption in Kilauea's middle east rift zone started with a fissure eruption on January 3, 1983, and continued with few interruptions at Pu`u `O`o Cone, or temporarily from vents within a few kilometers to the east or west,. A fissure eruption on the upper east flank of Pu`u `O`o Cone on Sept. 21, 2011, drained the lava lakes and fed a lava flow that advanced southeast through the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision to the ocean within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in early December. Since late December, the flows have remained intermittently active on the pali and the coastal plain but have not entered the ocean. In general, activity waxes with inflation and wanes with deflation.
Hazard Summary: East rift vents and flow field - near-vent areas could erupt or collapse without warning with spatter and/or ash being wafted within the gas plume; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide gas may be present within 1 km downwind of vent areas. All recently active lava flows are within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, adjacent State land managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and private property within the Royal Gardens subdivision; the lava flows do not pose a hazard to any structures not already within the County-declared mandatory evacuation zone. Kilauea Crater - ash and Pele's hair can be carried several kilometers downwind; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide can be present within 1 km downwind.
Viewing Summary: East rift zone flow field - Active lava flows within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the evacuated Royal Gardens subdivision can only be viewed from the air. Under favorable weather conditions, the flows can be seen from the County Viewing Area at Kalapana (Lava hotline 961-8093) and in the R2, R3, and R4 webcams. Pu`u `O`o Cone, the strip of coastal plain nearest the ocean within which the lava is now advancing, and Kilauea Crater - these areas are within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park; Park access and viewing information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeters recorded the switch to DI inflation about 8 pm last night. The lava lake level rose with the inflation. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 700 tonnes/day on July 26, 2012. In addition to gas, very small amounts of ash-sized tephra (spatter bits and Pele's hair) were carried out of the vent in the gas plume and deposited on nearby surfaces.
The GPS network recorded no significant changes (neither extension nor contraction) since mid-June; summit tilt records also showed no significant long-term trend. Seismic tremor levels were low. Only one earthquake was strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea volcano on south flank faults.
Background: The summit lava lake is deep within a ~160 m (520 ft) diameter cylindrical vent with nearly vertical sides inset within the east wall and floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. Its level fluctuates from about 60 m to more than 150 m (out of sight) below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. The vent has been mostly active since opening with a small explosive event on March 19, 2008. Most recently, the lava level of the lake has remained below an inner ledge (60 m or 200 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater on May 9, 2012) and responded to summit tilt changes with the lake receding during deflation and rising during inflation.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents: Webcams recorded weakened breakouts on the pali being overridden by new breakouts from the top of the pali overnight. In addition, there were a few scattered active lava lobes on the coastal plain.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded DI inflation that slowly increased in rate overnight. There were no significant changes in Pu`u `O`o crater: glow from the lava pond in the northeastern collapse pit (7-8 m, or 23-26 ft, below its rim on July 12 and out of direct view of the PTcam) and the two sources along the south edge of the crater floor were visible. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o remained low. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the cone recorded no contraction or extension since mid-June. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 300 tonnes/day on August 2, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.
Background: The eruption in Kilauea's middle east rift zone started with a fissure eruption on January 3, 1983, and continued with few interruptions at Pu`u `O`o Cone, or temporarily from vents within a few kilometers to the east or west,. A fissure eruption on the upper east flank of Pu`u `O`o Cone on Sept. 21, 2011, drained the lava lakes and fed a lava flow that advanced southeast through the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision to the ocean within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in early December. Since late December, the flows have remained intermittently active on the pali and the coastal plain but have not entered the ocean. In general, activity waxes with inflation and wanes with deflation.
Hazard Summary: East rift vents and flow field - near-vent areas could erupt or collapse without warning with spatter and/or ash being wafted within the gas plume; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide gas may be present within 1 km downwind of vent areas. All recently active lava flows are within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, adjacent State land managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and private property within the Royal Gardens subdivision; the lava flows do not pose a hazard to any structures not already within the County-declared mandatory evacuation zone. Kilauea Crater - ash and Pele's hair can be carried several kilometers downwind; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide can be present within 1 km downwind.
Viewing Summary: East rift zone flow field - Active lava flows within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the evacuated Royal Gardens subdivision can only be viewed from the air. Under favorable weather conditions, the flows can be seen from the County Viewing Area at Kalapana (Lava hotline 961-8093) and in the R2, R3, and R4 webcams. Pu`u `O`o Cone, the strip of coastal plain nearest the ocean within which the lava is now advancing, and Kilauea Crater - these areas are within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park; Park access and viewing information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm.
Update in Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format
