HVO: Kilauea Summit Lava Lake Rising

On Tuesday, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory tiltmeters at Kilauea’s summit showed a rate increase at 2:30 p.m. The rates held steady prior to the jump, according to HVO officials. In coordination with the spike in inflation, rise in the summit lave lake has also skyrocketed.

HVO scientists say that the lava lake at the Kilauea summit may be higher than it has been since October 2012. As of Wednesday evening, the lava lake was measured to be about 90 feet below the rim of the Overlook crater and rose by an undisclosed amount of yards overnight into Thursday morning.

Observations from Jagger Museum showed barely visible spattering at the south edge of the lake. HVO officials say that along with the rise in lava lake level, the Overlook crater walls have experienced a few small collapses.

In additional to level rises, scientists have noted that the seismicity below Kilauea’s summit and upper East Rift Zone has shown increased activity.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates have averaged 4,000 to 7,000 tonnes per day, according to HVO, for the week ending on April 14.

Breakout activity continues northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. HVO said Thursday that according to webcam views, the activity furthest from the crater is about 4.7 miles away and burning a forested area. Widespread activity continues in nearer areas.