Kilauea Summit Update – 5/1/15

Kilauea’s summit Overlook crater lava lake was reportedly close to the rim Friday morning. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials say that despite the high level, it has not overflowed and spilled onto the Halema’uma’u Crater floor over the past day.

HVO officials also say that Kilauea’s summit experienced very little change during the day Thursday and was followed by an inflationary tilt that began around 8 p.m.

Measurements taken Thursday afternoon showed the level of the lake to be about 1 yard below the floor of Halema’uma’u Crater.

According to HVO, overflows at the crater during the past few days have built the Overlook crater’s rim up by a few yards above the floor of Halema’uma’u Crater. Based on measurements including this build up, HVO measured the lava lake to be about 4 yards below the rim of the Overlook crater Thursday.

On Friday morning, HVO noted that the lava lake level was slightly higher than what was reported the day before, although no specific measurements were available.

Seismic activity at elevated levels below Kilauea’s summit and upper East and Southwest Rift Zones continues.

On the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, the tiltmeter has recorded inflationary tilt since Thursday. No additional changed were noted at Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

HVO webcam imagery shows that activity in the area northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō remains consistent. As of April 23, when mapping was last conducted, HVO says the most distant activity was about 6 miles northeast of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater.