Volcano Watch: Kilauea activity update for the week of October 14, 2011

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Pu‘u O‘o Crater time-lapse movie

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

This thermal image on October 7, looking northwest, shows the active flows east of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Bright yellow portions of the image represent areas of active lava. A short channelized flow was active on the upper east flank of the cone, with most activity – comprising pāhoehoe (center of image) - heading southeast. These pāhoehoe flows had reached about 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) from the vent. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

This thermal image on October 7, looking northwest, shows the active flows east of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Bright yellow portions of the image represent areas of active lava. A short channelized flow was active on the upper east flank of the cone, with most activity – comprising pāhoehoe (center of image) - heading southeast. These pāhoehoe flows had reached about 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) from the vent. Photo courtesy of 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 the Jaggar Museum. The lake, which is deep within the vent cavity and visible by Webcam, started the week at a relatively high level. By Thursday, October 13, however, the day of this writing, the level had dropped considerably in response to the deflation phase of a summit deflation-inflation cycle.

The September 21 fissure, on the upper east flank of Pu`u `O`o cone in Kilauea’s east rift zone, erupted lava onto the surface through at least the first half of the past week. As with the Halema`uma`u lava lake, the activity level at Pu`u `O`o declined in response to the summit deflation-inflation cycle. As of Thursday, webcam views were insufficient to determine if lava was still erupting at Pu`u `O`o. Regardless, eruptive activity will likely resume after deflation switches back to inflation.

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

A close-up of the active pāhoehoe flows.

A close-up of the active pāhoehoe flows October 7, 2011. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

Pu‘u ‘O‘o Crater webcam location
Halemaumau Overlook vent webcam location

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Halemaumau vent from the overlook webcam

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