Geologist sets up a time lapse camera near a skylight at the top of Royal Gardens. Lava in this tube travels downslope until it reaches the ocean at Waikupanaha, creating the steam plume in the background.
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 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.
This report, in addition to maps, photos, and webcam images was prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO):
Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Kilauea Volcano is active at two locations. At the summit, a third small explosion, low ash production, and elevated sulfur dioxide emissions continued from the Halema`uma`u vent. Seismic tremor levels continued elevated to several times background levels. At the east rift eruption site, lava continued to flow from vents in the east rift zone through tubes into the ocean at the Waikupanaha and Ki ocean entries; disruption caused by the 4/14 DI tilt event diverted some of the lava supply into surface flows and decreased supply to the entries.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Our data suggest that molten lava may reside at shallow depth within the new vent.
A third small explosion apparently occurred just before 4 am this morning, slightly more than 24 hours after the inflation part of the most recent DI tilt event started. The exact timing of the explosion is unknown because it was not observed but it must have happened at a time when the vent was obscured from HVO by fog. The most likely geophysical signature of the event was a seismic signal just before 4 am. The explosion deposited faintly pink ash downwind across the Halema`uma`u overlook parking lot and along a section of Crater Rim Drive. The ash appeared to be rock dust with no volcanic glass fragments.
A white plume continued to issue from the vent. Overnight, the base of the plume glowed between passing fog but no incandescent particles were observed ejected from the vent.
The SO2 emission rate remains high. The most recent measurement was 970 tonnes/day on April 15, compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day.
Seismic tremor levels remain elevated to several times background values with almost periodic variations in amplitude (called banded tremor). The summit tiltmeter network recorded inflation. GPS receivers on opposite sides of the summit caldera recorded no contraction or extension greater than measurement error. Three earthquakes were located beneath Kilauea Volcano – one each beneath Halema`uma`u Crater, upper east rift zone, and 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 and flowing southeast to the ocean. The DI tilt event apparently caused a disruption in the stable tube system resulting in surface breakouts that diverted some supply from the ocean entries.
Scientists on a Chopper 1 overflight yesterday morning observed three small surface lava flows in the rootless shield complex and two small breakouts from the lava tube system on the coastal plain. This morning, a pilot reported surface flow activity at the top of Royal Gardens subdivision and on the coastal plain. Only two entries were weakly active at that time suggesting that the lava supply to the ocean had diminished. Hawai`i County Civil Defense reported last night that maybe three weak entries were seen from the Viewing Area. Overnight in the webcam, vigorous surface flows could be seen issuing from the top of the rootless shield nearest the TEB vent and less vigorous outbreaks from one shield farther to the southeast.
