Recent Kilauea Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Sunday, May 11, 2008 07:29 HST (Sunday, May 11, 2008 17:29 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, small amounts of ash and elevated sulfur dioxide continued to erupt from the Halema`uma`u vent. A DI tilt event is in progress. At the east rift eruption site, lava continued to erupt from the TEB vent area and flow through tubes to the ocean. The tube system may become unstable over the next few days in response to the current DI tilt event.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava probably exists at shallow depth within the new vent, but cannot yet be seen from the surface.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was being blown southwesterly. For a few hours yesterday, a small bit of brown ashy component was seen at the plume base but the behavior diminished before 2 pm. Miniscule amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume. Overnight, the vent glowed brightly.
The SO2 emission rate remained high and variable; the most recent average measurement (May 10) was 620 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network continued to record weak deflation before the start of a DI tilt event just after 2 am this morning. Seismic tremor levels remained at elevated values and increased in response to the deflation portion of the ongoing DI tilt event; temporarily increased tremor with DI deflation has been a feature of at least the last 5 DI tilt events. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error since April 26. Two earthquakes were located beneath the summit caldera, two beneath the southwest rift zone, and one on south flank faults.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded small oscillations until it responded to the ongoing DI tilt event around 3 am. GPS receivers recorded continued contraction across the crater at a rate of 2 cm (0.8 in)/month. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts.
Incandescence was seen from the TEB vent area again last night; the intensity of the incandescence seems to be growing slowly. HVO geologists reported three entry points on the Waikupanaha lava delta; the westernmost was most active ejecting spatter to heights of 20-30 m (65-100 ft) and building a littoral cone. No surface flows were observed anywhere on the flow field. The vent and tube system may become unstable over the next several days in response to the ongoing DI tilt event. The instability may result in surface flows and reduced lava supply to the ocean entries.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
littoral cone: usually small cones built near active ocean entries; the cones are constructed of tephra from steam explosions associated with the ocean entry.
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Saturday, May 10, 2008 07:37 HST (Saturday, May 10, 2008 17:37 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, small amounts of ash and elevated sulfur dioxide continued to erupt from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava continued to erupt from the TEB vent area and flow through tubes to the ocean.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava probably exists at shallow depth within the new vent, but cannot yet be seen from the surface. Yesterday's overflight provided the best views so far of the incandescent vent throat dipping beneath at least 20 m (60 ft) of overhanging, crater filling flows (see images).
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was being blown southwesterly. Miniscule amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume. Overnight, the vent glowed brightly.
The SO2 emission rate remained high and variable; the most recent average measurement (May 9) was 730 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network continued to record weak deflation. Seismic tremor levels remained at elevated values. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error since April 26. Two earthquakes were located beneath the summit caldera and two on south flank faults.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded small oscillations but not much net change over the last two days. GPS receivers recorded continued contraction across the crater at a rate of 2 cm (0.8 in)/month. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts.
Incandescence was seen from the TEB vent area again last night; the intensity of the incandescence was greater than last night. Civil Defense reports vigorous ocean entry activity with small explosions throwing spatter up to 20 m (60 ft) high. No surface flows were observed. The tube system and ocean entries seem stable again.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Friday, May 9, 2008 07:17 HST (Friday, May 9, 2008 17:17 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, production of small amounts of ash, elevated sulfur dioxide, and elevated seismic tremor continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava flowed through tubes to the ocean.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was being blown southwesterly. Miniscule amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume. Overnight, foul weather limited visibility of the vent and plume through most of the evening; visibility improved markedly before midnight and remained good through the wee hours of the morning.
The SO2 emission rate remained high and variable; the most recent average measurement (May 8) was 590 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak deflation. Seismic tremor levels remained at elevated values. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error. Three earthquakes were located on south flank faults.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded some oscillations but not much net change. GPS receivers recorded continued contraction across the crater. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts.
Incandescence was seen from the TEB vent area last night. No other activity was noted above the pali.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Thursday, May 8, 2008 07:50 HST (Thursday, May 8, 2008 17:50 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, production of small amounts of ash, elevated sulfur dioxide, and elevated seismic tremor continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava flowed through tubes to the ocean.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was being blown southwesterly. Small amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume; this morning, the ash was wet from overnight rainfall. Overnight, the view of the vent was quite good before the fog rolled in.
The SO2 emission rate remained high; the most recent average measurement (May 7) was 1,100 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak deflation. Seismic tremor levels remained at elevated values. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error. Two earthquakes were located beneath the summit caldera, three on south flank faults, and one on the southwest seismic rift zone.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded some oscillations but not much net change. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts.
Surface flow activity in the rootless shield complex has died down and incandescence remained only from the TEB vent itself. The Waikupanaha entry was active at three locations last night with the middle entry appearing a bit more vigorous than past nights. No other surface flow activity was observed. Surface flow and ocean entry activity could be unstable for the next day as a result of the ongoing series of DI tilt events.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 07:38 HST (Wednesday, May 7, 2008 17:38 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, production of small amounts of ash, elevated sulfur dioxide, and elevated seismic tremor continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. The fourth DI tilt event in the last six days is nearing completion. At the east rift eruption site, surface flows broke out in the rootless shield field and lava flowed through tubes to the ocean.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was being blown southwesterly. Small amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume. Overnight, the view of the vent was quite good when not obscured by fog.
The SO2 emission rate remained high; the most recent average measurement (May 6) was 1,040 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the fourth DI tilt event in the last six days; deflation started at 9:30 am yesterday and inflation took over at 1:20 am this morning. The already elevated seismic tremor levels temporarily increased more than 50% during the deflation portion and started decreasing just after midnight about an hour before the inflation. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error. Two earthquakes were located on south flank faults, one within the seismic southwest rift zone, and two beneath the area north of the summit and east rift zone.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded a delayed response to the ongoing DI tilt event. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts.
Surface flows were observed within the rootless shield field starting around 9:30 am yesterday and continuing into the evening. Three ocean entries were observed active during yesterday's Chopper 1 overflight. Surface flow and ocean entry activity could be unstable for the next day or two as a result of the ongoing series of DI tilt events.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 08:00 HST (Tuesday, May 6, 2008 18:00 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, production of small amounts of ash, elevated sulfur dioxide, and elevated seismic tremor continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava flowed through tubes to the ocean.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater and was being blown more westerly, directly into the east flank of Mauna Loa volcano. Small amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume. Overnight, the view of the vent was quite good when not obscured by fog.
The SO2 emission rate remained high; the most recent average measurement (May 5) was 900 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network resumed recording deflation after completion of the most recent DI tilt event. Seismic tremor levels continued to be elevated. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no extension or contraction above measurement error. Two earthquakes were located on south flank faults and two were located beneath the east rift zone just south of Napau Crater.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded no significant changes. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with occasional low-frequency tremor bursts.
Incandescence was observed in the vicinity of the TEB vent. No surface flows were observed anywhere from the rootless shields to the ocean entries. Three ocean entries continued supplying lava. Surface flow and ocean entry activity could be unstable for the next day as a result of the recently completed DI tilt event.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Monday, May 5, 2008 11:57 HST (Monday, May 5, 2008 21:57 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, production of small amounts of ash, elevated sulfur dioxide, and elevated seismic tremor continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava resumed flow through tubes to the ocean in response to completion of the 5/3 DI tilt event; instability is anticipated in response to the ongoing DI tilt event.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater. Small amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume; the ash and the surrounding ground was wet this morning suggesting less contribution from the wind and more from the plume itself. Overnight, the view of the vent was often obscured by fog.
The SO2 emission rate remained high; the most recent average measurement (May 4) was 920 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded another DI tilt event - the third in the past four days; deflation started at 2:20 pm yesterday followed by inflation this morning at 3:15 am. Seismic tremor levels continued to be elevated and temporarily increased during the deflation part of the ongoing DI tilt event. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded slow contraction. Three earthquakes were located beneath the southwest rift zone.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded a characteristically delayed response to the ongoing DI tilt event superimposed on a strong rain-induced increase. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values.
Last night, short surface flows continued to issue from one of the rootless shields. There appeared to be no surface activity on the pali but there was significant incandescence reflected in clouds indicating surface flow activity at the base of the pali. The Waikupanaha ocean entry was reported to be vigorous with a surface flow entering the ocean at the eastern of the two active entries. Surface flow and ocean entry activity is likely to be unstable for the next day or two as a result of the ongoing DI tilt event.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Sunday, May 4, 2008 07:57 HST (Sunday, May 4, 2008 17:57 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.42°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
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). Information on the status of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Information on the Hawai`i County Viewing Area can be found at http://www.lavainfo.us or 961-8093.
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, production of small amounts of ash, elevated sulfur dioxide, and elevated seismic tremor continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, lava resumed flow through tubes to the ocean in response to completion of the most recent DI tilt event.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent in Halema`uma`u Crater. Small amounts of ash continue to be found each morning in collectors beneath the plume. Overnight, the view of the vent was intermittent but, when visible, it stilled glowed.
The SO2 emission rate remained high; the most recent average measurement (May 3) was 940 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day but the individual measurements captured an emission pulse around noon.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded the completion of the most recent DI tilt event. Seismic tremor levels continued to be elevated. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded slow contraction. Four earthquakes were located on south flank faults, one beneath an area just east of the summit, and one beneath the lower southwest rift zone.
Last 24 hours in the middle east rift zone vents and flow field: Magma continued to degas at shallow levels beneath Pu`u `O`o before entering the lava tube system under the TEB vent and the rootless shield complex resulting in the emission of about 2,240 tonnes/day when last measured on April 27. No incandescence was seen in Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded completion of the most recent DI tilt event when local rainfall swamped the DI signal. Seismic tremor levels increased from a slight low over the past 4 days but remained at low values.
Yesterday, HVO geologists, CD personnel, and Kaimu residents noted the near lack of activity at the ocean entries in the morning, probably a result of the DI tilt event mentioned yesterday. By evening, the entries were returning to activity and incandescence was noted on the pali. By 9 pm, the incandescent spots had turned into a surface flow that traversed the pali and reached the coastal plain. Overnight, surface flows advanced almost to the base of the uppermost rootless shield. The tube system and ocean entries may remain unstable over the next day or two.
Definitions of terms used in the update:
ppm: parts-per-million; 10,000 ppm = 1 %.
incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to the temperature of the surface. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches).
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.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/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/2006/warnschemes.html
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey