Video courtesy Mick and Ann Kalber, of Tropical Visions Video
Lava continues to erupt from about a dozen new points along a crack in the west flank of Pu’u ‘Ō’ō, report USGS geologists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Lava was moving much slower the day after the new lava flow burst out of the east rift zone… and it appears as if lava has begun to pond at the eastern end of the Kamoamoa fissure area.
The video above is raw footage filmed by the famed Tropical Visions vulcanographer Mick Kalber, who took to the sky the day of the eruption – when the new lava flow was still vigorous – in time to catch the tale end of the “magic hour”, when the glow of the molten rivers of rock are bright.
Today, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory posted this Kilauea update:
The walls of Pu`u `O`o Crater continued to collapse yesterday including a block immediately to the left of the webcam which dropped in overnight. A trickle of lava returned to the very deepest part of the collapsed crater floor yesterday morning and was visible in the webcam overnight. During yesterday’s overflight, the depth of the collapse was measured at about 75 m (245 ft) below the east rim. The flows that gushed out of the west flank vents on August 3rd remained active but with the outer limits of activity retreating back toward the sources; in other words, lower effusion rates weren’t allowing the active lava to travel as far from the vents before solidifying. The flows remained entirely within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and pose no direct hazard to any developed areas.
The GPS network around Pu`u `O`o Cone recorded slow contraction across the cone overnight. The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o Cone recorded continued deflation. Seismic tremor levels were low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 3,100 tonnes/day on August 4, 2011, from all east rift zone sources.
Meanwhile, officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopened Chain of Craters Road at 4 p.m. Thursday, after a 24-hour closure resulting from the new eruptive activity. Park rangers are stationed near sea level at the bottom of Chain of Craters Road, at Pu‘u Huluhulu and at Jaggar Museum to inform visitors of the latest conditions and best viewing opportunities.
Scientists say the volume of erupted lava has already equaled, or exceeded, the volume of the Pu`u `O`o crater collapse, so the flow is possibly being fed directly from the rift zone.
No residential homes are in immediate danger, officials say.
I’m glad it happened early enough in the day to allow someone like Mick to get up in the air in time for the evening light. The new flows have since died out to a small area near the source. It for now was just the draining of Puu Oo. The volume of lava has and still is deflating. What will happen next all depends on when it inflates and at what rate. I was up there a few days prior to this event to explore and get an idea of what it was going to do. It was easy to tell that this was inevitable. ck out my blog and website for the details and images. Let this event be a great example of why people shouldn’t attempt to visit this area. (Most would never make it anyways as they would either get lost or give up due to the extreme hiking conditions) The inexperienced most likely would have died there. The high country and source areas are nothing like ocean entries and mellow lava flows near the coast. Everything happens big and fast and you can’t run fast enough. This is why I always tell people not to try and do what I do. There’s a severe learning curve and your 1st mistake can kill you. 20 yr Kilauea hiking and photo expert.
Fantastic lava video, some of the best I’ve ever seen. It was the last story on NBC’s network news tonight.
I am praying always for the Islands of Hawaii as the big island gets bigger for all in the future to visit my beloved Hawaii.
it is a danger but i think it hasnt made any harm tyo thepeople living aeround or does it
I just to left believing that people have vacated in that area to circumvent future hazard like this when it occurs