USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2022-01-28T11:18:11-08:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Friday, January 28, 2022, 9:33 AM HST (Friday, January 28, 2022, 19:33 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Eruption of lava from the west vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, paused at approximately midnight, though a small amount of active lava remains at the surface. All recent lava activity has been confined to the crater, and there are no indications of activity migrating elsewhere on Kīlauea.

Summit Observations: Summit tiltmeters began recording a deflationary tilt signal at about 4:30 p.m. HST yesterday, January 27. Volcanic tremor, associated with the eruption of lava at the west vent, is at almost non-eruptive levels, which correlates with very little lava activity at the west vent. Earthquake activity in the summit region remains low, with only a few earthquakes occurring over the past 24 hours. The most recent sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate of approximately 2,800 tonnes per day (t/d) was measured on January 25, 2022, when lava was being erupted by the west vent; current SO₂ emissions are likely significantly decreased and comparable to emission rates measured on January 24, 2022, during the most recent eruptive pause, of about 100 t/d.

Halemaʻumaʻu Lava Lake Observations: This morning, only a small amount of active lava is visible in the small pond north of the west vent cone. Over the past 24 hours, lava has remained mostly confined to the small pond north of the west vent cone and the active lava lake in the western portion of Halema‘uma‘u. A small lava flow along the north margin of the crater remained active over much of yesterday. Field crews working within Kīlauea caldera yesterday noted loud gas-jetting from the small and steep spatter cone that developed in the eastern section of Halema‘uma‘u. The lava lake depth remained relatively stable at about 87 meters (285 feet) until about 5 p.m. HST yesterday, when the surface elevation began to decrease. At approximately 8 a.m. HST this morning, the lava lake depth was 77 meters (253 feet) deep relative to when lava emerged on September 29, 2021. Measurements on January 25, 2022, indicated that the total lava volume effused since the beginning of the eruption was approximately 45 million cubic meters (12.0 billion gallons) at that time.

East Rift Zone Observations: No unusual activity has been noted in the East Rift Zone. Low rates of ground deformation and seismicity continue in the area. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō on the middle East Rift Zone continue to be below detection limits for SO₂, indicating that SO₂ emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.

Hazard Analysis: This eruption at Kīlauea's summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Therefore, high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. Large amounts of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are continuously released during eruptions of Kīlauea volcano. 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. 

Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from lava fountains that will fall downwind and dust the ground within a few hundred meters (yards) of the erupting fissure vent(s). Strong winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents 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 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.

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. 

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea volcano.

HVO will continue to issue daily Kīlauea volcano updates until further notice. Additional messages will be issued as needed.


More Information:
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

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Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards

Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

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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 Hawaiʻi.