USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: General activity levels were low with weak surface flows midway between vent and ocean: DI inflation slowed, the summit lava lake rose and remained fairly high. At Pu`u `O`o, the east pit lava lake level rose slightly; lava flows continued to be weakly active to the southeast of Pu`u `O`o at the top of the pali. Seismic tremor levels were low. Gas emissions were elevated.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeters recorded continued DI inflation and the lava lake level fluctuated while slowly rising; each peak of the fluctuations after 8 am yesterday rose progressively farther over the inner ledge in the southeastern corner of the vent cavity; in addition, a vigorous spattering sink set up a short distance farther south along the same lake edge and continued to build up a small spatter rampart on the ledge. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on September 17, 2012; this value was within the typical range of baseline measurements made between rise/fall events; weak winds over the past few days have prevented further measurements. 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.
Background seismic tremor levels were slightly elevated and quite variable. Twelve earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea: 2 deep quakes beneath the southwest rift zone, 2 west of the summit, 1 just south of the summit, 4 within the upper east rift zone, and 3 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: The flows at the top of the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision were slightly wider in the R3cam views at the top of the pali overnight and were reported to be a good view last night from the County Viewing Area farther to the east in Kalapana.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone continued to record slower inflation. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o remained low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 200 tonnes/day on September 18, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.
At Pu`u `O`o Crater, the lava level in the east pit rose slightly and there were occasional flashes from the vicinity of the south pit suggesting lava is still there; glow was again seen from spots on the west edge of the crusted north pit. 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 feeding lava flows downslope, continued to glow brightly overnight.
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 - The new breakout lava flows were within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and can only be viewed from the air. Under favorable weather conditions, glow from these flows may be reflected in clouds which can be seen from the County Viewing Area at Kalapana (Lava hotline 961-8093). 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 continued DI inflation and the lava lake level fluctuated while slowly rising; each peak of the fluctuations after 8 am yesterday rose progressively farther over the inner ledge in the southeastern corner of the vent cavity; in addition, a vigorous spattering sink set up a short distance farther south along the same lake edge and continued to build up a small spatter rampart on the ledge. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on September 17, 2012; this value was within the typical range of baseline measurements made between rise/fall events; weak winds over the past few days have prevented further measurements. 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.
Background seismic tremor levels were slightly elevated and quite variable. Twelve earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea: 2 deep quakes beneath the southwest rift zone, 2 west of the summit, 1 just south of the summit, 4 within the upper east rift zone, and 3 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: The flows at the top of the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision were slightly wider in the R3cam views at the top of the pali overnight and were reported to be a good view last night from the County Viewing Area farther to the east in Kalapana.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone continued to record slower inflation. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o remained low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 200 tonnes/day on September 18, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.
At Pu`u `O`o Crater, the lava level in the east pit rose slightly and there were occasional flashes from the vicinity of the south pit suggesting lava is still there; glow was again seen from spots on the west edge of the crusted north pit. 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 feeding lava flows downslope, continued to glow brightly overnight.
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 - The new breakout lava flows were within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and can only be viewed from the air. Under favorable weather conditions, glow from these flows may be reflected in clouds which can be seen from the County Viewing Area at Kalapana (Lava hotline 961-8093). 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
