Kilauea Summit Update – 6/25/15

The summit of Kilauea switched back to deflationary tilt around 12 p.m. Wednesday after switching to inflation on Monday night. Current activity at the summit is within what Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says is normal behavior.

Fluctuating lava lake levels within the Overlook crater continue, as HVO reported Thursday morning that the level dropped slightly between 12 p.m. and midnight. Officials report that the level began to rise again during the morning hours and was measured to be about 131 feet below the new Overlook rim.

Background levels of seismic activity were reported by HVO, although bursts of seismic tremor continues. The activity is associated with intervals of vigorous spattering that occurs within the Overlook crater.

According to HVO, sulfur dioxide rates for the week ending on June 23 ranged between 2,200 to 3,700 tonnes per day.

Despite slight seismic tremor that was recorded in the Puʻu ʻŌʻō area on Wednesday, HVO continues to note that seismic activity remains at background levels. No significant changed in the area have been noted.

Surlfur dioxide rates, when measured on June 19, were about 700 tonnes per day, according to HVO.

Continued observation of webcam imagery of the June 27 lava flow shows active lava breakouts that extend about 5 miles to the northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. These breakouts are noticeable as smoke appears in the daytime hours and a glow becomes visible at night.