Kīlauea Volcano Update: July 13, 2017
This past week, Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake fluctuated in concert with summit inflation and deflation, with levels ranging 85 to 141 feet below the vent rim.
On the East Rift Zone, the 61g flow remained active, with lava entering the ocean near Kamokuna and surface flows continuing downslope of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and on the coastal plain.
The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.
Mauna Loa is not erupting.
GPS measurements continue to show deformation related to 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 occurred beneath the volcano, primarily in the south caldera and upper Southwest Rift Zone, at depths less than 3 miles.
One earthquake with three or more felt reports was recorded on the Big Island this past week.
On July 9, 2017, at 5:01 a.m. HST, a magnitude-2.5 earthquake occurred 1 miles southwest of Kahalu‘u at a depth of 8 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 [email protected].