Seismicity still spiked in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift, but slightly lower than previous day

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park celebrated its 108th birthday on Aug. 1.

“No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot of candles on our cake,” said the park in a post that day on its Facebook page.

One of the comments on the post even extended warm wishes to the Hawaiian deity who is said to make her home in Kilauea volcano, which is located inside the park and likely is its main and most popular attraction — especially when a lava fills and flows in the volcano’s Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

“All the best, Madame Pele. Hope to see you soon again,” wrote Donna Carey.

The century-plus-old park and ancient goddess have a well-known relationship. Pele has rocked and reshaped her home several times in the past 108 years.

In fact, she started shaking her old friend harder Tuesday and was still jostling her around more as of this morning.

Kīlauea is not erupting and there are no signs of an imminent eruption, but an increase in earthquake activity and ground deformation in the volcano’s upper East Rift Zone began early Tuesday and remains elevated as of today; however, at a slightly lower rate from the past 24 hours.

There were about 181 earthquakes recorded from Tuesday morning to this morning, extending in an area from Puhimau Crater southeast to Maunaulu. Most were smaller than magnitude 2, with two larger than magnitude 3.

The quakes remained at depths of between 0.6 to 1.8 miles below ground.

Most have been too small to feel, but several were reported felt in the national park and surrounding communities.

As of about 9 a.m. Tuesday, there had been about 200 quakes recorded during the previous 8 hours under the upper East Rift Zone in the same viscinity.

Most of the quakes Tuesday also were smaller than magnitude 2, with 6 larger than magnitude 3. The largest was a magnitude 3.7 at 2:21 a.m.

The temblors were at depths of 0.6 to 1.8 miles below ground, and most were too small to feel. However, several were reported felt in the park and surrounding communities.

The increase in activity and ground deformation began at about 9 p.m. Monday, peaking between 1 and 2 a.m. Tuesday.

The heightened seismic activity was accompanied by elevated rates and changing patterns of ground deformation recorded Tuesday by a tiltmeter northeast of Pauahi Crater in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone.

Deformation as of Wednesday morning was relatively flat.

The unrest could represent another pulse of magma being supplied to the upper East Rift Zone following the intrusive event July 22-25 near Pauahi Crater.

Elsewhere on the volcano, about 43 earthquakes were detected beneath Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera, from yesterday to today. Most were located south of Halema‘uma‘u and near Keanakākoʻi Crater at depths of 0.6 to 1.9 miles below ground, with magnitudes of less than 2.

Deformation at the summit remained relatively low with minor local deflation, likely in response to unrest in the upper East Rift Zone. An overall gradual inflationary trend continues to be seen around the summit region.

The most recent measurement of the summit’s sulfur dioxide emission rate Aug. 20 was about 75 tonnes per day.

Activity in the middle East Rift Zone remains low.

Earthquake locations are scattered around Makaopuhi crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Depths range from 0.6 to 1.9 miles below ground, with magnitudes of less than magnitude 2.

There has been no significant change in deformation overnight. GPS instruments continue to record inflation in the region.

Magma has recently re-established a path to Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone, so unrest could potentially extend to that area with continued magma supply.

There is no evidence of seismicity or ground deformation beneath the lower East Rift Zone, and Southwest Rift Zone activity remains low.

Changes in the character and location of unrest can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption.

Shallow magma movement can produce minor to severe ground fractures and subsidence features, which can affect the landscape, human activity and infrastructure. These ground cracks can continue to widen and offset as magma migration continues, might have unstable overhanging edges and should be avoided.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea Volcano and is in close contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Daily updates for Kīlauea volcano will continue. Additional messages will be issued as needed.