Hawai‘i Volcano Activity Update: Oct. 5, 2017

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater from the north rim, Oct. 6, 2017. USGS/HVO photo.

This past week, Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake level fluctuated with summit inflation and deflation and ranged about 105 to 123 feet below the vent rim.

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

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 continued to occur beneath the summit caldera and upper Southwest Rift Zone, primarily at depths less than 3 miles.

Small earthquakes were also scattered beneath the upper western and northern flanks of the volcano.

Three earthquakes were reported felt on the Island of Hawaiʻi during the past week.

On Oct. 3, at 4:25 a.m. HST, a magnitude-2.9 earthquake occurred 7 miles southeast of Honoka‘a at 7 miles depth.

On Sept. 30, 2017, at 10:33 a.m., a magnitude-3.5 earthquake occurred beneath Pāhala at 22 miles depth.

On Sept. 30, 2017, at 5:50 p.m., a magnitude-3.0 earthquake occurred 7 miles west of Kalaoa at 21 miles depth.

The Kīlauea 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.