A breakout at the base of the pali viewed by a field crew this morning has formed a channelized ʻaʻā flow on the steeper portion of the coastal plain. Photo taken Friday, July 22, 2016 courtesy of USGS/HVO

During early morning field observations, a large breakout of lava near the base of PÅ«lama Pali (steep fault scarp in background) was visible through fumes from the lava tube and heat shimmer from lava on the coastal plain. The approximate location of the lava tube feeding KÄ«lauea’s active lava flow is visible as degassing sources (white fume) on the pali. Photo taken Friday, July 22, 2016 courtesy of USGS/HVOThe flow was about 615m from the road and 760 m from the ocean.

A faint double rainbow provided a beautiful backdrop for sluggish pāhoehoe lava oozing out from near the flow front this morning. Photo taken Friday, July 22, 2016 courtesy of USGS/HVOThe flow was about 615m from the road and 760 m from the ocean.

The flow front remains active and consists of slowly advancing pāhoehoe. There are scattered breakouts along the margins of the flow on the coastal plain and base of the pali. During the overflight today, the flow front was 730 m (0.45 miles) from the ocean. Photo taken Friday, July 22, 2016 courtesy of USGS/HVO

A close up view of the ʻaʻā channel. Photo taken Friday, July 22, 2016 courtesy of USGS/HVO

Saturday, July 23,2016 U.S. Geological Survey/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Kilauea Volcano Status

Activity Summary: Eruptive activity continues at Kīlauea Volcano’s summit and East Rift Zone. The 61G lava flow extending southeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō towards the ocean remains active but poses no threat to nearby communities. As of yesterday, the flow tip was about ~730 m (0.45 miles) from the ocean. The lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater continues to circulate and intermittently spatter. Seismicity and deformation rates throughout the volcano remain at background levels.

Summit Observations: The lava lake within the HalemaÊ»umaÊ»u Overlook crater remains active. The depth to the lake was measured at 21.5 m (70 ft) below the crater rim, yesterday. Tiltmeters at KÄ«lauea’s summit recorded inflationary tilt. Seismicity is within normal, background rates with tremor fluctuations associated with lava lake spattering. The summit sulfur dioxide emission rate ranged from 3,700 to 7,300 metric tons/day.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: Webcam images over the past 24 hours show persistent glow at long-term sources within the crater. There were no significant changes in seismicity over the past 24 hours. The tilt excursion is due to heavy rainfall. The sulfur dioxide emission rate from all East Rift Zone vents on July 22 was about 500 metric tons/day.

Lava Flow Observations: The 61G lava flow extending southeast of PuÊ»u ʻŌʻō towards the coastal plain on KÄ«lauea’s south flank remains active. On Friday, the flow tip was active and breakouts were active within a few hundred meters (yards) upslope. Yesterday, the flow was approximately 600 m (0.4 miles) from the coastal emergency road and 730 m (0.45 miles) from the ocean. Areas of incandescence remain visible in overnight webcam views of the active lava flow field, marking lava tube skylights and areas of active lava on the pali and along the flow as it extends towards the coast.

NOTE: ACCESS TO THE EMERGENCY COASTAL ROAD AND COASTAL LAVA VIEWING IS CLOSED AT THIS TIME DUE TO TROPICAL STORM DARBY

This image shows a thermal map of the flow on the pali and coastal plain, created from airborne thermal images. White pixels are hot, and show areas of active surface breakouts. The background image is a satellite image collected before the current lava flow was active.
The thermal map shows minimal activity on the upper pali, with a channelized ʻaʻā flow at the base of the pali. The flow front area had scattered pāhoehoe breakouts, with a narrow lobe of active lava forming the leading tip of the flow. The leading tip of the flow was 730 m (0.45 miles) from the ocean.