This image is from a research camera positioned on Puʻu ʻŌʻō, looking North. Image taken at 6:09 a.m., Sunday, August 31, 2014. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Update for Saturday, August 31, 2014

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: The June 27th lava flow remains active, with continued advancement of the flow front towards the northeast. The farthest portion of the June 27th flow is issuing from a ground crack and advancing through thick forest, creating small brush fires.

A Civil Defense overflight this morning found surface flows around the flow front remain active, with slow advancement of the flow towards the northeast over the past two days. They mapped the flow front position at 12.5 km (7.8 miles) from the vent and approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) from the eastern boundary of the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve.

Small breakouts also remain active closer to Puʻu ʻŌʻō, roughly midway along the length of the June 27th flow. None of these breakouts were very vigorous when observed Friday, though some are creeping into forest and producing smoke plumes.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: There were minor fluctuations in tilt at Puʻu ʻŌʻō over the past day, with a minor offset due to a small nearby earthquake yesterday afternoon. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor. The glow above the northeast pit was from a small lava pond, which has persisted since June 27 but is only observable during overflights. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 300 tonnes per day (from all sources) on August 26, 2014.

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