Kilauea Summit Update – 5/21/15

Activity at the summit of Kilauea has begun to even out.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported Thursday morning that seismicity rates at Kilauea’s summit, upper East Rift Zone, and Southwest Rift Zone have returned to normal background levels. Thursday morning’s activity continues a return to normal that began on Tuesday.

A slight decrease in tilt has been reported in the south caldera. HVO officials say the direction is associated with magma buildup in the Southwest Rift Zone. In the past day, tiltmeters in other areas of the summit were flat or recorded minor deflationary tilt.

HVO has reported that the tiltmeter at Puʻu ʻŌʻō’s north flank continues to record no significant tilt and that seismic activity in the area has returned to normal.

Continued observation of the June 27 lava flow through webcam and satellite imagery by HVO scientists shows that surface flow activity continues to occur from several breakouts within 5 miles to the northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō.