USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Update
HVO update page and observatory web site
Activity Summary: Inflation and rising lava lake levels continued at the summit and at Pu`u `O`o with moderate seismic activity in the upper east rift zone. Lava flows southeast of Pu`u `O`o continued to be weakly active on the coastal plain near the base of the pali. Seismic tremor levels were low, and gas emissions were elevated.
Recent Observations at Kilauea summit: The summit lava lake started a series of rise/fall events at about 4 pm yesterday afternoon (the first since October 7) that raised the lake level to 42 m (138 ft) below the Halema`uma`u Crater floor measured yesterday afternoon; this new high level has already been topped by later rise/fall activity. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 700 tonnes/day on October 18, 2012. A small amount of ash-sized tephra (mostly fresh spatter bits and Pele's hair) was carried out of the vent in the gas plume and deposited on nearby surfaces. Popping and cracking sounds, with some echoing booms, could be heard during periods of weak winds.
The rate of inflation, as measured by the summit tiltmeter network, continued but at a slower rate overnight. The GPS network recorded extension across the caldera since early August with an increase in rate since the beginning of October. Seismic tremor levels remained generally low with drops to near zero during high lava levels followed by strong tremor bursts as the lava falls to its previous level. Twenty-one earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea: 1 near the Ka`oiki Fault west of the summit caldera, 1 beneath the central caldera (preliminary magnitude-3.3), 3 beneath the south caldera, 11 within the upper east rift zone (clustered beneath Koko`olau Crater), and 5 on south flank faults.
Background: The summit lava lake is deep within an ~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 50 m to more than 200 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 surface level of the lava lake has remained below an inner ledge (~50 m or 165 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater on October 9, 2012), sometimes rising to flood the ledge. The lake level responds to summit tilt changes with the lake receding during deflation and rising during inflation.
Recent Observations at the middle east rift zone vents: Surface flows continued to accumulate close to the base of the pali within the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision, with one branch extending seaward across the coastal plain and splitting to flow around mobile cam 3. This branch has not advanced significantly over the past week and remains about 1.7 km (~1 mile) from the shoreline. Minor flow activity also continued on the pali.
At Pu`u `O`o, activity increased. The lava lake in the northeastern pit on the crater floor rose and briefly overflowed its northern rim four times between 12:45 pm yesterday and 00:30 am this morning. The west side of the south pit issued brief lava flows three times between 4:40 pm yesterday and 1 am this morning. Even the small spatter cone on the west edge of the filled north pit had some action with vigorous spattering overnight.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone continued to record slow inflation with a minor diurnal dip around midday. GPS receivers spanning the Pu`u `O`o crater have measured about 8 mm of extension since the beginning of October. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o were low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 300 tonnes/day on October 15, 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 - The new breakout lava flows were within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision 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.
Recent Observations at Kilauea summit: The summit lava lake started a series of rise/fall events at about 4 pm yesterday afternoon (the first since October 7) that raised the lake level to 42 m (138 ft) below the Halema`uma`u Crater floor measured yesterday afternoon; this new high level has already been topped by later rise/fall activity. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 700 tonnes/day on October 18, 2012. A small amount of ash-sized tephra (mostly fresh spatter bits and Pele's hair) was carried out of the vent in the gas plume and deposited on nearby surfaces. Popping and cracking sounds, with some echoing booms, could be heard during periods of weak winds.
The rate of inflation, as measured by the summit tiltmeter network, continued but at a slower rate overnight. The GPS network recorded extension across the caldera since early August with an increase in rate since the beginning of October. Seismic tremor levels remained generally low with drops to near zero during high lava levels followed by strong tremor bursts as the lava falls to its previous level. Twenty-one earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea: 1 near the Ka`oiki Fault west of the summit caldera, 1 beneath the central caldera (preliminary magnitude-3.3), 3 beneath the south caldera, 11 within the upper east rift zone (clustered beneath Koko`olau Crater), and 5 on south flank faults.
Background: The summit lava lake is deep within an ~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 50 m to more than 200 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 surface level of the lava lake has remained below an inner ledge (~50 m or 165 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater on October 9, 2012), sometimes rising to flood the ledge. The lake level responds to summit tilt changes with the lake receding during deflation and rising during inflation.
Recent Observations at the middle east rift zone vents: Surface flows continued to accumulate close to the base of the pali within the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision, with one branch extending seaward across the coastal plain and splitting to flow around mobile cam 3. This branch has not advanced significantly over the past week and remains about 1.7 km (~1 mile) from the shoreline. Minor flow activity also continued on the pali.
At Pu`u `O`o, activity increased. The lava lake in the northeastern pit on the crater floor rose and briefly overflowed its northern rim four times between 12:45 pm yesterday and 00:30 am this morning. The west side of the south pit issued brief lava flows three times between 4:40 pm yesterday and 1 am this morning. Even the small spatter cone on the west edge of the filled north pit had some action with vigorous spattering overnight.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone continued to record slow inflation with a minor diurnal dip around midday. GPS receivers spanning the Pu`u `O`o crater have measured about 8 mm of extension since the beginning of October. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o were low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 300 tonnes/day on October 15, 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 - The new breakout lava flows were within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision 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
