DOI-USGS-HVO-2012-04-03T07:27:58-10:00 HawaiianVolcanoObservatory@vulcan4. 2012-04-03 07:27:58 Actual Update Public Geo Seismicity - Deformation - Volcanic activity - Gas emission - Thermal Anomaly Unknown Minor Unlikely 2012-04-03 07:27:58 2012-04-04 07:27:58 Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kilauea Daily Update Activity Summary for past 24 hours: The summit continued to inflate slowly while back-to-back DI events continued. Overnight, glow was visible within the Halema`uma`u gas plume and from sources within Pu`u `O`o crater. To the southeast, surface flows continued to be active on the pali and the coastal plain; there was no ocean entry. Seismic tremor levels were low; gas emissions were elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: DI inflation and the rise of the summit lava lake slowed, anticipating the next DI deflation. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 400 tonnes/day on March 29, 2012. The gas plume continued to include a small amount of ash-sized tephra that was deposited on nearby, downwind surfaces. Since mid-October 2011, the summit GPS network recorded ~1 cm/mo extension indicating continuing long-term summit inflation. Seismic tremor levels remained low and were still increasing slightly with DI inflation, decreasing slightly with DI deflation. Six earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea volcano: 1 beneath the uppermost southwest rift zone, 2 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 70 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 (75 m or 250 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater) 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: Lava flows continued to be active on the pali and the coastal plain southeast of Pu`u `O`o (within the abandoned Royal Garden subdivision). The webcams showed that the flows were active overnight but are still an estimated 1.6 km (1 mi) from the coast; consequently, there was no ocean entry this morning. Note that the R2cam has been rotated toward the east and the flows are passing in the middle distance on the way to the coast. Strong glow was persistent from the small collapse pit on the east edge, the small spatter cone on the southeast edge of the floor, and the uppermost lava tube system on the east flank of Pu`u `O`o cone. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o were low. The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded weak inflation. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the cone were recording neither extension nor contraction. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 450 tonnes/day on March 29, 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 has continued since at Pu`u `O`o Cone, or from vents within a few kilometers to the east or west, with few interruptions. 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. The ocean entry has been inactive since late December but the flows have remained intermittently active above or on the pali. 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 - There are active lava flows within the closed-access Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the evacuated Royal Gardens subdivision, which can only be viewed from the air. Under favorable weather conditions, the flows can be seen from the County Viewing Area at Kalapana and in the Holei webcam. Pu`u `O`o Cone, the (inactive) West Ka`ili`ili lava ocean entry, and Kilauea Crater - these areas are within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park; access and viewing information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm. http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov Volcano Alert Level=WATCH Aviation Color Code=ORANGE Kilauea volcano Hawaii and Pacific Ocean HI 19.421 -155.287 CAVW=1302-01-