(BIVN) – The Episode 61g lava flow is active above the pali, closer to the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent on Kīlauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone.

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō continues to inflate, as the lava pond within the west pit has risen several yards in the past month, and has produced overflows (darker lava in the above image) onto the floor of the pit as it rises. A small lava flow also erupted onto the floor of the main crater on March 25.

On March 12 the tiltmeter on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone began to record notable inflationary tilt. That rate inflationary tilt has lessened over the past few days.

At Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, scientists say, the ridge separating the main crater (top in above picture) from the west pit (bottom in above pisture) “has been subsiding over the past several months due to small rock falls and unstable ground. As the ground shifts, cracks along the ridge and on both sides of it continue to open.”

Although there is active lava above the Pulama pali, there is no active lava on the pali or the coastal plain. Some lava tour groups have begun offering “extreme” hikes in an attempt to take visitors to the active areas of the 61g flow.

(USGS) This breakout from the 61g lava tube consisted of fluid pāhoehoe, scientists say.