Hawaii Kilauea Volcano Lava Flowing December

The Kilauea Volcano is constantly erupting on the Big Island of Hawaii has been quite active recently and making the national news this November & December with lava flowing like mad past houses and down into the ocean. We’ve got many updates to go through and pictures from the USGS. If you have pictures for us, contact us and we’ll get in touch with you to get them up.

From USGS…

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). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-)
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 for past 24 hours: Lava continues to flow into the tube system that descends the northeast flank of the Pu`u `O`o cone and feeds flows down the pali through the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision and the coastal plain. Eruption of lava in the eastern pond was intermittent. Tilt at Pu`u` `O`o is generally following the DI pattern at the summit, but more subdued with many small fluctuations. Tilt at the summit leveled off late last night, recording deflation at 3:13 am and slow inflation starting at about 5:08 am. The lava lake level remained steady in the past 24 hours. Seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated.

Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeter network recorded a familiar DI pattern, inflating most of yesterday. Deflation started at about 3:13 am followed by inflation at about 5:08 am today. The lava lake level remained steady just below the inner ledge (75 m or 250 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater). Although not measured this morning, a small amount of ash-sized tephra was probably wafted within the gas plume from the summit vent and deposited on nearby surfaces. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 400 tonnes/day on December 7, 2011.

Seismic tremor levels have not changed appreciably and remain variable. Fourteen earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea volcano: one beneath the southwest rift zone and thirteen beneath the south flank.

Check out more at usgs.gov.


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