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USGS: "HVO field crews observed no eruptive activity at the summit of Kīlauea this morning, September 17, 2023. The eruption within the caldera that began on September 10 stopped on September 16. Some areas of steam persist, and overnight webcam views showed incandescence across the eruption area as lava erupted over the past week continues to cool." (USGS photo by J. Chang)

Kilauea Eruption Ends, Alert Level Returns To ADVISORY
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by Big Island Video News
on Sep 17, 2023 at 2:21 pm

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STORY SUMMARY

HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - Eruptive tremor and sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased, and there is no longer any observable activity at the summit.

(BIVN) – The eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano is over, for now.

On Sunday, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirmed that the eruption stopped on Saturday, September 16th, and said it “is unlikely to restart.”

The USGS has lowered the Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level to ADVISORY, and the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW.

From the daily update by the USGS HVO:

Summit Eruption Observations: Eruption of lava from the fissure vents on the downdropped block of Kīlauea’s summit caldera stopped around noon yesterday, September 16, and there was no observable activity anywhere overnight or this morning. Yesterday morning, HVO field crews reported that active lava was no longer flowing onto Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor and was restricted to a ponded area north of the vents on the downdropped block. They observed lava spattering at the vents cease at approximately 11:15 am September 16. Overnight webcam views showed some incandescence across the eruption area as lava erupted over the past week continues to cool. Field observations are supported by geophysical data, which show that eruptive tremor (a signal associated with fluid movement) in the summit region decreased over September 15 and 16 and returned to pre-eruption levels by 5 p.m. HST on September 16. Information on the recent Kīlauea summit eruption is available at (here).

Summit Observations: Summit tilt was mildly inflationary most of the past 24 hours. Summit seismic activity is low with very few volcano tectonic earthquakes and tremor at background levels. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have also decreased to near background levels based upon the very weak plume visible this morning. Sulfur dioxide levels were measured at a rate of 800 tonnes per day yesterday, September 16, while the eruption was waning. This value is down dramatically from the 190,000 tonnes per day measured just after the onset of the eruption on Sunday, September 10th, and is only slightly above the 100-200 tonnes typical of non-eruptive periods.

Rift Zone Observations: No unusual activity has been noted along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone; steady rates of ground deformation and seismicity continue along both. Measurements from continuous gas monitoring stations downwind of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone—the site of 1983–2018 eruptive activity—remain below detection limits for SO2, indicating that SO2 emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō are negligible.

Hazard Analysis:  Levels of volcanic gas (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) can remain locally hazardous even though Kīlauea is no longer erupting. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emissions have greatly decreased; however, local concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) may persist in downwind areas, and residents may notice odors of these gases occasionally. Significant hazards also remain around Halemaʻumaʻu from crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says it will continue to issue daily Kīlauea updates.


Filed Under: Volcano Tagged With: Kilauea

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