
USGS PHOTO: "A pot of lava at the end of the rainbow? A rainbow formed over Halema‘uma‘u crater following an afternoon rain shower on February 22. Rainbows are often observed over Halema‘uma‘u, as mist and rain move across the caldera. This photo was taken from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons."
by Big Island Video News7:44 am
on at
STORY SUMMARY
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - Sulfur dioxide emission rates are down and lava effusion at the western fissure are weaker and slower, scientists say.
This photo shows a view of the western fissure, feeding the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. The inlet zone, where lava is entering the lake, is visible at the bottom of the photo. Near the center of the photo, an area of lava driblets can be seen running down the flank of the western fissure’s cone. (USGS photo by M. Patrick)
(BIVN) – Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt at the summit area within Halemaʻumaʻu, although the vigor of the activity continues to decrease.
Observations made by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Monday afternoon “indicated lava effusion continues at the western fissure, but is weaker and slower. The lava rapidly develops a thin crust while flowing outwards towards the east with occasional crustal foundering between the vent and main island, but not beyond the island. A thin surface crust has started forming around 3 small pieces of the spatter cone that have been in the lake and are very close to the vent.”
The solidified lake crust that covers the stagnant, eastern half of the lake and is slowly growing westward around the main island. The active portion of the lake was reported to be 216 m (712 ft) deep as of Tuesday morning.
The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate measurements were the lowest since the current eruption began in December. HVO says that on February 22, rates were at about 600 t/d and continue to gradually drop. This rate is lower than the emission rates from the pre-2018 lava lake, which were around 5,000 t/d.
We will update this story with Wednesday’s update when it is posted by USGS.
An HVO geologist uses a sketch in their fieldbook to note the location of laser rangefinder measurements of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. Using the laser rangefinder, HVO geologists can derive the elevation of various spots on the lava lake surface, and are able to track how the elevation of features within the lava lake change over time. Field measurements on February 22 indicated that the lava in the western (active) portion of the lake in Halema‘uma‘u has filled 216 m (712 ft) of the crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
UPDATE – (11:30 a.m.) – From the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Wednesday: