Volcano Activity Update: June 8, 2017

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater Single Frame, 2017-06-13 11:12:38 (HST). HVO webcam photo.

Last week, Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake fluctuated in concert with summit inflation and deflation, with levels ranging around 69 to 121 feet below the vent rim.

On the East Rift Zone, the 61g flow remained active, with lava entering the ocean near Kamokuna and scattered surface breakouts downslope of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

These flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.

Mauna Loa is not erupting.

GPS measurements continue to show deformation consistent with inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone.

No significant changes in volcanic gas emissions were measured.

During the past week, small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded mostly from beneath the summit caldera and upper Southwest Rift Zone at depths about 1 to 2 miles. Microearthquakes also occurred on the east flank at depths of 3 to 8 miles.

Four earthquakes were reported felt on the Island of Hawaiʻi last week.

• On June 8, 2017, at 7:01 a.m. HST, a magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred 11 miles southeast of Volcano at a depth of 4 miles.
• On June 7, at 5:08 p.m., a magnitude-3.4 earthquake occurred 7 miles west of Kalaoa at a depth of 9 miles.
• On June 07, at 1 p.m., a magnitude-3.3 earthquake occurred 2 miles southwest of Captain Cook at a depth of 7 miles.
• On June 6, at 09:23 a.m., a magnitude-2.7 earthquake occurred 13 miles west of Kailua-Kona at a depth of 24 miles.

The Volcano Activity Update is a weekly article written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Call for summary updates at (808) 967-8862 (Kīlauea) or (808) 967-8866 (Mauna Loa); email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.