Activity seems to have leveled off as episodes of unrest in Kīlauea’s south summit region continue

While episodes of unrest continue in the south summit region of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano, activity seems to have leveled off in the past 24 hours.

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory daily Kīlauea update at just before 9:30 a.m. Friday, inflation remains high and at nearly the same level seen just before the last eruption which started Sept. 10 and ended in less than a week.

However, the Uēkahuna summit tiltmeter north of the caldera recorded a flat trend during the past 24 hours, with the Sand Hill tiltmeter just south of the caldera displaying the same. GPS units within the south end of the caldera and farther south show continued uplift of this region.

Seismicity has decreased during the past 24 hours as well. Only about 21 earthquakes were recorded in the Kīlauea summit region throughout that time frame.

Most of the earthquakes from the seismic swarm south of the caldera are at depths of about 0.6 to 3 miles below the surface.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain low and were last measured at about 100 tonnes per day Oct. 6.

An eruption is not imminent, but one could occur in the region from Halemaʻumaʻu crater south to the December 1974 vents with little notice. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East or Southwest rift zones.

For discussion about Kīlauea hazards, click here. For Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor information, click here.

A live webcam at Halemaʻumaʻu crater can also be viewed on YouTube.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea volcano.