Kilauea Volcano: Elevated Seismicity, Increased Effusion
Volcano Shows Increased Effusion Rates, Significantly Elevated Seismicity at summit and east rift zone
Lava pours from the fissure just after daybreak and cascades out of sight into a deep crack. HVO geologist near upper right for perspective. Source: HVO. Click image to enlarge.
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Warning
Volcano: Kilauea (CAVW #1302-01-)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Previous Aviation Color Code: RED
Issued: Monday, March 7, 2011, 6:13 PM HST (March 8, 2011, at 04:1UTC)
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2011/H2
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4,091 ft (1,247 m)
Area: HI Hawaii and Pacific Ocean
Volcanic Activity Summary from HVO: Eruption continues at Kīlauea volcano’s east rift zone with intermittent activity at alternating locations along a 2.3 km long fissure between Pu’u ‘Ō’ō and Nāpau Crater. Effusion rates are high, with lava spatter reaching as high as 30m.
East rift zone gas emissions are significantly elevated above the 300 tonnes/day measured during the past several months and as recently as March 5, prior to the fissure eruption. Gas measurements on March 6 show an average SO2 emission rate of 10,000 tonnes/day, the highest measured on the east rift zone since an eruptive surge in July 2008 produced an emission rate of 7,000 tonnes/day. Summit SO2 emissions on March 6 were around 600 tonnes/day.
The TEB eruption system downrift (ENE) of Pu’u ‘Ō’ō appears to have shut down. During today’s overflight of the flow field, no active lava flows were observed on the pali or coastal plain.
Seismicity remains significantly elevated at both Kīlauea’s summit and east rift zone.
Deflation appears to be slowing at the summit and east rift zone.
At Kīlauea’s summit, the lava lake within the Halema’uma’u Crater vent is about 200 m deep, based on visual estimates. A rockfall within the vent at 2:23 p.m. HST today produced a vigorous dusty brown plume.
The fissure is located just west of Pu`u `Ō `ō Crater. Spatter was reaching heights of 40 m (130 ft). Source: HVO
Most of the day’s activity was focused at this vent, around which a low cone was forming. Pu`u `Ō `ō is visible in the background to the northeast. Source: HVO
Source: HVO. Click image to enlarge.
Video showing lava pouring from the fissure into a seemingly bottomless crack
Video showing lava pouring from the fissure into a seemingly bottomless crack. Napau Crater in the background. Helicopter for scale. Source: HVO
Video showing spattering from the most persistent vent of the day just west of the base of Pu`u `Ō `ō near the northeastern end of the fissure system.
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| Lava spatters above the fissure just west of the base of Pu`u `Ō `ō | |
Related Links
- Heightened Activity at Kilauea Volcano
- Kilauea Volcano Continues to Discharge Lava
- Kilauea — Perhaps the World’s Most Active Volcano [Introduction]
- Huge amounts of lava continue to flow from world’s most active volcano in Hawaii, damaging an unoccupied home (Video)
- New Kilauea volcano land collapses explosively into ocean
- Emissions from Kilauea Volcano Brochure
- Lava Viewing Safety Card
- Department of Health Notification of Elevated SO2 and Particulate Levels
HVO Links:
Kīlauea Update | Mauna Loa Status | Deformation | Maps | Webcams | Images | Movies
Hawaii Volcanoes Webcams
| Kīlauea Summit | |
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 Halema`uma`u from HVO |
 Halema`uma`u from Overlook |
| Kīlauea East Rift Zone | |
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 Pu`u `Ō `ō |
 Thanksgiving Eve Breakout From Pu`u `Ō `ō |
 Napau Crater |
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| Mauna Loa Summit | |
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 Mokuawe`owe`o, Mauna Loa Summit Caldera |
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