America’s Volcanoes

Current Kilauea status from HVO:

Kilauea Daily Update issued Jan 10, 2008 09:54 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO):

Activity Summary for last 24 hours: A channelized `a`a flow has advanced more than 1 mile from the TEB rootless shield field and was, at 8 am, 0.8 miles from the upper boundary of the Royal Gardens subdivision.

Hazard Summary: Based on the information summarized above, there is an immediate threat only to the upper portion of the Royal Gardens subdivision (largely abandoned) from lava flows. Hawai`i County Civil Defense has been notified of this threat and is taking appropriate measures.

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. For the first three months, mostly `a`a flows advanced from a 1.6 km (1 miles)-long channel to the northeast. 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 earlier `a`a flows before stalling. Starting on November 21, Thanksgiving Eve, lava from fissure D bypassed the channel and built a shield over the fissure feeding a channelized lava flow to the southeast. Within weeks, lava had partially refilled several ponds in the original 7/21 perched channel which have again been abandoned. Activity is now focused on the TEB and rootless shields to the southeast.

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: Tour pilots yesterday reported what has been confirmed this morning - the southeasternmost rootless shield has breached on the southeast side and issued a vigorous channelized `a`a flow. As of 8 am, that flow had advanced 1.3 miles southeast from the breached rootless shield, 2.2 miles from fissure D, and was 0.8 miles from the upper reaches of Royal Gardens subdivision. Otherwise, the rootless shields and the TEB shield remain active. The latter has lava circulating below a narrow opening at the shield top.

Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter recorded no significant change for the third day. Seismic tremor levels remained at low values.

Last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeter network recorded no significant change. Seismic tremor values returned to low-to-moderate levels. A few small earthquakes were located beneath the summit and the south flank.

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