Volcano Village Hawaii.com
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Kilauea volcano update



For January 15, 2012


Current Kilauea Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low.
DI deflation and the summit lava lake were stable at low levels.
Surface flows were probably inactive a short distance southeast of
Pu`u `O`o cone; glow could be seen from sources within Pu`u `O`o
crater via webcam. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas
emissions were elevated.

Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network again
recorded DI deflation stabilized at about 5 microradians - the largest
since a mid-October, three-day-long deflation of 7 microradians. The
lava lake level remained low and steady; part of the western wall of
the inner ledge fell in at 4:10 am this morning but the collapse did not
significantly change the lake level. Although not measured this
morning, a small amount of ash-sized tephra, mostly fresh spatter bits,
was probably wafted within the gas plume from the summit vent and
deposited on nearby surfaces. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur
dioxide emission rate measurement was 900 tonnes/day on January 6,
2012; new measurements must await the return of moderate trade
winds.

Seismic tremor levels remained low and steady. Nine earthquakes
were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea volcano: one
beneath Halema`uma`u Crater (again), two deep quakes beneath the
southwest rift zone, two within the middle east rift zone, and four on
south flank faults.

Background: The summit lava lake is deep within a ~150 m (500 ft)
diameter cylindrical vent with nearly vertical sides inset within the
east wall and floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. Its level fluctuates from
about 70 m to more than 150 m (out of sight) below the floor of
Halema`uma`u Crater. The vent has been mostly active since opening
with a small explosive event on March 19, 2008. Most recently, the
lava level of the lake has remained below an inner ledge (75 m or 250
ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater) and responded to summit
tilt changes with the lake receding during deflation and rising during
inflation.

Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents: The most recent clear
satellite imagery at noon yesterday showed weak thermal anomalies
starting about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Pu`u `O`o cone and extending
to the coast indicative of a cooling lava flow with no significant amount
of surface activity. Flow field webcams showed no surface flow activity
anywhere on the flow field from the pali to the coast. There was no
active ocean entry.

The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded slowing DI
deflation with a minor positive offset yesterday morning following a
nearby (preliminary) magnitude-2.5 earthquake. Glow could still be
seen from sources on the northeast, southeast, and west edges of Pu`u
`O`o crater floor. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o were low. The
most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement
was 150 tonnes/day on January 6, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.


Hazard!

Hazard Summary: East rift vents and flow field - near-vent areas could
erupt or collapse without warning with spatter and/or ash being wafted
within the gas plume; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur
dioxide gas may be present within one km downwind of vent areas.
Kilauea Crater  explosive events can eject rocks and lava several
hundred yards from  Halema`uma`u vent; ash and Pele's hair can be
carried several kilometers downwind; potentially-lethal concentrations
of sulfur dioxide may present within one km downwind.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
http://www.nps.gov/havo

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/  

Volcano Art Center
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
www.volcanoartcenter.org

Volcanoes erupting
on the Big Island of Hawaii
www.youtube.com/watch?v=488BkT
UsMa4

Spectacular show in Hawaii
as Kilauea volcano erupts.
3 min - Jul 10, 2008
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
www.youtube.com/watch
?v=qwtDXg-bDM4

http://www.amnh.org
/nationalcenter/Endangered
/index.html  

http://www6.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/ca
ptiveprop
/consprog.htm

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity
/kilaueastatus.php

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/index.php
Informative Links
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Volcano Village Hawaii
fern, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea
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