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Volcano Watch: Kilauea activity update for Thursday (Dec 15)

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Time-lapse movie of Halemaumau Overlook Vent

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

A lava lake present within the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent over the past week resulted in night-time glow that was visible from the Jaggar Museum overlook. The lake, which is about 75–100 m (245-330 ft) below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater and visible by HVO’s Webcam, rose and fell slightly during the week in response to deflation-inflation cycles.

This photograph shows two channels of lava coming over the sea cliff, reaching the new lava delta. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

This photograph shows two channels of lava coming over the sea cliff, reaching the new lava delta. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

On Kilauea’s east rift zone, surface lava flows advanced across the coastal plain and reached the ocean at West Ka`ili`ili, within the National Park, on December 9. Flows continued to be active in the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision over the past week, as well. The flows traveled through a lava tube fed by the September 21 fissure on the upper east flank of the Pu‘u ‘O‘o cone. Within Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater, small flows were erupted sporadically on the eastern crater floor.

Three earthquakes beneath Hawai`i Island were reported felt this past week. A magnitude-2.0 earthquake occurred at 11:01 p.m., HST, on Thursday, December 8, 2011, and was located 4 km (3 mi) north of Kawaihae at a depth of 26 km (16 mi). A magnitude-2.1 earthquake occurred at 9:39 p.m. on Friday, December 9, and was located 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Captain Cook at a depth of 11 km (7 mi). A magnitude-3.5 earthquake occurred at 1:03 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, and was located 6 km (4 mi) southeast of Kilauea summit at a depth of 26 km (16 mi).

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

The current lava flow, coming down the pali and traversing the coastal plain, reached the ocean late last week. The ocean entry point is within the National Park, near its eastern border. Today, numerous small streams of lava were cascading over the sea cliff, and lava entering the water was starting to build a small delta. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

The current lava flow, coming down the pali and traversing the coastal plain, reached the ocean late last week. The ocean entry point is within the National Park, near its eastern border. Today, numerous small streams of lava were cascading over the sea cliff, and lava entering the water was starting to build a small delta. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kilauea's ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active. Episodes 1–48b (1983–1986) is shown in dark gray; Episodes 48c–49 (1986–1992) is pale yellow; Episodes 50–€“53 and 55 (1992–€“2007) is tan; Episode 54 (1997) is yellow; Episode 58 (2007–2011) is pale orange; the episode 59 Kamoamoa eruption (March 2011) is at left in light reddish orange; and the episode 60 Pu‘u ‘O‘o overflows and flank breakout (March–August 2011) is orange. The currently active flow (episode 61) is shown as the two shades of red–pink is the extent of the flow from September 21 to November 21, and bright red marks approximate flow expansion from November 21 to December 13. The contour interval on Pu‘u ‘O‘o is 5 m

Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kilauea's ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active. Episodes 1–48b (1983–1986) is shown in dark gray; Episodes 48c–49 (1986–1992) is pale yellow; Episodes 50–€“53 and 55 (1992–€“2007) is tan; Episode 54 (1997) is yellow; Episode 58 (2007–2011) is pale orange; the episode 59 Kamoamoa eruption (March 2011) is at left in light reddish orange; and the episode 60 Pu‘u ‘O‘o overflows and flank breakout (March–August 2011) is orange. The currently active flow (episode 61) is shown as the two shades of red–pink is the extent of the flow from September 21 to November 21, and bright red marks approximate flow expansion from November 21 to December 13. The contour interval on Pu‘u ‘O‘o is 5 m

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Time-lapse movie of Pu‘u ‘O‘o Crater. December 8–15, 2011

One Response to “Volcano Watch: Kilauea activity update for Thursday (Dec 15)”

  1. RainbowCountry808 says:

    I live on Oahu & was in Pearl City at 1pm and definitely felt the Dec 10th Big Island earthquake.

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