USGS Volcano Notice for Aviation - DOI-USGS-HVO-2023-09-11T09:31:32-07:00

(1) VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)
(2) Issued:	(20230911/1810Z)
(3) Volcano:	Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
(4) Current Color Code:	ORANGE
(5) Previous Color Code:	RED
(6) Source:	Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
(7) Notice Number:	2023/H310
(8) Volcano Location:	N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
(9) Area:	Hawaii
(10) Summit Elevation:	4091 ft (1247 m)
(11) Volcanic Activity Summary:	The eruption within Kīlauea's summit caldera that began yesterday afternoon continues, with eruptive activity confined to the downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater. HVO is lowering Kīlauea’s volcano alert level from WARNING to WATCH because the style of eruption and fissure location have stabilized, the initial extremely high effusion rates have declined, and no infrastructure is threatened. Associated hazards are confined to the closed area established by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. HVO is lowering Kīlauea’s aviation color code from RED to ORANGE because there is currently no threat of significant volcanic ash emission into the atmosphere outside of the hazardous closed area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The eruption plume, composed largely of sulfur dioxide and minor volcanic particles, continues to rise to the base of the inversion level at about 8,000-10,000 feet (2,400-3,000 meters) above sea level. The plume concentration has decreased some due to the drop in effusion rate, but still remains high. Hazards associated with the eruption are limited and are described below. Kīlauea’s summit eruption is expected to continue and remain confined to Kīlauea caldera within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.  HVO does not see any indication of activity migrating elsewhere on Kīlauea volcano and expects the eruption to remain confined to the summit region. HVO will continue to monitor this activity closely and report any significant changes in future notices. HVO is in constant communication with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park as this situation evolves. The activity is confined entirely within the park. For more information about the meaning of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes
(12) Volcanic cloud height:	N/A
(13) Other volcanic cloud information:	N/A
(14) Remarks:	Hazard Analysis:  The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects down-wind. As SO₂ is continuously released from the summit during the eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea. Vog information can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/.  Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from the lava fountains that will fall downwind of the fissure vents and dust the ground within a few hundred meters (yards) of the vent (s). Strong winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation.  Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of Kīlauea caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since late 2007.  For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards. Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm. Visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park should note that under southerly (non-trade) wind conditions, there is potential for a dusting of powdery to gritty ash composed of volcanic glass and rock fragments. These ashfalls represent a minor hazard, but visitors should be aware that such dustings at areas around the Kīlauea summit are possible.
(15) Contacts:	askHVO@usgs.gov
(16) Next Notice:	Kīlauea updates will issued daily. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new VAN will be issued. Regularly scheduled updates are posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates More Information: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm Kīlauea activity summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862 Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams Kīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/photo-and-video-chronology Kīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/maps Kīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/faqs Kīlauea hazards discussion: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards