USGS Volcano Notice for Aviation - DOI-USGS-HVO-2024-04-20T08:52:03+00:00

(1) VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)
(2) Issued:	(20240605/2007Z)
(3) Volcano:	Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
(4) Current Color Code:	YELLOW
(5) Previous Color Code:	ORANGE
(6) Source:	Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
(7) Notice Number:	2024/H115
(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 that began southwest of Kīlauea summit on June 3, 2024, has been paused for 48 hours and is unlikely to restart. Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is lowering the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW. Lava stopped erupting from the fissure vents at approximately 9:00 a.m. HST on June 3 and lava flows stagnated by noon that day. Tremor, degassing, and incandescence associated with the fissure vents have decreased substantially over the past 48 hours, making it unlikely that the eruption will resume. Overall seismicity and deformation in the summit region including the eruption area remain very low. While decreasing, volcanic gas emissions at the eruption site remain well above background levels (100 tonnes per day), with a sulfur dioxide emission rate of 5,500 tonnes per day measured yesterday, June 4, down from 12,000-15,000 tonnes per day on June 3. A map showing the distribution of lava flows from the June 3 eruption Southwest of Kīlauea summit is available at: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/june-3-2024-kilauea-southwest-rift-zone-eruption-reference-map-updated-10pm-hst. The last eruption in this area occurred in December 1974. The 1974 eruption was continuous for six hours before the eruption ended, compared to 8.5 hours for this recent eruption. HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea for signs of renewed activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly, a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued. All recent activity has occurred within the summit and upper rift zone regions. No unusual activity has been detected in the middle or lower East Rift Zone. Hazards are still present on Kīlauea and are described below, but elevated sulfur dioxide gas emissions are likely to be persistent for days or weeks. Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow Hawaii County and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines. 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:  Kīlauea eruptive activity on June 3 occurred within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. High level of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—being emitted is the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. As SO₂ is released from the summit, it reacts in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) that has been observed downwind of Kīlauea. Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock. For more information on gas hazards at the summit of Kīlauea, please see: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20173017. Vog information can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org.  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 the rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since early 2008.  For discussion of Kīlauea hazards, please see: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/hazards. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea Volcano. Please see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.
(15) Contacts:	askHVO@usgs.gov
(16) Next Notice:	Kīlauea updates will be 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