Kilauea

aurora · #1 (**permalink**) 03-December-2005, 12:53 AM

some excitement at Kilauea this week, a bench collapse at the coast:

Hawaii Volcano Observatory Updates

Quote:

November 30 Report of Delta Collapse on November 28

Like Atlantis, the East Lae`apuki lava delta disappeared into the sea on November 28. The collapse was piecemeal, starting at 1110 and ending at 1535, a 4-hr and 25-min period during which 14-16 hectares (35-40 acres) dropped away. This is probably the largest delta collapse during the eruption; the previous largest, which took place in the same area in 1996, removed about 13.7 ha (34 acres), 10.5 ha (26 acres) of which were in a lava delta and 3.2 ha (8 acreas) of which involved old sea cliff. Monday's collapse removed sea cliff as well, but the final amount is not yet known.

Explosions accompanied some of the delta failures, and rocks were thrown short distances inland. Some now litter the ground at least 25 m from the top of the new cliff, which retreated during the collapse. Smaller fragments, including bubble skins known as limu o Pele, were blown more than 500 m inland by onshore wind.

also a general news report:

CNN news item

Dragon Star · #2 (**permalink**) 03-December-2005, 04:37 AM

Aww...I was just about to post this....quite an interesting thing when 40 acres drops into the ocean...

novaderrik · #3 (**permalink**) 03-December-2005, 07:29 AM

just another reason to be leery of anyone trying to sell you undeveloped beachfront property in Hawaii.

beskeptical · #4 (**permalink**) 03-December-2005, 10:05 PM

My Mom and I went to HI many years ago. On the plane, someone told us to be sure to visit The Queen's Bath, a natural rock formation. We did so then the very next day, lava spread over it and covered it up. Fascinating coincidence.

The visitor's center burned up shortly afterward, (after we left). There were lots of things we saw that are now gone. Hilo is apparently not too safe of a place to buy a house right now either.

Trebuchet · #5 (**permalink**) 06-December-2005, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beskeptical

My Mom and I went to HI many years ago. On the plane, someone told us to be sure to visit The Queen's Bath, a natural rock formation. We did so then the very next day, lava spread over it and covered it up. Fascinating coincidence.

The visitor's center burned up shortly afterward, (after we left). There were lots of things we saw that are now gone. Hilo is apparently not too safe of a place to buy a house right now either.

You must have been there almost exactly the same time I was. It was in November, just before Thanksgiving, but I don't remember the year. I believe the Queen's Bath had already been covered when we were there but I'm not sure -- we missed the trail to it. The Visitor Center went a couple of weeks later. Interestingly the adjacent old temple platform was spared, at least that time. There was a very friendly feral cat at the visitor center -- I've always wondered if it got away.

I remembered this visit when I read about the lava bench collapse. Now I understand why they were discouraging us from walking out on the flow!

Edit: After a quick Google, I found an article stating the Queen's Bath was filled in 1987 and the Visitor's Center not destroyed until 1989. My memory is clearly faulty. We must have been there in 1988.

beskeptical · #6 (**permalink**) 06-December-2005, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trebuchet

You must have been there almost exactly the same time I was. It was in November, just before Thanksgiving, but I don't remember the year. I believe the Queen's Bath had already been covered when we were there but I'm not sure -- we missed the trail to it. The Visitor Center went a couple of weeks later. Interestingly the adjacent old temple platform was spared, at least that time. There was a very friendly feral cat at the visitor center -- I've always wondered if it got away.

I remembered this visit when I read about the lava bench collapse. Now I understand why they were discouraging us from walking out on the flow!

Edit: After a quick Google, I found an article stating the Queen's Bath was filled in 1987 and the Visitor's Center not destroyed until 1989. My memory is clearly faulty. We must have been there in 1988.

87 is about right. My son wasn't born (or even conceived) yet and he was born in 89. I think it was more like July but then my Mom and I also went to Mexico when they nationalized the banks (another fascinating coincidence) and that might have been April or I could have them all mixed up. I'd have to check. I have the HI newspapers from the trip that have the headlines about the QB in them.

Swift · #7 (**permalink**) 07-December-2005, 10:13 PM

Nice photo in this cnn.com story

Blob · #8 (**permalink**) 13-August-2006, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is once again putting on a show. Lava from the world's most active volcano is entering the ocean with dozens of entry points.

See more

Position: Latitude 19.58° N, Longitude 155.2667° W

Pu`u `O`o Crater Webcam

aurora · #9 (**permalink**) 18-August-2006, 08:01 PM

Apparently there was a new breakout recently, and a surface flow all the way to the coast. (as opposed to lava flowing through tubes most of the way).

Here's the page with the latest updates:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/

Blob · #10 (**permalink**) 13-May-2007, 05:29 PM

A 16-acre lava shelf from the Kilauea volcano flow collapsed into the sea Thursday, sending steam plumes up to 1,000 feet into the air, scientists have reported.
The piecemeal collapse of the East Lae'apuki shelf also generated strong seismic signals that were recorded at the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Read more

aurora · #11 (**permalink**) 22-June-2007, 08:51 PM

the ongoing Pu'u O'o eruption has changed in the last week. Might mean that the eruption on the east rift zone will stop, or it might be a temporary change and will resume the previous activity soon.

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/

aurora · #12 (**permalink**) 25-June-2007, 03:06 AM

As a followup to the previous message, the eruption has now ceased.

The Pu'u O'o eruption has been going on since the 1980's, pretty much uninterrupted.

The exciting thing now is to see what happens next. Could be almost anything: a new vent in the East rift zone (maybe closer to the summit if the path to Pu'u O'o is blocked), a summit caldera eruption, something down the west rift zone (less active, so less likely), a lengthy pause, or maybe something entirely different.

I'll be keeping an eye on the notes they post, and the tilts and other measurements.

hhEb09'1 · #13 (**permalink**) 03-July-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aurora

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/

Thanks aurora

USGS HVO News Release July 2, 2007 4:00 p.m.

Quote:

The presence of new lava in the bottom of Pu`u `O`o crater was confirmed this afternoon by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists.

Quote:

Lava was last seen at the Poupou ocean entry on June 20, after the intrusion that started on June 17, 2007, led to a small eruption by the morning of June 19. After a similar event in late January, 1997, lava returned to Pu`u `O`o 23 days later and again flowed towards the ocean a few weeks after that.

aurora · #14 (**permalink**) 03-July-2007, 08:21 PM

Apparently, the recent (Father's day) intrusion lowered the level in the lava pool under the caldera enough that the flow under the east rift stopped. Days later, when the pool filled enough, the flow started down the east rift to Pu'u O'o again.

At least, that is what I interpret from reading the web pages.

aurora · #15 (**permalink**) 23-July-2007, 04:36 PM

A new change in the eruption.

Here is the press release:

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr07_21_07.html

Quote:

For the first time since February 7, 1992, lava is erupting east of Pu`u `O`o crater. Just before midnight, activity at Pu`u `O`o crater slowed down and the crater floor began to sink. However, instruments on the cone and nearby indicated that activity may have shifted to the east.

There seems to have been a long lasting blockage in the east rift zone that has prevented lava from flowing through the rift past Pu'u O'o.

This latest event, everything since father's day, may be showing some major changes are happening in the east rift.

here for the daily status reports:
http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/hvostatus.php

Quote:

Kilauea Information Release issued Jul 22, 2007 09:42 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO):

7/21 eruption site: HVO field crews report that the lower fissure is still active; flows are ponding between Pu`u Halulu, Pu`u Kahauale`a, and Kupaianaha. There are 3-4 active ponds submerging the fissures. The narrow `a`a flow that yesterday morning was advancing toward the southeast is still stagnant and not moving.

If the weather permits, the field crew will reposition the webcam currently at Mauna Ulu. Its new planned location will be on the north rim of Pu`u `O`o pointing eastward to track the new eruption.

aurora · #16 (**permalink**) 25-July-2007, 06:42 PM

They now have a web cam set up at the site of the July 21 eruption.

(follow links previously provided in this thread, look for the July 21 panorama link)

It's pretty impressive, when you can see through the rain.

The old web cam panorama at Pu'u O'o is still operating as well, but there has been so much fume the last few days I haven't seen much, and the activity has moved east of there for now anyway.

Swift · #17 (**permalink**) 25-July-2007, 07:37 PM

Very cool (or is it hot

).
Link to the camera

aurora · #18 (**permalink**) 20-March-2008, 02:22 PM

Explosion happened at Halemaumau crater:

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr03_19_08.html

Quote:

This is the first explosion in Halema`uma`u crater since 1924 and the first eruption of any kind in Kilauea caldera since September 1982.

I also see that they moved one set of web cams over to Halemaumau.

aurora · #19 (**permalink**) 07-April-2008, 08:43 PM

The plume at the caldera know contains ash.

Press release:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/pressreleases/pr03_24_08.html

Quote:

There is now continuous emission of ash from the new gas vent in Halema`uma`u Crater, turning the formerly white cloud of fume a dusty-brown color. The top of the ash plume, which is currently being blown to the southwest of the Crater, reaches 0.5 to 1.0 mile above ground level. Hawai`i aviation agencies have been notified of the potential hazard to aircraft.

The rift zone lava eruption continues. It will be really interesting to see if there will be two ongoing eruptions simultaneously at Kilauea, one a rift zone and one a summit eruption.

My guess is that one of the two would shut down, either the rift would stop or the summit would be short lived.

sarongsong · #20 (**permalink**) 10-April-2008, 01:02 AM

Updated on Wednesdays:

Quote:

2 April-8 April 2008
New Activity/Unrest: Kilauea...
Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

aurora · #21 (**permalink**) 10-April-2008, 09:57 PM

I noticed the news that the Park was actually closed yesterday, because the gas was drifting right over the visitor center area.

The Park reopened today.

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/

Also,

Quote:

A small explosion at 11:08 pm ejected a few blocks up to the rim of Halema`uma`u crater, a little more than 70 m (230 ft) above the vent. By morning light, the vent appeared enlarged; the most obvious change was the removal of a lava rim that separated the vent from the crater floor. The April 9 explosion was smaller than the March 19 event. Preliminary data showed that the debris from last night's explosion differed from the March 19 debris in three important ways: 1) the size of the deposit was smaller, 2) the debris was deposited in a more southerly direction, and 3) the debris contained volcanic glass shards. Many of the ejected fragments were hot enough to melt through the plastic ash collectors.

A white plume continued to issue from the vent; returned trade winds is blowing the plume to the west and southwest. We cannot confirm the production of ash because the collectors were, in a sense, contaminated by the explosion debris; no ash was detected falling from the plume this morning. Overnight, the base of the plume glowed between passing fog, but was dark briefly just after the explosion.

sarongsong · #22 (**permalink**) 10-April-2008, 11:03 PM

Hadn't heard of Code Purple before:

Quote:

April 10, 2008
With the return of tradewinds blowing volcanic fumes away from Volcano village, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim downgraded the sulfur dioxide warning level to Code Yellow yesterday afternoon, meaning there was little health danger...Since Monday it had been designated as Code Purple, the highest warning level, although few spots actually rose to the purple trigger point of 2 parts per million of sulfur dioxide...All of the warnings had been based on measurements of a single gas, sulfur dioxide, just one in a mix of gases and particles...
Star-Bulletin

Swift · #23 (**permalink**) 11-April-2008, 08:17 PM

Code purple? Must be a combination of code red and code blue.

aurora · #24 (**permalink**) 29-June-2008, 04:21 PM

The activity at the summit seems to be becoming more vigorous, or at least the molten material may be getting closer to the surface:

Quote:

Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: A white plume rises from the Halema`uma`u vent this morning and is blown slowly to the southwest once it clears the crater rim. Incandescence viewing was blocked by fog for several hours last night. When it cleared, the intensity of the glow pulsed in time with the episodic seismic tremor bursts and was brighter than at any other time in the last several weeks.

http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/kilaueastatus.php

aurora · #25 (**permalink**) 30-June-2008, 02:36 AM

Sunday update, which seems to be in line with increased activity at the summit (while the east rift zone eruption just keeps going and going...:

Quote:

Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Both Kilauea summit and Pu`u `O`o Cone are inflating. The inflation is accompanied by increased ash production, increased amplitude of seismic tremor bursts, and increased intensity of vent incandescence at the summit. Elevated amounts of sulfur dioxide gas continued to issue from the Halema`uma`u vent. At the east rift eruption site, sulfur dioxide gas continued to issue from Pu`u `O`o crater; lava continued to erupt from the TEB vent area and flow through tubes to the ocean.

Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: Conditions are voggy this morning although the white plume can still be seen rising vertically from the Halema`uma`u vent. The now-pulsing incandescence was veiled by the vog/fog last night but still visible approximately every 6 minutes which is like having a several-minute-long wink every 6 minutes. Sometimes the incandescence completely shuts off and, at other times, it lingers barely visible between pulses.

aurora · #26 (**permalink**) 01-July-2008, 07:17 PM

No certainties, but it looks like something may be going to happen at the summit caldera. From today's update:

Quote:

Activity Summary for last 24 hours: Both Kilauea summit and Pu`u `O`o Cone are inflating. The inflation is accompanied by increased ash production, increased amplitude of seismic tremor bursts, and increased intensity of vent incandescence and temperature at the summit. Elevated amounts of sulfur dioxide gas continued to issue from the Halema`uma`u vent.

dgavin · #27 (**permalink**) 01-July-2008, 07:59 PM

Those are all good indicators of a pending eruption, however the report also mentioned the increased seismic actvity at the Kilauea summit is starting to fall off.

No change from Orange/Watch status to a Warning or Red status yet.

aurora · #28 (**permalink**) 01-July-2008, 08:47 PM

I'll keep checking in each day until the inflation stops. I suspect that one of the two centers (the vent at the summit, or the ongoing SE rift eruption) will have increased activity resulting in deflation.

Or it might just absorb the new material underground, and nothing new happen at the surface.

Swift · #29 (**permalink**) 08-July-2008, 06:55 PM

From KITV.com

Quote:

HONOLULU -- Scientists said a huge fountain of lava jetting into the air from a Kilauea Volcano flow is not like anything they have seen in more than a year.

Just after 11 p.m. Sunday lava made a new breakout at the Kilauea summit.

A wave of lava measuring about 40-feet high produced a spectacular fountain. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said they were impressed.

More stuff at the link for the USGS that aurora put in post # 24.

dgavin · #30 (**permalink**) 08-July-2008, 08:21 PM

Hey all, here are some links to imagry from the current breakout.

The Flow itself

The Breakout Site

The Lava Fountain

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