Kīlauea Volcano Update: Aug. 3, 2017

Widening cracks (R) and slumping on the Kamokuna lava delta indicate its instability and potential for collapse. USGS/HVO photo, Aug. 3, 2017.

This past week, Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake level fluctuated in concert with summit inflation and deflation, ranging 102 to 157 feet below the vent rim.

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

Widening cracks and slumping on the Kamokuna lava delta indicate its instability and potential for collapse.

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 volcano, primarily in the south caldera and upper Southwest Rift Zone, at depths less than 3 miles.

Two earthquakes with three or more felt reports occurred on the Island of Hawaiʻi during the past week:

• Aug. 3, at 3:54 a.m. HST, a magnitude-3.4 earthquake located 2 miles southwest of Captain Cook at 7 miles depth.
• On July 30, at 2:01 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.2 earthquake located 21 miles northwest of Hāwī at 11 miles depth.

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 askHVO@usgs.gov.