Sunday, June 24, 2007
Hawaiian volcano has lava eruption
Lava started oozing from a new rift near a 600-foot fissure in Mount Kilauea in Hawaii Wednesday, a day after hundreds of earthquakes shook the upper East Rift Zone, shaking the island late Monday and early Tuesday.
The earthquakes in Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, sparked a new episode to the 24-year-long eruption about 8 miles southwest of Kilauea's summit, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported.
Lava was moving slowly and the fissure was releasing heavy smoke and steam, a field team on the scene reported. About four hours later, the lava had ceased movement and the smoke had dissipated. The earthquakes were a result of magma buildup, officials said.
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was evacuated Sunday when earthquakes perpetuated for hours. A trail in the park that leads to Pu’u ‘O’o was also closed late Tuesday afternoon after air-quality testing showed sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano were "off the chart," a park ranger told the Honolulu Advertiser.
Despite close-offs, the rangers have still seen visitors in the area.
"Pu'u 'O'o is so unstable, Pu'u 'O'o remains closed, it always has been closed, we've taken the advice of the scientists who said Pu'u 'O'o is unstable,” Park Ranger Mardie Lane told the newspaper. “It's steaming, it's hot, it's gassy, it's collapsing in upon itself, and during these seismic swarms that began Sunday, even more so, the collapses have been significant."
Scientists believe that the eruptions have had significant effects on the topography of the area, as Tuesday’s eruption caused the island’s southeast coastline to move at least an inch seaward, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.
Steve Brantley of the Observatory said in a press release that the movement of lava was causing the crater floor to collapse, as it has dropped 65 feet.
Scientists report that the magma seems to be moving toward the East Rift Zone, and as a result, this area is still volatile
Although the Kilauea summit seemed to be deflating with the sequence of earthquakes that began Sunday, scientists reported that the summit was inflating again late Tuesday and that the next point of eruption cannot be specifically predicted.
The earthquakes in Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, sparked a new episode to the 24-year-long eruption about 8 miles southwest of Kilauea's summit, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported.
Lava was moving slowly and the fissure was releasing heavy smoke and steam, a field team on the scene reported. About four hours later, the lava had ceased movement and the smoke had dissipated. The earthquakes were a result of magma buildup, officials said.
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was evacuated Sunday when earthquakes perpetuated for hours. A trail in the park that leads to Pu’u ‘O’o was also closed late Tuesday afternoon after air-quality testing showed sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano were "off the chart," a park ranger told the Honolulu Advertiser.
Despite close-offs, the rangers have still seen visitors in the area.
"Pu'u 'O'o is so unstable, Pu'u 'O'o remains closed, it always has been closed, we've taken the advice of the scientists who said Pu'u 'O'o is unstable,” Park Ranger Mardie Lane told the newspaper. “It's steaming, it's hot, it's gassy, it's collapsing in upon itself, and during these seismic swarms that began Sunday, even more so, the collapses have been significant."
Scientists believe that the eruptions have had significant effects on the topography of the area, as Tuesday’s eruption caused the island’s southeast coastline to move at least an inch seaward, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.
Steve Brantley of the Observatory said in a press release that the movement of lava was causing the crater floor to collapse, as it has dropped 65 feet.
Scientists report that the magma seems to be moving toward the East Rift Zone, and as a result, this area is still volatile
Although the Kilauea summit seemed to be deflating with the sequence of earthquakes that began Sunday, scientists reported that the summit was inflating again late Tuesday and that the next point of eruption cannot be specifically predicted.
Russian volcano is still growing!
Kamchatka Peninsula's Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano that has been erupting since February 15 has shown signs of growing activity, sources at the regional affiliation of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences said.
About 00:00 hours local time Wednesday /11:00 hours GMT Tuesday/, the Klyuchevskaya Sopka ejected a spout of ash to the altitude of 9,000 or so meters. The spouting could not be observed visually, as the crater of Eurasia's largest active volcano is coated in dense clouds, but data from satellites confirmed that a trail of the spout spread 80 kilometers westwards at the altitude of about 7,000 meters.
Also, the fallout of ash precipitation was registered in the town of Kozyrevsk located 45 kilometers away from Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
Surveyors have registered 124 seismic events near the volcano since Tuesday morning, including volcanic tremor of up to 83.9 mkm per second.
Researchers say Klyuchevskaya Sopka's activity rules out correct seismic monitoring of two neighboring volcanos -- Shiveluch and Bezymyanny.
As of February 15, the volcano, which is 4,750 meters tall, has been disgorging streams of lava about 1,000 degrees Celsius hot.
Fallout of ash is regularly reported from the towns of Klyuchi and Kozyrevsk, and people in the former town can occasionally hear walloping produced by the eruption.
Experts say Klyuchevskaya Sopka's activity does not pose any direct threat to population centers now but spokespeople for the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team /KVERT/ say ash trails may present a certain danger to aviation. The team has notified of it all the organizations and private companies concerned.
The volcano remains under permanent watch.
About 00:00 hours local time Wednesday /11:00 hours GMT Tuesday/, the Klyuchevskaya Sopka ejected a spout of ash to the altitude of 9,000 or so meters. The spouting could not be observed visually, as the crater of Eurasia's largest active volcano is coated in dense clouds, but data from satellites confirmed that a trail of the spout spread 80 kilometers westwards at the altitude of about 7,000 meters.
Also, the fallout of ash precipitation was registered in the town of Kozyrevsk located 45 kilometers away from Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
Surveyors have registered 124 seismic events near the volcano since Tuesday morning, including volcanic tremor of up to 83.9 mkm per second.
Researchers say Klyuchevskaya Sopka's activity rules out correct seismic monitoring of two neighboring volcanos -- Shiveluch and Bezymyanny.
As of February 15, the volcano, which is 4,750 meters tall, has been disgorging streams of lava about 1,000 degrees Celsius hot.
Fallout of ash is regularly reported from the towns of Klyuchi and Kozyrevsk, and people in the former town can occasionally hear walloping produced by the eruption.
Experts say Klyuchevskaya Sopka's activity does not pose any direct threat to population centers now but spokespeople for the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team /KVERT/ say ash trails may present a certain danger to aviation. The team has notified of it all the organizations and private companies concerned.
The volcano remains under permanent watch.
Mud volcano appears in residential area
Huge bursts of water have been shooting out of the ground in homes and at least one abandoned restaurant hundreds of metres away from swathes of land submerged by a mud volcano on Indonesia's Java island.
Experts say the bursts are caused by underground pressure linked to torrents of mud gushing out of a drilling site near the industrial suburb of Sidoarjo in East Java for more than a year.
"The new bursts are caused by the mudflow. People have to be cautious because the bursts may carry toxic gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide," Amin Widodo, a researcher from a local university, told Reuters.
Residents said the bursts first appeared about two months ago when a one-metre high geyser of water and gas shot out of the floor of a resident's living room about 800 metres away from the volcano.
Since then, the eruptions have become higher and more frequent.
Earlier this week, a mixture of hot water and fine sand shot as high as five metres from the clay-tiled floors of an abandoned coffee shop next to a railroad.
"I thought it was raining but when I stepped out of my stall I saw that water was bursting out of the restaurant's kitchen," said Lilik, who owns a nearby cigarette stand.
Experts have tried several schemes to plug the torrent of mud, including dropping hundreds of concrete balls into the mouth of the "mud volcano", but have so far failed to stop the flow that has submerged entire villages and displaced 15,000 people.
Some experts say the mudflow could continue for decades.
The government requires PT Lapindo Brantas, the operator of the well from where the mud has been flowing, to pay for stopping and handling the mudflow as well as compensation for directly affected residents.
The government has agreed to cover costs related to the disaster's social impact on people living outside swamped areas.
Lapindo had been told by the government to pay 3.8 trillion rupiah ($425 million) to victims and for efforts to halt the flow, but officials say the cost could double that.
Lapindo and PT Energi Mega Persada Tbk, which indirectly controls Lapindo, dispute the idea the disaster was caused by the drilling and also whether Lapindo alone should shoulder the cost.
Soffian Hadi, deputy of the agency to handle the mudflow, said residents had not allowed authorities to examine the water bursts.
"But it is caused by a strong gas pressure from under the earth that forces water and mud through cracks in the surface."
Experts say the bursts are caused by underground pressure linked to torrents of mud gushing out of a drilling site near the industrial suburb of Sidoarjo in East Java for more than a year.
"The new bursts are caused by the mudflow. People have to be cautious because the bursts may carry toxic gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide," Amin Widodo, a researcher from a local university, told Reuters.
Residents said the bursts first appeared about two months ago when a one-metre high geyser of water and gas shot out of the floor of a resident's living room about 800 metres away from the volcano.
Since then, the eruptions have become higher and more frequent.
Earlier this week, a mixture of hot water and fine sand shot as high as five metres from the clay-tiled floors of an abandoned coffee shop next to a railroad.
"I thought it was raining but when I stepped out of my stall I saw that water was bursting out of the restaurant's kitchen," said Lilik, who owns a nearby cigarette stand.
Experts have tried several schemes to plug the torrent of mud, including dropping hundreds of concrete balls into the mouth of the "mud volcano", but have so far failed to stop the flow that has submerged entire villages and displaced 15,000 people.
Some experts say the mudflow could continue for decades.
The government requires PT Lapindo Brantas, the operator of the well from where the mud has been flowing, to pay for stopping and handling the mudflow as well as compensation for directly affected residents.
The government has agreed to cover costs related to the disaster's social impact on people living outside swamped areas.
Lapindo had been told by the government to pay 3.8 trillion rupiah ($425 million) to victims and for efforts to halt the flow, but officials say the cost could double that.
Lapindo and PT Energi Mega Persada Tbk
Soffian Hadi, deputy of the agency to handle the mudflow, said residents had not allowed authorities to examine the water bursts.
"But it is caused by a strong gas pressure from under the earth that forces water and mud through cracks in the surface."
Earthquakes shaking Kilauea volcano may be clue to lava activity
Hundreds of small earthquakes that suggest that magma is on the move under the surface of the Kilauea volcano sent scientists and national park officials scrambling over the weekend and prompted the rare closure of most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The earthquake swarm began at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, with more than 260 recorded in 17 hours. Another nine were reported on the island of Hawaii between midnight and 4 a.m. today, as well as one 26 miles offshore. The largest of those registered a 3.2 magnitude at the U.S. Geological Survey at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Eleven campers and some livestock were evacuated from portions of the park as rangers monitored the unusual earthquake activity for signs of a shift in the ongoing Kilauea eruption. Fresh cracks were reported in nearby roads.Park Ranger Mardie Lane said it was the first time she could recall since about 1999 that seismic activity caused by underground magma movement prompted the park to take such extensive precautions.
Park officials planned to reassess the situation today.“It looks like the rift has expanded a bit, possibly to accommodate magma, and the earthquakes are accompanying that process,” said Jim Kauahikaua, scientist-in-charge of the volcano observatory.Steve Brantley, deputy scientist-in-charge for the observatory, said the center of the earthquakes was about a mile southwest of Mauna Ulu, but during the day, the hub of the seismic activity migrated about 3 miles down the east rift zone toward Pu’u ’O’o, the source of the ongoing eruption.
At the same time, the summit area of Kilauea volcano began to deflate or contract, another clue that magma is shifting from beneath the summit to some other part of the volcano, Brantley said.All the activity raised concerns for the National Park Service, which closed the 18-mile Chain of Craters Road that visitors normally use to reach lowland areas where lava flows into the sea.
Lane said more than 1,000 people may drive at least partway down that road on a typical weekend day.With the apparent new movement of magma, Lane said, the concern was that if lava suddenly burst to the surface in an unexpected area, it could cut roads and trails, spew poisonous fumes or start brush fires that could pose a threat to visitors.“It’s a hidden hazard,” Lane said.
“Our job is to have this place open, but not at the risk of anybody’s life.”Brantley said that although the hub of the earthquake activity shifted downslope during the day Sunday, the Chain of Craters Road and other areas farther downslope from the earthquakes could still be at risk.“Assuming that our inference is correct” — that the earthquakes signal magma movement — “the magma could head to the surface at any time,” he said.
Kauahikaua said the observatory was watching the situation closely. There are several possible outcomes, he said.“The most dramatic would be some sort of surface breakout of lava here near Mauna Ulu,” Kauahikaua said. “The best would be, of course, that it’s just going to remain underground.”
The earthquake swarm began at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, with more than 260 recorded in 17 hours. Another nine were reported on the island of Hawaii between midnight and 4 a.m. today, as well as one 26 miles offshore. The largest of those registered a 3.2 magnitude at the U.S. Geological Survey at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Eleven campers and some livestock were evacuated from portions of the park as rangers monitored the unusual earthquake activity for signs of a shift in the ongoing Kilauea eruption. Fresh cracks were reported in nearby roads.Park Ranger Mardie Lane said it was the first time she could recall since about 1999 that seismic activity caused by underground magma movement prompted the park to take such extensive precautions.
Park officials planned to reassess the situation today.“It looks like the rift has expanded a bit, possibly to accommodate magma, and the earthquakes are accompanying that process,” said Jim Kauahikaua, scientist-in-charge of the volcano observatory.Steve Brantley, deputy scientist-in-charge for the observatory, said the center of the earthquakes was about a mile southwest of Mauna Ulu, but during the day, the hub of the seismic activity migrated about 3 miles down the east rift zone toward Pu’u ’O’o, the source of the ongoing eruption.
At the same time, the summit area of Kilauea volcano began to deflate or contract, another clue that magma is shifting from beneath the summit to some other part of the volcano, Brantley said.All the activity raised concerns for the National Park Service, which closed the 18-mile Chain of Craters Road that visitors normally use to reach lowland areas where lava flows into the sea.
Lane said more than 1,000 people may drive at least partway down that road on a typical weekend day.With the apparent new movement of magma, Lane said, the concern was that if lava suddenly burst to the surface in an unexpected area, it could cut roads and trails, spew poisonous fumes or start brush fires that could pose a threat to visitors.“It’s a hidden hazard,” Lane said.
“Our job is to have this place open, but not at the risk of anybody’s life.”Brantley said that although the hub of the earthquake activity shifted downslope during the day Sunday, the Chain of Craters Road and other areas farther downslope from the earthquakes could still be at risk.“Assuming that our inference is correct” — that the earthquakes signal magma movement — “the magma could head to the surface at any time,” he said.
Kauahikaua said the observatory was watching the situation closely. There are several possible outcomes, he said.“The most dramatic would be some sort of surface breakout of lava here near Mauna Ulu,” Kauahikaua said. “The best would be, of course, that it’s just going to remain underground.”
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Fourpeaked volcano alert status dropped to green level
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has dropped the advisory status to normal for Fourpeaked Volcano, a volcano about 100 miles south of Homer that became active last fall. Fourpeaked probably last erupted 10,000 years, scientists said. On the four-color aviation code, Fourpeaked was downgraded to green.
Scientists were surprised last September when many Homer residents reported steam rising from the mountain near Cape Douglas, visible looking south toward lower Cook Inlet.
AVO scientists installed seismometers, pressure sensors and a Web camera near Fourpeaked, and collected gas samples on flights over the volcano. Based on a drop in small earthquakes from 33 in March to seven in May, AVO said in a release scientists now believe Fourpeaked is returning to quiescence.
They still aren't sure exactly what happened, said Stephanie Prejean, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist with AVO.
"Specifically what happened in September is questionable," she said.
Most likely Fourpeaked gave off steam, gases and old volcanic ash from previous eruptions stirred up by the steaming. A full eruption with magma rising to the surface, as happened with Augustine Volcano in 2005 probably did not happen, Prejean said.
Based on anecdotal accounts from longtime fishermen, AVO now thinks Fourpeaked could have given off steam in the 1960s. After reports of the 2006 event, two fishermen told AVO they saw it steaming then.
"We have been able to learn more about the volcano because of the public response," Prejean said. "That's been one interesting part of the story."
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of USGS, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. For more information, visit its Web page at http://www.avo.edu/.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
Scientists were surprised last September when many Homer residents reported steam rising from the mountain near Cape Douglas, visible looking south toward lower Cook Inlet.
AVO scientists installed seismometers, pressure sensors and a Web camera near Fourpeaked, and collected gas samples on flights over the volcano. Based on a drop in small earthquakes from 33 in March to seven in May, AVO said in a release scientists now believe Fourpeaked is returning to quiescence.
They still aren't sure exactly what happened, said Stephanie Prejean, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist with AVO.
"Specifically what happened in September is questionable," she said.
Most likely Fourpeaked gave off steam, gases and old volcanic ash from previous eruptions stirred up by the steaming. A full eruption with magma rising to the surface, as happened with Augustine Volcano in 2005 probably did not happen, Prejean said.
Based on anecdotal accounts from longtime fishermen, AVO now thinks Fourpeaked could have given off steam in the 1960s. After reports of the 2006 event, two fishermen told AVO they saw it steaming then.
"We have been able to learn more about the volcano because of the public response," Prejean said. "That's been one interesting part of the story."
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of USGS, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. For more information, visit its Web page at http://www.avo.edu/.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Reports on Kilauea eruption
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 9, 2007 06:33 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. A more-than-the-typical number of small shallow earthquakes have been occurring in the upper rift zones since May 12, 2007.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. While we can't see it except on helicopter overflights, twice daily satellite imagery confirms that the Petunia flow is still somewhat active. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean only at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Small shallow earthquakes were recorded south and west of Halema`uma`u crater. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation across the summit. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. Incandescence from Beehive vent was visible for the first time in months. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Friday afternoon: Numerous breakouts continue inland of the Poupou entry on the east side of the flow field. A strong steam plume is visible from the Poupou entry.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 8, 2007 08:01 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. A more-than-the-typical number of small shallow earthquakes have been occurring in the upper rift zones since May 12, 2007.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Small shallow earthquakes were recorded in the upper rift zones and the south flank. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation.
Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Wne the fog cleared, incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. There was about 10 minutes of spattering just before midnight from the north side of East Pond vent. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations superimposed over a slow inflation. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 7, 2007 08:39 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Small shallow earthquakes were recorded in the upper rift zones and the south flank. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation.
Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations superimposed over a slow inflation.
Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.A USGS field crew yesterday reported continued surface flow activity on the east side of the flow field advancing slowly eastward. The surface activity is concentrated 500-1600 m inland. The branch of the Campout flow that feeds the Poupou entry feeds an arm to the east just outside the National Park boundary and another to the western side of the Ka`ili`ili branch.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 6, 2007 07:54 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active.
Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: A few small shallow earthquakes were recorded in the southern and eastern parts of the summit. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Beautifully clear conditions revealed the moon rising over East Pond vent.
Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations superimposed over a slow inflation. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Tuesday afternoon: A steam plume was visible from the Poupou ocean entry. Surface flows continue to be active inland of the entry.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 5, 2007 08:45 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There continues to be a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located about 2 km south of Halema`uma`u crater. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations.
Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Sunday afternoon: Dim incandescence was visible above the pali, possibly from the new flow issuing out of the uppermost tube system. No activity is visible on the pali. Surface flow activity continues on the eastern flow field between Royal Gardens and the coast, where a pronounced steam plume was observed at the Poupou entry. Poupou entry incandescence was visible from several locations on the east side of the flow field.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 4, 2007 08:07 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There continues to be a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located in the uppermost parts of the southwest rift zone and west of Halema`uma`u crater. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes until slow inflation started at 1:07 am. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. A magnitude-3.8 earthquake occurred at 1:51 am 4 km northeast of Pahala town. An equal or larger magnitude earthquake occurs in this area on average every year or two.
Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Sunday afternoon: No activity is visible on the pali. Surface flow activity continues on the eastern flow field between Royal Gardens, where smoke was observed, and the coast, where a pronounced steam plume was observed at the Poupou entry.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 3, 2007 06:56 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active.
Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There continues to be a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located in the uppermost parts of the southwest and east rift zones. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was poor between 12 noon and 4 pm, but good at all other times.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes.
Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Saturday afternoon: No activity is visible on the pali. A surface flow is advancing just outside the eastern park boundary and is about one-quarter mile inland of the coast.
Poupou entry consists of three entries and is producing a strong steam plume visible during the day. On the eastern side of the flow field, incandescence in steam and lava streams are visible from pullouts along the coast road.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 2, 2007 06:58 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started in the uppermost rift zones on May 12 continues.
The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent.
The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There was again a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located in the uppermost parts of the southwest and east rift zones. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes.
Seismic tremor remains at low levels except for two small bursts of tremor at 4 pm and 2:50 am. Air quality was poor between 3 and 6:30 pm, but good at all other times.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. HVO scientists reported that lava in the East Pond vent was about 21 meters below the rim. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.HVO scientists yesterday reported an advancing flow from the vicinity of Pu`u `O`o paralleling the Campout tube.
The Campout tube system is still supporting lots of surface flow activity on the eastern side of the coastal plain between the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and the coast. Video of this activity may be shown on TV news. Poupou is wide with two main entry points. HVO scientists also found sluggish surface flow activity about 2-2.5 km inland of the inactive East Lae`apuki entry, probably from the western branch of the Campout flow that we thought might be inactive.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Friday evening: No activity is visible on the pali. Surface flow activity has shifted to the east side of the flow field between Royal Gardens subdivision and the Poupou entry. Lots of surface flow activity is reported on the eastern park boundary.
Poupou entry is producing a strong steam plume visible during the day. On the eastern side of the flow field, incandescence in steam and lava streams are visible from pullouts along the coast road.
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. A more-than-the-typical number of small shallow earthquakes have been occurring in the upper rift zones since May 12, 2007.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. While we can't see it except on helicopter overflights, twice daily satellite imagery confirms that the Petunia flow is still somewhat active. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean only at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Small shallow earthquakes were recorded south and west of Halema`uma`u crater. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation across the summit. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. Incandescence from Beehive vent was visible for the first time in months. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Friday afternoon: Numerous breakouts continue inland of the Poupou entry on the east side of the flow field. A strong steam plume is visible from the Poupou entry.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 8, 2007 08:01 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. A more-than-the-typical number of small shallow earthquakes have been occurring in the upper rift zones since May 12, 2007.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Small shallow earthquakes were recorded in the upper rift zones and the south flank. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation.
Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Wne the fog cleared, incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. There was about 10 minutes of spattering just before midnight from the north side of East Pond vent. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations superimposed over a slow inflation. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 7, 2007 08:39 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Small shallow earthquakes were recorded in the upper rift zones and the south flank. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation.
Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations superimposed over a slow inflation.
Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.A USGS field crew yesterday reported continued surface flow activity on the east side of the flow field advancing slowly eastward. The surface activity is concentrated 500-1600 m inland. The branch of the Campout flow that feeds the Poupou entry feeds an arm to the east just outside the National Park boundary and another to the western side of the Ka`ili`ili branch.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 6, 2007 07:54 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active.
Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: A few small shallow earthquakes were recorded in the southern and eastern parts of the summit. The tiltmeter network recorded slow inflation. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Beautifully clear conditions revealed the moon rising over East Pond vent.
Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations superimposed over a slow inflation. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Tuesday afternoon: A steam plume was visible from the Poupou ocean entry. Surface flows continue to be active inland of the entry.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 5, 2007 08:45 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There continues to be a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located about 2 km south of Halema`uma`u crater. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations.
Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Sunday afternoon: Dim incandescence was visible above the pali, possibly from the new flow issuing out of the uppermost tube system. No activity is visible on the pali. Surface flow activity continues on the eastern flow field between Royal Gardens and the coast, where a pronounced steam plume was observed at the Poupou entry. Poupou entry incandescence was visible from several locations on the east side of the flow field.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 4, 2007 08:07 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There continues to be a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located in the uppermost parts of the southwest rift zone and west of Halema`uma`u crater. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes until slow inflation started at 1:07 am. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. A magnitude-3.8 earthquake occurred at 1:51 am 4 km northeast of Pahala town. An equal or larger magnitude earthquake occurs in this area on average every year or two.
Air quality was good.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Sunday afternoon: No activity is visible on the pali. Surface flow activity continues on the eastern flow field between Royal Gardens, where smoke was observed, and the coast, where a pronounced steam plume was observed at the Poupou entry.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 3, 2007 06:56 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started on May 12 in the uppermost rift zones continues.The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active.
Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There continues to be a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located in the uppermost parts of the southwest and east rift zones. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes. Seismic tremor remains at low levels. Air quality was poor between 12 noon and 4 pm, but good at all other times.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes.
Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Saturday afternoon: No activity is visible on the pali. A surface flow is advancing just outside the eastern park boundary and is about one-quarter mile inland of the coast.
Poupou entry consists of three entries and is producing a strong steam plume visible during the day. On the eastern side of the flow field, incandescence in steam and lava streams are visible from pullouts along the coast road.
Kilauea Daily Update issued Jun 2, 2007 06:58 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the Poupou ocean entry continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started in the uppermost rift zones on May 12 continues.
The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout and the Petunia tubes within about 1 km from the vent.
The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Petunia flow has advanced on about 2 km and is not yet visible below the pali. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There was again a more-than-typical number of earthquakes recorded and most were located in the uppermost parts of the southwest and east rift zones. The tiltmeter network recorded no significant summit-wide changes.
Seismic tremor remains at low levels except for two small bursts of tremor at 4 pm and 2:50 am. Air quality was poor between 3 and 6:30 pm, but good at all other times.Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence could be seen reflected in the gas plumes at East Pond, January, South Wall Complex, and Drainhole vents. HVO scientists reported that lava in the East Pond vent was about 21 meters below the rim. The POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor remains at moderate levels.HVO scientists yesterday reported an advancing flow from the vicinity of Pu`u `O`o paralleling the Campout tube.
The Campout tube system is still supporting lots of surface flow activity on the eastern side of the coastal plain between the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and the coast. Video of this activity may be shown on TV news. Poupou is wide with two main entry points. HVO scientists also found sluggish surface flow activity about 2-2.5 km inland of the inactive East Lae`apuki entry, probably from the western branch of the Campout flow that we thought might be inactive.NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Friday evening: No activity is visible on the pali. Surface flow activity has shifted to the east side of the flow field between Royal Gardens subdivision and the Poupou entry. Lots of surface flow activity is reported on the eastern park boundary.
Poupou entry is producing a strong steam plume visible during the day. On the eastern side of the flow field, incandescence in steam and lava streams are visible from pullouts along the coast road.
There is a volcano eruption in Russia
The 15,580-foot Klyuchevskoy Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula has been blasting ash into the sky and burbling lava down its flanks, producing a well-monitored hazard to air traffic along the North Pacific Rim.
Klyuchevskoy Volcano erupts on May .
Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say the "explosive-effusive eruption" has slightly eased this week, but another blast could send ash more than five miles high at any time.
One of the most active volcanoes in the North Pacific, Klyuchevskoy erupted May 27 with splattering lava and floes of molten rock and explosive bursts into the sky. Ash plumes rose more than 29,000 feet into the atmosphere and extended up to 370 miles over the Pacific, according to the dispatch posted online by AVO.
The eruption continued, with ash rising up to 23,000 feet on May 29 to 31. "New lava flow was noted on the eastern flank of the volcano on May 31," the most recent dispatch reported. "Strong phreatic bursts were observed on the front of this lava flow. Clouds obscured the volcano in the other days."
Note the growing pyroclastic cone atop the summit crater, actively emitting ash. The gray column of ash and vapor at left likely represents explosive interaction of a summit- lava flow with ice and snow on the high flank of Klyuchevskoy. Credit: Yuri Demyanchuk, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FED RAS.
Klyuchevskoy is one of 29 very active Kamchatka Penisula cones monitored by the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) in a project coordinated with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The two organizations use satellite images, seismic networks, infrared detection and human observers to give warning of ash plumes in the air.
Jet flights carrying up to 20,000 passengers and millions of dollars in cargo cross the North Pacific every day, running a gauntlet of active Alaskan and Russian volcanoes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the world’s geologic hotspot.
When sucked up by air intakes, the tiny abrasive ash particles of rock and glass produced by an eruption can destroy or damage jet engines and turbines, causing aircraft to plummet from the sky.
In December, 1989, a KLM Boeing 747 with 231 passengers and 13 crew flew into a Redoubt Volcano ash cloud about 25,000 feet above Talkeetna, about 100 miles north of Anchorage. All four engines quit. The jumbo jet plunged for the next 12 minutes, dropping more than two miles, before the pilot managed to restart the engines. Minutes later it landed in Anchorage with no serious injuries among its terrified and shaken passengers, and $50 million in damage to its engines.
At least 100 other aircraft have flown into ash clouds during the past 20 years across the world. No one has died, but equipment has sustained hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
To avoid such a catastrophe, the North Pacific volcanic chains have been monitored around the clock by American and Russian scientists since the early 1990s.
Founded in 1988, AVO began watching the four active volcanoes in Cook Inlet and quickly expanded coverage down the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Chain. Now more than 20 volcanoes have been wired with seismic sensors and webcams, while the observatory’s 22 full-time staffers conduct research and issue daily reports about volcanic action.
The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team, or KVERT, started operations in 1993 in cooperation with the Alaska observatory. The Russian scientists used their local network of seismic stations and field observations, combined with American satellite images, to share updates of volcanic activity on the peninsula with the world. This past spring, the network went off line due to budget cuts, but later resumed operations.
Klyuchevskoy Volcano interrupted air traffic in 1994 in one of the biggest North pacific eruptions of recent times. An explosion drove a column of ash 49,000 feet into the sky after three weeks of restless low-level earthquakes.
The plume rode 150 mph winds more than 620 miles southeast and crossed into North Pacific air traffic lanes between 31,000 and 38,000 feet above the ocean. But KVERT personnel issued an alert and, working with the AVO, within two hours, aviation authorities had rerouted flights to avoid the ash.
Klyuchevskoy Volcano erupts on May .
Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say the "explosive-effusive eruption" has slightly eased this week, but another blast could send ash more than five miles high at any time.
One of the most active volcanoes in the North Pacific, Klyuchevskoy erupted May 27 with splattering lava and floes of molten rock and explosive bursts into the sky. Ash plumes rose more than 29,000 feet into the atmosphere and extended up to 370 miles over the Pacific, according to the dispatch posted online by AVO.
The eruption continued, with ash rising up to 23,000 feet on May 29 to 31. "New lava flow was noted on the eastern flank of the volcano on May 31," the most recent dispatch reported. "Strong phreatic bursts were observed on the front of this lava flow. Clouds obscured the volcano in the other days."
Note the growing pyroclastic cone atop the summit crater, actively emitting ash. The gray column of ash and vapor at left likely represents explosive interaction of a summit- lava flow with ice and snow on the high flank of Klyuchevskoy. Credit: Yuri Demyanchuk, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FED RAS.
Klyuchevskoy is one of 29 very active Kamchatka Penisula cones monitored by the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) in a project coordinated with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The two organizations use satellite images, seismic networks, infrared detection and human observers to give warning of ash plumes in the air.
Jet flights carrying up to 20,000 passengers and millions of dollars in cargo cross the North Pacific every day, running a gauntlet of active Alaskan and Russian volcanoes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the world’s geologic hotspot.
When sucked up by air intakes, the tiny abrasive ash particles of rock and glass produced by an eruption can destroy or damage jet engines and turbines, causing aircraft to plummet from the sky.
In December, 1989, a KLM Boeing 747 with 231 passengers and 13 crew flew into a Redoubt Volcano ash cloud about 25,000 feet above Talkeetna, about 100 miles north of Anchorage. All four engines quit. The jumbo jet plunged for the next 12 minutes, dropping more than two miles, before the pilot managed to restart the engines. Minutes later it landed in Anchorage with no serious injuries among its terrified and shaken passengers, and $50 million in damage to its engines.
At least 100 other aircraft have flown into ash clouds during the past 20 years across the world. No one has died, but equipment has sustained hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
To avoid such a catastrophe, the North Pacific volcanic chains have been monitored around the clock by American and Russian scientists since the early 1990s.
Founded in 1988, AVO began watching the four active volcanoes in Cook Inlet and quickly expanded coverage down the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Chain. Now more than 20 volcanoes have been wired with seismic sensors and webcams, while the observatory’s 22 full-time staffers conduct research and issue daily reports about volcanic action.
The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team, or KVERT, started operations in 1993 in cooperation with the Alaska observatory. The Russian scientists used their local network of seismic stations and field observations, combined with American satellite images, to share updates of volcanic activity on the peninsula with the world. This past spring, the network went off line due to budget cuts, but later resumed operations.
Klyuchevskoy Volcano interrupted air traffic in 1994 in one of the biggest North pacific eruptions of recent times. An explosion drove a column of ash 49,000 feet into the sky after three weeks of restless low-level earthquakes.
The plume rode 150 mph winds more than 620 miles southeast and crossed into North Pacific air traffic lanes between 31,000 and 38,000 feet above the ocean. But KVERT personnel issued an alert and, working with the AVO, within two hours, aviation authorities had rerouted flights to avoid the ash.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Studying volcanoes
A theory that earthquakes and volcanoes may be related may help in saving lives
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has granted permission to scientific institutions to conduct a detailed study, on the relation between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the region surrounding the Barren and Narcondum volcanic islands near the Andamans.It is theorized that the earthquake and volcanic activity along the Sumatra-Java and Andaman Islands are closely related to each other.
The DST national project assumes great significance, in the wake of the December 2004 Tsunami, which was followed by a major earthquake killing thousands of people in several countries across Asia. Also, several volcanic activities were experienced in the region.Recent activities indicate that this region is a potential danger zone, that must be monitored constantly and continuously to suggest preventive measures, to save lives on the countries that border the Indian Ocean.
This study is expected to collect data related to these activities, the scientists from the Earth Sciences Department of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) said yesterday.The DST sanctioned project involves institutes like the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) and IITB, which will be the project coordinator. The project will involve integrated geological and geophysical investigation to understand the mechanism of volcanoes, the internal structure of this active volcano and the tectonic setting of the region surrounding the Barren and Narcondum volcanic islands, IIT scientists said.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has granted permission to scientific institutions to conduct a detailed study, on the relation between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the region surrounding the Barren and Narcondum volcanic islands near the Andamans.It is theorized that the earthquake and volcanic activity along the Sumatra-Java and Andaman Islands are closely related to each other.
The DST national project assumes great significance, in the wake of the December 2004 Tsunami, which was followed by a major earthquake killing thousands of people in several countries across Asia. Also, several volcanic activities were experienced in the region.Recent activities indicate that this region is a potential danger zone, that must be monitored constantly and continuously to suggest preventive measures, to save lives on the countries that border the Indian Ocean.
This study is expected to collect data related to these activities, the scientists from the Earth Sciences Department of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) said yesterday.The DST sanctioned project involves institutes like the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) and IITB, which will be the project coordinator. The project will involve integrated geological and geophysical investigation to understand the mechanism of volcanoes, the internal structure of this active volcano and the tectonic setting of the region surrounding the Barren and Narcondum volcanic islands, IIT scientists said.
