Dec 15 2007
Kilauea Daily Update for 12/14/07
Current Kilauea status from HVO:
Kilauea Daily Update issued Dec 14, 2007 09:18 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO):Activity Summary for last 24 hours: The Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) continues to feed short flows near fissure D, with none extending more than 1 km (0.6 mi). The original perched channel (north of the TEB flows) remains active, feeding several vigorous, but short, seeps on the east and west sides of the channel. These seeps extend no more than about 300 m (0.2 mi) from the channel.
Activity Summary for the past few months: Lava from the 7/21 fissures is probably fed from a shallow magma storage area beneath Pu`u `O`o where it degasses before being erupted. Through August, `a`a flows advanced quickly to the northeast before stalling. In September and October, the channel system produced shorter `a`a lava flows that made the flow field wider. In late October, tube-fed pahoehoe flows developed and, in early November, the east tube produced pahoehoe flows along the south margin that advanced nearly as far to the east as the August flows before stalling. Starting on November 21, lava from fissure D bypassed the channel and built a shield over the fissure feeding a channelized lava flow to the southeast.
Hazard Summary: Based on the information summarized above, there are no immediate threats directly from lava flows. The current and future hazards posed by this eruption are described in a publication available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1264/.
Vent areas and lava channels are hazardous and conditions can change rapidly. Access to the 7/21 eruption site in the Kahauale`a Natural Area Reserve is closed (see http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/chair/pio/HtmlNR/07-N076.htm). Wao Kele o Puna is also closed. Lava flows advancing through vegetation are hazardous and can produce fire and methane explosions that propel chunks of lava and rock several feet into the air.
Last 24 hours at 7/21 eruption site: An overflight yesterday morning indicated that flows from the TEB outlet are now limited to sluggish breakouts at the base of the TEB shield. These breakouts emerge about 500 m (0.3 mi) southeast of fissure D, and extend another 300 m (0.2 mi). These flows are entirely on earlier TEB lava, resulting in little to no expansion of the TEB flow field. In the original perched channel, Ponds 1 and 3 were active with lava at the rim. Spattering, overturning and overflows were observed in Pond 1 during the overflight, and webcam images overnight showed additional small overflows. The large area of incandescence near Pond 4, noted in yesterday’s report, was observed during the overflight to be a large seep on the west side of Pond 3 (lava has not yet returned to Pond 4). The large seep on the east side of Pond 3 was also active, and contained an area of ponded, overturning lava. Although these seeps are broad, they extend no more than about 300 m (0.2 mi) from the channel. Seismic tremor levels near fissure D remained at low values.
Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: Incandescence was absent in Pu`u `O`o crater last evening. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter has been dominated by signal from rain. Analysis of GPS data at the cone is ongoing. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values.
Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeters show no significant change over the last several days. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values. GPS receivers recorded slow contraction. Several small earthquakes were located in the summit area, and three small events were located beneath the upper east rift zone.
