Recent Kilauea Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Monday, November 23, 2009 7:53 AM HST (Monday, November 23, 2009 17:53 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event started this morning. At the summit, a circulating, bubbling, spattering, rising, and falling lava pond surface was visible in a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath Halema`uma`u Crater floor. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the coastal plain; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Overnight, the lava pond, visible in a hole in the floor of a pit in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor, continued to circulate, bubble, and spatter; several times, the pond level rose to cover the floor, then drained back into the hole. At about 4 am this morning, part of the pit floor fell in enlarging the hole and revealing more of the lava pond surface. Glow is visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the slightly wispy, off-white plume moves to the southwest. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on November 20, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the start of DI deflation at about 2:40 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction, starting at the beginning of November, extension after November 12th, and is now again recording contraction.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with a brief decrease during each rise in lava level deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent pit. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes remained below background levels. Seven earthquakes were strong enough to be located - three beneath the area just north of the summit caldera, three beneath an area west of the lower southwest rift zone, and one on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,300 tonnes/day on November 20, below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded DI deflation starting at 4 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at three general locations at Waikupanaha, west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west, and areas in-between. Last night, UHH geologists and CD officials reported scattered active surface flows on the coastal plain, active ocean entries in three broad locations, and small surface flows active at the top and the base of the pali. GOES-WEST imagery showed thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting continuing surface flow activity through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
Halema`uma`u Overlook vent: has been difficult to describe concisely. The vent is actually a pit, or crater, within the larger Halema`uma`u Crater which is within the even larger Kilauea caldera or crater - a crater within a crater within a crater. The Halema`uma`u Overlook vent rim is an opening, about 140 m (460 ft) in diameter, in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor and is the top of a pit, or cylindrical cavity, about 200 m (660 ft) deep. As of November, 2009, a lava pond surface has been visible in a hole in the floor of this cavity.
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Sunday, November 22, 2009 7:48 AM HST (Sunday, November 22, 2009 17:48 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: At the summit, a circulating, bubbling, spattering, rising, and falling lava pond surface was visible in a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath Halema`uma`u Crater floor. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the coastal plain; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is likely entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: At 9:21 am yesterday morning, a sliver of the Halema`uma`u vent rim (in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor) collapsed resulting in a dense brown dust cloud that dissipated after a few minutes; video of the event appeared to show ejection of dark material but none was found during a later search. By nightfall, the lava pond did not seem significantly different and continued bubbling, circulating, and spattering low within a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath the vent rim (in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor); the lava level rose, partially covering the vent cavity floor before draining, at least four times overnight. Glow is visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense white plume moves to the southwest. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on November 20, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction, starting at the beginning of November, extension after November 12th, and is now again recording contraction.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with a brief decrease during each rise in lava level deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes is increasing slowly but remained below background levels. Nine earthquakes were strong enough to be located - three beneath the summit caldera including a moderate hybrid earthquake accompanying the dust plume yesterday morning, three beneath an area west of the summit, two beneath an area south of the upper east rift zone between Napau Crater and Kupaianaha, and one on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,300 tonnes/day on November 21, below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. The TEB webcam captured intermittent glow from the TEB vent last night. GOES-WEST imagery showed thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting continuing surface flow activity through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
Halema`uma`u Overlook vent: has been difficult to describe concisely. The vent is actually a pit, or crater, within the larger Halema`uma`u Crater which is within the even larger Kilauea caldera or crater - a crater within a crater within a crater. The Halema`uma`u Overlook vent rim is an opening, about 140 m (460 ft) in diameter, in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor and is the top of a pit, or cylindrical cavity, about 200 m (660 ft) deep. As of November, 2009, a lava pond surface has been visible in a hole in the floor of this cavity.
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:16 AM HST (Saturday, November 21, 2009 18:16 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event is nearly complete. At the summit, a circulating, bubbling, and spattering lava pond surface was visible in a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath Halema`uma`u Crater floor; its level rose several meters covering the entire vent floor before dropping but remaining visible in the Overlook vent Webcam. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the coastal plain; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The lava pond continued bubbling and circulating at its low level within a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath the vent rim (in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor) until 7:23 pm when it abruptly rose several meters, peaking and covering the entire vent floor at about 7:30 pm, then draining back into the hole nearly an hour later; the lava level in the hole remained higher than it was when the night started but lower than the 7:30 pm peak. Glow is visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense white plume moves to the southwest through beautiful clear skies. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on November 20, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak inflation completing the most recent DI event. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with a drop. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes remained below background levels. Two earthquakes were strong enough to be located on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,300 tonnes/day on November 21, below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded the switch to DI inflation around 9:30 an yesterday and continued slow inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists found scattered surface flows over the coastal plain and at least one possible surface flow on the pali; a single entry at Waikupanaha and several at the west Waikupanaha location were active. GOES-WEST imagery showed thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting continuing surface flow activity through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:10 AM HST (Saturday, November 21, 2009 18:10 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event is nearly complete. At the summit, a circulating, bubbling, and spattering lava pond surface was visible in a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath Halema`uma`u Crater floor; its level rose several meters covering the entire floor before dropping but remaining visible in the Overlook vent Webcam. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the coastal plain; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The lava pond continued bubbling and circulating at its low level within a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath the vent rim (in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor) until 7:23 pm when it abruptly rose several meters, peaking and covering the entire floor at about 7:30 pm, then draining back into the hole nearly an hour later; the lava level in the hole remained higher than it was when the night started but lower than the 7:30 pm peak. Glow is visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense white plume moves to the southwest through beautiful clear skies. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on November 20, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak inflation completing the most recent DI event. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with a drop. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes remained below background levels. Two earthquakes were strong enough to be located on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,300 tonnes/day on November 21, below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded the switch to DI inflation around 9:30 an yesterday and continued slow inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists found scattered surface flows over the coastal plain and at least one possible surface flow on the pali; a single entry at Waikupanaha and several at the west Waikupanaha location were active. GOES-WEST imagery showed thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting continuing surface flow activity through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Friday, November 20, 2009 9:01 AM HST (Friday, November 20, 2009 19:01 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event is in progress. A small hole deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor revealed an active lava pond overnight. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the pali; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The edges of the hole deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity continued to break off yesterday evening. Stronger glow was visible after 11 pm at the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense off-white plume moves to the southwest through beautiful clear skies. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,100 tonnes/day on November 19, still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the start of DI deflation at about 2:30 pm yesterday and switched to DI inflation at 7 am this morning. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with episodic tremor dying off by 4:30 pm yesterday and a single 40-minute burst starting at 6:10 am this morning. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes increased yesterday evening, probably reflecting the rockfalls within the Overlook vent, but remained below background levels. Six earthquakes were strong enough to be located - two beneath the summit caldera, one beneath the area just west of the lower southwest rift zone, and three on south flank faults, including an offshore quake of preliminary magnitude 3.0.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was an unusually low 800 tonnes/day on November 17, well below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day; extended rainfall can temporarily diminish emissions. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded DI deflation starting at 5 pm yesterday and, as of this writing, has not yet recorded the switch to DI inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. The intensity of the GOES-WEST thermal anomalies on the coastal plain dropped around 2 am suggesting either a decrease in surface activity or blockage by clouds. This morning, CD officials and HVO geologists on an overflight reported that two ocean entries and surface flows on the pali are active.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Thursday, November 19, 2009 8:11 AM HST (Thursday, November 19, 2009 18:11 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A small collapse overnight enlarged a hole deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor revealing an active lava pond. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows were active on the coastal plain. Lava was also flowing through tubes to the coast and entering the ocean at two general locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: A small collapse last night around 11 pm enlarged one of the holes deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity exposing a roiling, bubbling, and spattering lava pond surface; the surface rises and falls slowly over the next 20 minutes, remains fairly steady, and then starts an episodic rising and falling sequence observed seven times before dawn's early light washed out the view. Stronger glow was visible after 11 pm at the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense white plume rises into morning fog, but appears to moving southwest. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 700 tonnes/day on November 18 - still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with values decreasing each time the lava pond surface rises in the vent cavity. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes also remained below background levels. Only one earthquake was strong enough to be located on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was an unusually low 800 tonnes/day on November 17, well below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day; extended rainfall can temporarily diminish emissions. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flowed through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO received pilot reports of a new `a`a flow on the pali which had stalled by the time geologists arrived in the afternoon; it was short (680 m or 2,200 ft long) and posed no threat. There were three minor entry points at the west Waikupanaha location and two robust ones at Waikupanaha. Last night, UHH geologists reported breakouts on the pali and small lava streams entering the ocean over cliffs in the west Waikupanaha area. GOES-WEST images contained strong thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting active surface flows through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:55 AM HST (Wednesday, November 18, 2009 17:55 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overnight, two holes deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor continued to glow. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows were active on the coastal plain. Lava was also flowing through tubes to the coast and entering the ocean at two general locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The Overlook vent webcam images again showed mostly fluctuating glow from two holes deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; views were again often blocked by dense fume. This morning, the dense white plume is moving to the southwest. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 600 tonnes/day on November 16 - still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction since early November and may be switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes also remained below background levels. Only one earthquake was strong enough to be located offshore on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was an unusually low 800 tonnes/day on November 17, well below the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day; extended rainfall can temporarily diminish emissions. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded no significant ground tilting. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flowed through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Last night, CD officials reported a few glowing spots on the pali and views of lava entering the ocean between waves. GOES-WEST images contained strengthening thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting active surface flows through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 7:29 AM HST (Tuesday, November 17, 2009 17:29 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overnight, a few small holes deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor continued to glow with minor spattering from a lava pond below. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows were active on the coastal plain. Lava was also flowing through tubes to the coast and entering the ocean at two general locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The Overlook vent webcam images again showed fluctuating glow and minor spattering from several small holes deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; views were again often blocked by dense fume. This morning, the plume can only be glimpsed through morning fog. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 600 tonnes/day on November 16 - still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent; about one-third of the daily collection contained fresh-looking spatter bits.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction since early November.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes also remained below background levels. Three earthquakes were strong enough to be located - one beneath the upper east rift zone and two beneath the area immediately west of the lower southwest rift zone.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,700 tonnes/day on November 16, on par with the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Very weak glow was again recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded weak inflation. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flowed through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. GOES-WEST images contained strengthening thermal anomalies on the coastal plain suggesting active surface flows through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Monday, November 16, 2009 7:53 AM HST (Monday, November 16, 2009 17:53 UTC)
This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093.
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-) 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: The 8th DI event in 11 days is nearing completion. Overnight, a few small holes deep in the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent cavity floor continued to glow from a lava pond below. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava was also flowing through tubes to the coast and was entering the ocean at two general locations west of Kalapana. Lava flows were active on the coastal plain.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The Overlook vent webcam images again showed fluctuating glow from several small holes deep within the Halema`uma`u vent cavity; views were often blocked by dense fume. This morning, the dense white plume was moving to the southwest. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 400 tonnes/day on November 9, which is the lowest value since early October but still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume near the vent; about half of the daily collection contained fairly fresh spatter bits but no Pele's hair or tears; sounds of roiling and bubble bursting could be heard early this morning.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the switch to DI inflation at 11:30 am yesterday; this was the eighth DI event in the last eleven days superposed on a longer-term deflationary trend that started around Nov. 1. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded contraction since early November.
Seismic tremor levels increased again around 5 pm yesterday but remained at low values; much of the change was the result of an increase in very low frequency tremor. The number of RB2S2BL earthquakes increased but remained below background levels. Six earthquakes were strong enough to be located - two beneath the summit area, one beneath the area immediately west of the southwest rift zone, and three on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 1,200 tonnes/day on November 6, slightly lower than the 2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Very weak glow was recorded from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded the switch to DI inflation at about 12:30 pm yesterday. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flowed through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the west. Yesterday, HVO geologists reported no active breakouts within the kipuka to the west of the County Viewing Area trail; most of the surface flow activity was farther west on the flow field; the Waikupanaha entry was going as usual with two smaller entries near the west Waikupanaha location. GOES-WEST images contain a weak thermal anomaly on the coastal plain suggesting diminished surface flow activity through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4 seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php .
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
