USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory – Lava Update

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Nov. 9 at 7:59 a.m. HST

Kīlauea volcano continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone. The leading edge of the June 27 lava flow has not advanced beyond where it stalled on October 30. HVO scientists on the ground monitoring the flow on Saturday observed localized breakouts of lava in scattered locations upslope of the stalled leading flow edge, none closer than 400 meters (440 yards) from the end of the flow, and an overflight by County Civil Defense on Sunday morning noted continuing breakout activity approximately 1.1 km (0.7 miles) to 2.4 km (1.5 miles) above Apaʻa Street. Minor inflationary tilt of Kīlauea’s summit was recorded, and the level of the summit lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater increased from the previous day.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists were on the ground on Saturday monitoring the progress of the lava flow. The leading edge of the flow had not advanced beyond where it stalled on October 30, in a residential area approximately 155 meters (170 yards) above Pāhoa Village Road. Breakouts were observed in areas upslope of the leading edge, the lowest of which was active about 400 meters (440 yards) above the stalled flow front. A breakout above Apaʻa Street continued moving towards the transfer station, and was at a distance of about 100 m (110 yards). A new, narrow breakout was also observed on the south side of the flow, 550 m (600 yards) above Apaʻa Street; this breakout extended about 160 m (175 yards) downslope over the previous day. An overflight by County Civil Defense on Sunday morning confirmed that the leading edge of the flow remains stalled, and noted active breakouts approximately 1.1 km (0.7 miles) to 2.4 km (1.5 miles) above Apaʻa Street.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: No significant changes were noted near Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Seismic tremor continued with a fluctuating amplitude, no earthquakes were located in the vicinity of the cone, and webcams revealed no strong variations in the pattern of glow from degassing vents nor the configuration of the crater floor. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 320 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 31, 2014. The tiltmeter at Puʻu ʻŌʻō has been repaired but it is too early to tell if the work has corrected the malfunction there. The GPS-measured length across the cone has not changed significantly since July.

Summit Observations: Minor inflationary summit tilt was observed, at a rate that decreased around noon on Saturday. Thermal camera images show that the surface height of the lava lake in the Overlook vent increased. Surface height was measured at 51 m (56 yards) below the vent rim on Saturday at 1634h, about 5 m (5 yards) higher than on Friday morning. Several small earthquakes were located beneath the summit, and volcanic tremor persisted with a fluctuating amplitude. Summit emissions of sulfur dioxide ranged from 3,400 to 6,400 tonnes/day (see caveat below) through the week-long period ending November 4, 2014. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Nov. 9 at 7:59 a.m. HST