Volcano Activity Update: March 2, 2017

A late pass over the Kamokuna ocean entry on Saturday, Feb. 25,  shows the firehose shooting lava into the sea, creating an impressive littoral explosion. ExtremeExposure photo.

Kīlauea continues to erupt at its summit and East Rift Zone. This past week, the summit lava lake level varied between about 66 and 98 feet below the vent rim. The 61g flow was still active, with lava entering the ocean near Kamokuna and surface breakouts downslope of Puʻu ʻŌʻō on the pali and the coastal plain. The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.

This past week, the summit lava lake level varied between about 66 and 98 feet below the vent rim. The 61g flow was still active, with lava entering the ocean near Kamokuna and surface breakouts downslope of Puʻu ʻŌʻō on the pali and the coastal plain. The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.

The 61g flow was still active, with lava entering the ocean near Kamokuna and surface breakouts downslope of Puʻu ʻŌʻō on the pali and the coastal plain.

The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.

Mauna Loa is not erupting.

During the past week, small-magnitude earthquakes continued to occur beneath the volcano, primarily beneath the east flank and upper Southwest Rift Zone. GPS measurements continue to show deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone. No significant change in the summit fumarole temperature was noted this past week.

One earthquake was reported felt on the Island of Hawai’i in the past week. On Monday, Feb. 27, at 4:34 p.m. HST, a magnitude 2.8 earthquake occurred 4.9 miles west-northwest of the Mauna Kea summit at a depth of 14 miles.

For information on volcanic air pollution, visit the vog dashboard.