Kilauea activity update for the week of August 25, 2011

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

Halemaumau vent from the overlook camera Aug 25, 2011. Photo courtesy USGS/HVO

A lava lake has been present within the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent over the past week, resulting in night-time glow visible from Jaggar Museum. Since reappearing several days ago, the lava lake has hosted repeated fluctuations in height. Such cycles of rise and fall have been a common occurrence during Kilauea’s ongoing summit eruption.

After several days of quiet, lava reappeared in Pu`u `O`o last Sunday (August 21) and began to refill the crater. As of Thursday, August 25, lava had reached to within about 30 m (98 ft) of the east rim of Pu`u `O`o, but still has a long way to go before getting back to its level prior to the August 3 flank breakout and crater collapse.

No earthquakes beneath Hawai`i Island were reported felt this past week.

Visit the HVO Web site (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov) for detailed Kilauea and Mauna Loa activity updates, recent volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.