(Activity updates are written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.)

Kilauea Volcano continues to be active. A vent in Halemaumau Crater is emitting elevated amounts of sulfur dioxide gas and producing small amounts of ash. Resulting high concentrations of sulfur dioxide in downwind air have closed the south part of Kilauea caldera and produced occasional air quality alerts in more distant areas, such as Pahala and communities adjacent to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, during kona wind periods.  

The small, crusted lava lake more than 100 m (100 yards) below the vent rim, visible only with a thermal camera, has been replaced by a small, weakly spattering cone.  

Puu Oo also continues to produce significant amounts of sulfur dioxide. Trade winds tend to pool these emissions along the West Hawaii coast, while Kona winds blow these emissions into communities to the north, such as Mountain View, Volcano and Hilo.

Lava erupting from the Thanksgiving Eve Breakout vent at the eastern base of Puu Oo continues to flow to the ocean at Waikupanaha through a well-established lava tube. 

A delta collapse Tuesday, Feb. 17, scattered fist-sized rocks up to 275 yards inland from the ocean entry. Breakouts from a western branch of the lava tube were active and reached the ocean by Wednesday at the long-buried archeological site of Poupou-Kauka within the National Park.   

The Wahaula entry, farther to the west, has been inactive now for a couple of weeks.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Two earthquakes were located beneath the summit this past week. Continuing extension between locations spanning the summit indicates slow inflation of the volcano, combined with slow eastward slippage of its east flank.

March and April of 2009 are the 25-year anniversary of the most recent eruption of Mauna Loa and HVO staff would like to remind the interested public that the volcano is still active and will erupt again. 

The first events are a pair of public “After Dark in the Park” lectures in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on March 17 and March 24. On March 28, we plan to hold an informational forum on the UH-Hilo campus at UCB100 in conjunction with our colleagues at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) and county Civil Defense Agency. Then, April 4, we will be at the Konawaena Intermediate School cafeteria.   

Three earthquakes beneath Hawaii Island were reported felt within the past week. 

A magnitude-3.4 earthquake occurred at 5:07 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, and was located 10 miles northwest and offshore of Kailua at a depth of 6 miles. 

A magnitude-2.2 earthquake occurred at 5:22 a.m. later that morning and was located 8 miles southeast of Mauna Loa summit at a depth of 30 miles. 

Another magnitude-2.2 earthquake occurred at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, and was located 2 miles southeast of Pahala at a depth of 3 miles. 

Visit the Web site at hvo.wr.usgs.gov for daily Kilauea eruption updates, a summary of volcanic events over the last year, and nearly real-time Hawaii earthquake information. Kilauea daily update summaries are also available by phone at 967-8862. Questions can be emailed to askHVO@usgs.gov.

 

 —