Categorized | Featured, Sci-Tech, Volcano

Volcano Watch: Activity update for Thursday, January 19, 2012

[jwplayer config=”480×360-4:3″ mediaid=”61949″]
Time-lapse movie of Halemaumau Overlook vent

(Activity updates are written by scientiits 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 is visible by HVO’s Webcam, rose and fell slightly during the week in response to a series of large deflation-inflation cycles.

On Kilauea’s east rift zone, surface lava flows that were active in the upper part of the flow field, about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) southeast of Pu`u `O`o, paused by January 14, and remained inactive for the next few days. Breakouts on the upper flow field resumed on Tuesday, January 17, but diminished again within a day. These fluctuations are controlled by varying lava supply at the vent due to summit deflation-inflation cycles. The flow field on the coastal plain remains inactive after activity stalled there three weeks ago, and the West Ka`ili`ili ocean entry is still inactive. Occasional short lava flows have been observed over the past week within Pu`u `O`o crater.

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.

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