USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall lava activity levels were nonexistent on the flow field but increasing in the vent areas. At the summit, DI inflation resumed and the lava lake level continued to rise. The north and east pits within Pu`u `O`o crater's floor were refilled with lava a few times last night. To the southeast of Pu`u `O`o, no activity was observed from lava flows on the coastal plain or the pali. Seismic tremor levels were increasing in the summit and were low elsewhere. Gas emissions were elevated.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeters recorded resumed inflation after 3 pm yesterday. The lava lake level continued to rise slowly with lava circulating from north to south into a spattering sink that is mostly hidden by what's left of the inner ledge beneath the HTcam. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 500 tonnes/day on August 31, 2012; this low value was typical of rise/fall events and lower than the baseline values measured between rise/fall events. Although not measured this morning, small amounts of ash-sized tephra (spatter bits and Pele's hair) were probably carried out of the vent in the gas plume and deposited on nearby surfaces.
Seismic tremor levels increased. No earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea but a few were recorded beneath nearby volcanoes.
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: The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded continued DI inflation. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o remained low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 300 tonnes/day on August 31, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.
At Pu`u `O`o Crater yesterday evening, fresh lava completely resurfaced the crusted lava fill in the north pit (easily visible in POcam foreground) and east pit (lava barely visible in HTcam left background) at least two times each with both remaining active through this morning; the south pit only flashed glow into the ever-present fume a couple of times overnight suggesting a much lower level of activity. The glowing spot at the base of the southeast flank of Pu`u `O`o, marking a collapse in the roof of the lava tube, was still present.
Lava flows on the pali and the coastal plain were inactive for a second night. The County Kalapana Viewing Area crew reported no lava flows visible and the Webcams recorded no glow from any lava flows anywhere within view overnight. In the next few days, the current DI inflation may renew supply of lava to these flows, start new lava flows from Pu`u `O`o, or increase activity at Pu`u O`o cone.
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 - When 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, when active, 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, 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 resumed inflation after 3 pm yesterday. The lava lake level continued to rise slowly with lava circulating from north to south into a spattering sink that is mostly hidden by what's left of the inner ledge beneath the HTcam. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 500 tonnes/day on August 31, 2012; this low value was typical of rise/fall events and lower than the baseline values measured between rise/fall events. Although not measured this morning, small amounts of ash-sized tephra (spatter bits and Pele's hair) were probably carried out of the vent in the gas plume and deposited on nearby surfaces.
Seismic tremor levels increased. No earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea but a few were recorded beneath nearby volcanoes.
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: The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded continued DI inflation. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o remained low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 300 tonnes/day on August 31, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.
At Pu`u `O`o Crater yesterday evening, fresh lava completely resurfaced the crusted lava fill in the north pit (easily visible in POcam foreground) and east pit (lava barely visible in HTcam left background) at least two times each with both remaining active through this morning; the south pit only flashed glow into the ever-present fume a couple of times overnight suggesting a much lower level of activity. The glowing spot at the base of the southeast flank of Pu`u `O`o, marking a collapse in the roof of the lava tube, was still present.
Lava flows on the pali and the coastal plain were inactive for a second night. The County Kalapana Viewing Area crew reported no lava flows visible and the Webcams recorded no glow from any lava flows anywhere within view overnight. In the next few days, the current DI inflation may renew supply of lava to these flows, start new lava flows from Pu`u `O`o, or increase activity at Pu`u O`o cone.
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 - When 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, when active, 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, 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
