Kilauea Summit Update – 6/16/15

A little over 30 hours after beginning to record deflationary tilt that countered week-long inflation at the summit of Kilauea, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that inflation was recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea’s summit at about 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The lava lake within the Overlook crater has already slightly risen, according to HVO’s report. Lava within the crater’s lava lake was at the same place Tuesday morning as it was the day before, 177 feet below the floor of Halema’uma’u. Despite not appearing to have risen, lava within the crater had continued to drop Monday prior to the change in tilt. Levels on Tuesday morning have reached the area lava was at the day prior.

Episodic bursts of seismic tremor continue at the Overlook vent. The activity is associated with periods of vigorous spattering.

While tilt has been consistently switching back and forth at the summit, HVO says that seismicity rates below Kilauea and Puʻu ʻŌʻō have consistently remained at background levels.

No significant tilt has been recorded from tiltmeters along the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

Breakouts from the June 27 lava flow continue to be observed by HVO through webcam and satellite imagery. Based on those images, the surface flows remain active within 5 miles of Puʻu ʻŌʻō.