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Halemaumau Overlook Vent time-lapse movie

(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 during the past week resulted in night-time glow that was visible from the Jaggar Museum overlook. The lake, which is about 100–125 m (330–410 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 a series of large deflation-inflation cycles.

A burst of gas from a small vent in Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater throws spatter about 15 m (50 ft) into the air. Over the past week, occasional spattering and short lava flows have been observed within the crater. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

On Kilauea’s east rift zone, surface lava flows restarted on January 6 after a brief pause, with lava flow activity limited to a moderate-sized area of breakouts high above the pali, just 3.5 km (2.2 miles) southeast of Pu`u `O`o. Over the past week, these flows have advanced only a minor distance downhill, likely limited by fluctuations in lava supply due to the ongoing deflation-inflation cycles. The flow field on the coastal plain remains inactive after activity stalled there two weeks ago, and the West Ka`ili`ili ocean entry is still inactive. Occasional short flows and spattering have been observed over the past week within Pu`u `O`o crater.

Three earthquakes beneath Hawai`i Island were reported felt this past week. A magnitude-1.7 earthquake occurred at 1:00 a.m., HST, on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, and was located 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Hualalai summit at a depth of 15 km (9 mi). A magnitude-2.4 earthquake occurred at 1:45 p.m. on the same day and was located 9 km (6 mi) west of Kawaihae at a depth of 12 km (8 mi). A magnitude-2.0 earthquake occurred at 1:19 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, and was located 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Captain Cook at a depth of 9 km (6 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

A single area of breakouts, visible as the silvery patch in the center of the photograph, was active on today’s overflight. These surface flows are high above the pali, about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) southeast of Pu‘u ‘O‘o cone. Pu‘u ‘O‘o is visible in the upper left portion of the image. The flows on the coastal plain, as well as the ocean entry, have been inactive for the last two weeks. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

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Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater time-lapse movie