
The eruption in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea Volcano's summit, continues. Lava activity is confined to Halemaʻumaʻu with lava erupting from vents on the northwest side of the crater. Yesterday afternoon (Jan. 2), HVO field geologists observed that the lava lake was 190 m (623 ft) deep and perched about a meter (yard) above its edge. SO2 emission rates were still elevated. USGS photo by F. Trusdell.
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STORY SUMMARY
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - The lava lake continues to rise at the summit of Kilauea volcano, and some interesting features have been observed by scientists.
The west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater continues to erupt at Kīlauea’s summit. These telephoto images from January 1 (left) and January 2 (right) compare the lava lake surface below the west vent. The west vent is supplying lava to the lake through a crusted over channel, which enters just below the lake surface. As the lava enters the lake, it produces localized upwelling at the surface. By January 2 there appears to be an increase in eruptive vigor where a small dome-like fountain is breaking through the surface crust. USGS photos by M. Patrick.
(BIVN) – Lava activity at the summit of Kīlauea volcano remains confined to Halemaʻumaʻu, with lava erupting from vents on the northwest side of the crater, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports.
As of January 3rd, the lava lake was 623 feet deep and perched about a yard above its edge.
Sulfur dioxide emission rates are still elevated. Measurements made on January 1st were about 4,400 t/d, and have been in the range 3,000 to 6,500 t/d since December 27, which scientists say is a range of values that was common for emissions from the pre-2018 lava lake.
Summit tiltmeters recorded weak deflationary tilt over the past three days, USGS HVO says. Seismicity remained elevated but stable, with steady elevated tremor and a few minor earthquakes.
“The west vents spattered from two places at the top of a small cone plastered on the northwest wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Lava is also emerging as a small dome fountain in front of the west vents probably from a submerged portion of the vent. Both of these sources can be seen in the thermal webcam view of the lava lake,” the USGS HVO reported on Monday
From the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory update issued after 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning: