As long as the magma supply at Kilauea Volcano remains elevated, geologists say they expect to see continued high lava lake levels and intermittent overflows, accompanied by periodic rockfalls, explosions and falling ash.
As long as the magma supply at Kilauea Volcano remains elevated, geologists say they expect to see continued high lava lake levels and intermittent overflows, accompanied by periodic rockfalls, explosions and falling ash.
And a close eye is being kept on nearby Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent, where so far there has been no obvious changes in the eruption rate, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
“We are especially watching for any sign of unrest that may precede a new outbreak of lava or a change in output at either Pu‘u ‘O‘o or the summit Overlook crater vent,” HVO scientists said Wednesday.
Following numerous overflows of the lava lake Wednesday, the level dropped slightly following a switch to deflationary tilt at the summit around 4 a.m. Thursday.
No overflows occurred after that switch, according to Janet Babb, a geologist and spokeswoman at HVO.
Scientists said it is possible that a surge of lava will reach Pu‘u ‘O‘o and lava flow output will increase, both on the flanks and within the crater of Pu‘u ‘O‘o. Lava could also form a new vent at the surface. If it does, HVO said, it will most likely occur along a portion of the East Rift Zone between Pauahi Crater and Pu‘u ‘O‘o. Additionally, other outbreaks in the summit area or along either rift zone on Kilauea cannot be ruled out.
“If a new outbreak or surge in lava to Pu‘u ‘O‘o occurs, we will expect a drop in the summit lava lake,” scientists said.
Starting Tuesday evening and through Wednesday, periodic overflows occurred at the Overlook vent, sending short sheets of pahoehoe as far as 433 feet (130 meters) across the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. At noon Wednesday, the lava level was measured at 6.5 feet (2 meters) above the floor of Halema‘uma‘u.
The event marked the first time in more than 30 years that lava has been flowing across the crater floor, drawing packs of visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Thus far, the flows have been brief and their forward motion ceased as the lava lake level fell and lava subsided into the Overlook crater. Lava from additional overflows could cover more of the Halema‘uma‘u Crater floor, form a perched lake, or result in some combination of these two processes, scientists said.
Shallow earthquake activity has also been elevated beneath the summit caldera, upper East Rift Zone and upper Southwest Rift Zone, HVO said.
For updated information, visit hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
Email Chris D’Angelo at cdangelo@hawaiitribune-herald.com.