Kilauea Summit Update – 7/17/15
Recent inflation at the summit of Kilauea has switched to deflation, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, who says the switched mid-morning on Thursday. Unsteady deflation has reportedly continued since the initial switch.
In coordination with the deflation, HVO reports that the lava lake within the Overlook crater has dropped to about 167 feet below the crater rim, as of Friday morning. As a result of the drop, a “well-developed veneer plastered to the vent wall” was left behind.
Background levels of seismic activity continue as discrete events scattered around the summit and rift zones, as well as across Kilauea’s south flank, have occurred.
At Puʻu ʻŌʻō, no major changes have occurred, although the incandescent, outgassing crater vents remain within the crater. Seismicity levels also continue at low background levels.
Scientist observations of the June 27, 2014 lava flow continue to show breakouts scattered between 0.6 and 5 miles to the northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō.
July 16: The eastern most distal tip continues to creep over an old ‘a‘a flow and consume a bordering ‘ohia forest. Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater (left), Mauna Loa, and Mauna Kea line the horizon in this photo. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: A sliver of old lava and a couple dead trees are all that remain of Pu‘u Kahauale‘a, as flows overplating the area have slowly consumed it. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: Beautiful view above Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater with Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in the background. A plume from Halema‘uma‘u can be seen in front of Mauna Loa in the upper left of the frame. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater continues to issue lava and discharge gas. The collapse pit in the middle of the frame still contains a pond of lava, but gases made it impossible to get a good shot of it. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: Activity along the northern tree line pushes a little deeper into the forest. Homes and streets of the Eden Rock subdivision are visible in the upper left. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: The cooling surface of a finger of pahoehoe cools rapidly, forming a wrinkly, textured skin. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: A toe of lava consumes a fallen tree. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: A luminescent breakout of pahoehoe near the perched channel. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: This breakout was one of many at the base of Pu‘u ‘O‘o’s northern flank. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
July 16: This breakout was one of many at the base of Pu‘u ‘O‘o’s northern flank. Photo: Extreme Exposure Media/Paradise Helicopters.
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