Recent Kilauea Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTThursday, October 30, 2014 6:17 PM HST (Friday, October 31, 2014 04:17 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Scientists of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted ground observations of the June 27th lava flow on Thursday, October 30, 2014. As of 5 PM, HST, the leading edge of the flow had stalled approximately 155 meters (170 yards) in a straight line distance from Pāhoa Village Road. The flow advanced only about 30 meters (33 yards) over the past 24 hours. The leading edge is inflated with a few small oozing breakouts just behind the flow front, however, so it is possible that the flow may advance again without warning.

A new outbreak of lava occurred from the northern margin of the lava flow in a forested area about 100 meters (110 yards) downslope (northeast) of the Pāhoa cemetery. This flow was moving downslope along the north margin of the existing flow as of 5 PM. This breakout is now the major locus of activity on the lower part of the June 27th lava flow field.

The breakout of lava on the north margin of the flow above Apa`a Street, near the Pāhoa transfer station, is still active, and the dominant part of the breakout was advancing at a rate of 7-8 meters (8-9 yards) per hour. This lobe was about 100 meters (110 yards) upslope of Apa`a Street at 5 PM.

DI deflation continued at the summit, having accumulated about 2.5 microradians of deflationary tilt since Wednesday afternoon. The deflation was accompanied by a several-meter (yard) drop in the level of the summit lava lake as is typical for such events. Deflation during DI events is often associated with a decrease in the eruption rate of lava from Puʻu ʻŌʻō, which may result in a decrease in the level of activity at the flow front in the coming days. An instrumental malfunction at the tiltmeter located on Puʻu ʻŌʻō is temporarily preventing an analysis of ground tilt there.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground overnight and Friday, and an overflight is scheduled for Friday morning. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATEThursday, October 30, 2014 9:35 AM HST (Thursday, October 30, 2014 19:35 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone. Gas emissions have remained elevated. The June 27th lava flow in the East Rift Zone continues to advance, at variable rates, to the northeast through a residential area between Apaʻa St/Cemetery Rd and Pāhoa Village Road. As of 5:30 am this morning, the leading edge of the flow had advanced a distance of roughly 100 m (~110 yards) through the past 24 hours, with the flow remaining roughly 150 m (~167 yards) from Pahoa Village Road. Behind the flow front, there continue to be active breakouts widening the area of lava flow coverage.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the leading portions of the June 27th flow on the ground throughout the day and night. In addition, an HVO team observed the flow field via helicopter. The most rapidly advancing lobe of the flow continues to advance northeast towards Pāhoa Village Road, through the first residential parcel it entered.

Two active breakouts were noted on the west side of the flow just upslope from Apa`a St. The first originated from the margin about 150 m (~167 yards) upslope of Apa`a St., and had advanced about 100 m (~110 yards). This breakout looks like it is headed for the ranch house (the one with the "not our cattle" sign). The front of this breakout was about 50 m (~55 yards) from Apa`a, and may threaten a second utility pole. The second breakout was 350 m (~385 yards) upslope of Apa`a St. and only extended out from the margin about 50 m (~55 yards).

The lava flow lobe on the Kalapana side was about 60 m (~66 yards) upslope from Cemetery Road but was only weakly active based on FLIR views (small breakouts on interior of the lobe, margins inactive).
Several small breakouts from the tube were noted, in areas several kilometers above the flow front where there have not been active breakouts in several weeks.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: Small changes in ground tilt were recorded at Puʻu ʻŌʻō during the past day. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: The Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake level fluctuated during the course of the past day, with one notable but small burst at the base of the wall opposite the webcam that temporarily affected the entire lake surface. The depth to the surface of the lake was measured as about 60 m from the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and there was no significant net change through the day. At mid-day, October 29, summit tiltmeters registered the onset of a deflationary trend plausibly heralding the onset of another deflationary-inflationary (DI) event. This deflation continues and apparently associated deflation has registered on the Puʻu ʻŌʻō instruments. The GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014.

No boilerplate text for this volcano.

Sulfur Dioxide Emission Rate estimation caveat: Starting in 2014, we report the emission rate estimated by a new, more accurate method. The numbers increase by a factor of 2-4 but the actual emission rate has not changed. For more on this reporting change, please read http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/view.php?id=207

Background:
Summit The summit lava lake is within an elliptical crater (unofficially called the Overlook crater), which has dimensions of approximately 160 m (520 ft) by 210 m (690 ft), inset within the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. The lake level has varied from about 25 m to more than 200 m (out of sight) below the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. The Overlook crater has been more-or-less continuously active since it opened during a small explosive event on March 19, 2008. The lake level responds to summit tilt changes with the lake generally receding during deflation and rising during inflation. Since 2013, the lava level has been typically between 30 m (100 ft) and 60 m (200 ft) below the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Small collapses in the Overlook crater are common, and over time have resulted in a gradual enlargement of the Overlook crater. The ambient SO2 concentrations near the vent vary greatly, but are persistently higher than 10 ppm and frequently exceed 50 ppm (upper limit of detector) during moderate trade winds. The gas plume typically includes a small amount of ash-sized tephra (mostly fresh spatter bits and Pele's hair from the circulating lava lake). The heaviest pieces are deposited onto nearby surfaces while the finer bits can be carried several kilometers before dropping out of the plume.

East Rift Zone vents and flow field The eruption in Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone started with a fissure eruption on January 3, 1983, and continued with few interruptions at Puʻu ʻŌʻō Cone, or temporarily from vents within a few kilometers to the east or west. A fissure eruption on the upper east flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Cone on Sept. 21, 2011, drained the lava lakes and fed a lava flow (Peace Day flow) that advanced southeast through the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision to the ocean within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in early December 2011. The flows stalled and re-entered the ocean starting on November 24, 2012, until activity started to decline and the ocean entry ceased in August 20, 2013; the flow was dead by early November, 2013. The Kahaualeʻa flow, which started from the spatter cone/lava lake at the northeast edge of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater floor in mid-January 2013 was dead by late April, but a new flow (informally called Kahaualeʻa 2) became active in the same area in early May 2013, waxing with inflation and waning with deflation. The Kahaualeʻa 2 flow died following the onset of a new breakout from the northeast flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō on June 27, 2014. The June 27th flow advanced to the northeast, confined to old grounds cracks for part of its length, and has been slowly approaching the town of Pāhoa.

Hazard Summary:
East Rift Zone vents and flow field Lava flows from the June 27 breakout pose no immediate threat to residential areas. Near-vent areas could erupt or collapse without warning with spatter and/or ash being wafted within the gas plume. In addition, potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide gas may be present within 1 km downwind of vent areas. Active lava flows within forested areas can produce methane blasts capable of propelling rocks and other debris into the air. All recently active lava flows are within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and adjacent State land managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources or the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Kīlauea Crater Ash and Pele's hair can be carried several kilometers downwind, and potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide can be present within 1 km downwind.

Viewing Summary:
East Rift Zone flow field The June 27th lava flow is currently within the Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve, which has been closed by the Hawaii State Department of Natural Land and Resources (DLNR) due to the ongoing volcanic hazards (http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/reserves/hawaii-island/kahaualea/), and the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve, also closed by DLNR and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2014/09/12/nr14-113/). According to the Hawaii County Civil Defense website (http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts/): "The public is reminded that the flow is not visible and cannot be accessed from any public areas."

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Cone and Kīlauea Crater These areas are within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park; Park access and viewing information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm.

Definitions of Terms Used:

ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.

CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense

composite seismic events: is a seismic signal with multiple distinct phases that has been recorded frequently at HVO from the Halema`uma`u Overlook vent area since its explosive opening in March, 2008. For the composite events recorded at Halema`uma`u, we typically see an initial high frequency vibration lasting for a few seconds that have been correlated with rockfalls. This is followed by about 30 seconds of a long-period (LP) oscillation with an approximately 2- to 3-second period. The final phase of the signal is several minutes of a very-long-period (VLP) oscillation with an approximately 25- to 30-second period. The LP signals are interpreted to be from the uppermost portion of the conduit and VLP signals are interpreted to be fluid passing through a deep constriction in the conduit through which lava rises to the pond surface we see in the webcam.

DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and describes a geophysical event of uncertain volcanic significance. DI events are recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours (weak DI events) to 2-3 days (strong DI events) followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater. Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma conduit from the summit to the east rift eruption site, as many of the DI events at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o delayed by several hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/Peace Day vents.

glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.

Halema`uma`u Overlook vent: has been difficult to describe concisely. The vent is actually a pit, or crater, in the floor of the larger Halema`uma`u Crater which is, in turn, in the floor of the larger Kilauea caldera or crater - a crater within a crater within a crater. It is easiest to describe as a pit inset within the floor of a crater within a caldera. The pit is about 160 m (525 ft) in diameter at the Halema`uma`u Crater floor, is about 50 m in diameter at a depth of 200 m (660 ft) below the Halema`uma`u Crater floor. From November, 2009, to now, a lava pond surface has been visible in this pit.

incandescence: the production of visible light from a hot surface. The term also refers to the light emitted from a hot surface. The color of the light is related to surface temperature. Some surfaces can display dull red incandescence at temperatures as low as 430 degrees Centigrade (806 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, molten lava displays bright orange to orange-yellow light from surfaces that are hotter than 900 degrees C (1,650 degrees F).

LPs: - Long Period (LP) events refer to earthquakes that have a lower frequency or tone than typical earthquakes and are usually attributed to the resonance of fluid- and gas-filled conduits, cracks and/or chambers. Because of their association with fluids and gases, LP earthquakes in the vicinity of volcanoes can be useful for monitoring purposes. At other volcanoes LP earthquakes are also known as low-frequency earthquakes, tornillos or B-type earthquakes.

mauka, makai: Hawaiian terms for directions relative to the coast - makai or ma kai (toward the coast) and mauka or ma uka (toward the highlands or away from the coast).

microradian: a measure of angle equivalent to 0.000057 degrees.

pali: Hawaiian term for cliff or precipice.

rise/fall events: one of the episodic behaviors exhibited by the summit lava lake starting in 2009. An event starts with a rise in lava level, a decrease in high-frequency summit tremor amplitude, a decrease or total stoppage of spattering, and a small decrease in tilt. After a period of minutes to hours, the lava will abruptly drain back to its previous level amidst resumed vigorous spattering, seismic tremor amplitude will increase for a short time (a seismic tremor burst) before resuming background levels, and summit tilt will return to its previous level. Gas emissions decrease significantly during the high lava stand (the plume gets wispy), and resume during its draining phase. Taken together, the geophysical characteristics suggest that, during the high lava stand, lava is puffed up with gas trapped under the lava lake crust.

seismic tremor dropout: these behaviors are identical to rise/fall events except that the lava lake level doesn't rise or fall significantly. High-frequency seismic tremor, gas emissions, and spattering decrease abruptly during a dropout. A dropout can end with a burst of seismic tremor and a significant pulse of gas emissions.

tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related plume, regardless of size.

tonne (t): metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 0.984 English tons.

More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/images/pglossary/index.php.

Additional Information:
For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTWednesday, October 29, 2014 5:52 PM HST (Thursday, October 30, 2014 03:52 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Scientists of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted ground and aerial observations of the June 27th lava flow on Wednesday, October 29, 2014. The flow continued to move through private property today. The leading edge of the flow was advancing about 10 m (11 yd) per hour this afternoon, but has been variable in the past 24 hours. The flow moved downslope about 125 m (136 yd) since 5 pm yesterday. The flow width was less than about 50 meters (55 yards) at the leading edge.

As of 4:15 pm, the flow was about 185 m (202 yd) in a straight line distance from Pāhoa Village Road and about 775 meters (850 yd) in a straight-line distance from Highway 130.

The lava lobe south of the main flow and upslope of Apa`a Street was not active today, but there were a couple of small breakouts on the north side of the flow that have advanced 70 to 110 m (75 to 120 yd) in the past day.

Several new breakouts were observed on the surface and margins of the June 27th flow upslope to the crack system along the East Rift Zone where the lava began flowing on the surface in early September. Pu`u `Ō`ō was obscured by clouds and thick fume during the overflight.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground overnight and Thursday; an overflight is scheduled for Friday morning. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATEWednesday, October 29, 2014 9:12 AM HST (Wednesday, October 29, 2014 19:12 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continues to erupt at its summit and within its East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. Currently, the June 27th flow is advancing northeast through a residential area between Apaʻa St/Cemetery Rd and Pāhoa Village Road. During the past 24 hours, the leading edge of the most rapidly advancing part of the flow advanced at an average rate of roughly 10 m/hr (~11 yd/hr); between 2am and 630 am this morning, the rate of advance slowed to roughly 5 m/hr (~5.5 yd/hr). At 7AM, the flow front was about 240 m (~260 yd) straight-line distance from Pāhoa Village Road.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the leading portions of the June 27th flow on the ground throughout the day and night. The most rapidly advancing lobe of the flow continues to advance northeast towards Pāhoa Village Road through the first residential parcel it entered, currently at a rate of 5 m/hr (~5.5 yd/hr). If the flow continues in this manner, we expect it to cross Pahoa Village Road between Apaʻa St and Post Office Road.

A few breakouts continue to occur upslope of the leading flow lobe within about 3 km (1.9 miles) of the flow front. Scientists are currently monitoring the flow front and will issue a status update this afternoon.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: Small changes in ground tilt were recorded at Puʻu ʻŌʻō during the past day. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit recorded no significant tilt over the past day. The lava lake level fluctuated during the course of the past day, but there was no significant net change. The depth to the surface of the lake was measured as about 60 m from the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTTuesday, October 28, 2014 5:57 PM HST (Wednesday, October 29, 2014 03:57 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Scientists of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted ground observations of the June 27th lava flow on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. The flow continued to move through private property today. The advance rate of the narrow leading edge has been variable over the past day, and as high as 16 meters (17 yards) per hour. The flow width was less than about 50 meters (55 yards) at the leading edge and as wide as 150 meters (165 yards) immediately upslope as breakouts have occurred along margins of the flow. Portions of the flow continued to inflate by as much as 2 meters as new fresh new lava was delivered to the advancing flow front.

As of 5:30 PM, the flow was 310 meters (340 yards) in a straight line distance from Pāhoa Village Road and about 900 meters (985 yards) in a straight-line distance from Highway 130.

The lava lobe upslope of Apa`a Street advanced about 30 meters (32 yards) since yesterday.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground overnight and Wednesday; an overflight is scheduled for Wednesday morning, and new maps of the entire June 27th flow will be posted later in the day. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATETuesday, October 28, 2014 9:18 AM HST (Tuesday, October 28, 2014 19:18 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continued to erupt at its summit and within the East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. Currently, the June 27th flow is advancing northeast through residential areas between Apaʻa St/Cemetery Rd and Pāhoa Village Road. The leading edge of the fastest advancing lobe of the flow has been moving at rates varying between 10 and 15 m/hr (11 to 16 yd/hr) during the past 24 hours, except for a period between 2am and 5am, when the front stopped advancing and the flow inflated in a small topographic low. At 6am, the lobe was about 75m (82 yd) wide. At 9AM, the flow front was about 440 m (480 yd) straight-line distance from Pāhoa Village Road and was advancing at 15 m/hr (16yd/hr).

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the leading portions of the June 27th flow on an overflight yesterday, and on the ground throughout the day and night. The most rapidly advancing lobe of the flow entered the first occupied residential property at about 2 am this morning, and is continuing to advance northeast towards Pāhoa Village Road, currently at a rate of 15 m/hr (16 yd/hr). We expect the flow to cross Pahoa Village Road between Apaʻa St and Post Office Road.

A few breakouts continue to occur upslope of the leading flow lobe within about 3 km (1.9 miles) of the flow front. No breakouts were observed further upslope all the way to Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Scientists are currently monitoring the flow front and will issue a status update this afternoon.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: No significant tilt was recorded at Puʻu ʻŌʻō during the past day. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit recorded no significant tilt over the past day. The lava lake level fluctuated during the course of the past day, but there was no significant net change. The depth to the surface of the lake was measured as about 60 m from the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014. A small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTMonday, October 27, 2014 5:51 PM HST (Tuesday, October 28, 2014 03:51 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Scientists of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted ground and air observations of the June 27th lava flow on Monday, October 27, 2014. The advance rate of the narrow leading edge varied between 7 and 10 meters (8 and 11 yards) per hour today, which is equivalent to 170 and 240 meters (185 and 260 yards) per day. As of 4:30 PM, the flow was 510 meters (560 yards) upslope from Pāhoa Village Road; the flow width was about 50 meters (55 yards) at the leading edge.

The lava lobe upslope of Apa`a Street advanced about 75 meters (82 yards) between yesterday afternoon and late this morning, but did not advance this afternoon.

A few breakouts continue to occur upslope within about 3 km (1.9 miles) of the flow front. No breakouts were observed further upslope all the way to Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

Lava discharge from Puʻu ʻŌʻō remained relatively low this afternoon.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground overnight and Tuesday. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATEMonday, October 27, 2014 8:25 AM HST (Monday, October 27, 2014 18:25 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continued to erupt at its summit and within the East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. Currently, the June 27th flow is advancing northeast between Apa`a St/Cemetery Rd and Pāhoa Village Road. The leading edge of the flow was moving at rates varying between 10 and 15 m/hr (11 to 16 yd/hr) yesterday until about 3am, when the advance slowed, while the flow continued to spread out. The fastest advancing lobe was about 100m (110 yd) wide at 7:30 this morning and about 570 m (620 yd) from Pāhoa Village Road.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the leading portions of the June 27th flow on the ground yesterday and through the night. The narrow lobe that crossed Apaʻa St/Cemetery Rd early Sunday morning traversed the cemetery and continued northeast. The front moved about 120m (130 yd) from 4:30 pm yesterday to 7:30 am this morning. The flow rate varied widely, advancing as fast as 15 m/hr (16 yd/hr) at times Sunday afternoon, and slowing to less than 2 m/hr (2.2 yd/hr) from 2:30 am to 7:30. The front is expected to pick up some speed today as it traverses slightly steeper terrain.

Scientists are currently monitoring the flow front and will issue a status update this afternoon.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: As on the previous evening, there was a small, rainfall-induced tilt signal at Puʻu ʻŌʻō yesterday evening, otherwise, no significant tilt was recorded. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit recorded no significant tilt over the past day. The lava lake level fluctuated during the course of the past day, but there was no significant net change. Seismic tremor beneath the summit varied with changes in spattering on the surface of the lava lake. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July, but no significant change in elevation during that time. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014. A small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTSunday, October 26, 2014 5:59 PM HST (Monday, October 27, 2014 03:59 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

HVO scientists conducted ground observations of the June 27th lava flow throughout the day on Sunday, October 26, 2014. The relatively narrow finger of lava that crossed Apaʻa Street yesterday morning continued to travel downslope, splitting into two lobes as it advanced. The faster, northern lobe crossed completely through the Pāhoa cemetery by mid-morning, while the slower southern lobe was advancing through open pasture south of the cemetery. Another lobe farther upslope, just above Apaʻa Street, advanced about 50 meters (55 yards) since yesterday.

Over the course of the day, the advance rate of the narrow finger that crossed the cemetery varied from about 10 and 15 meters per hour (11 to 16 yards per hour), which is equivalent to 240–360 meters per day (260–390 yards per day). As of 5 PM, the faster-moving finger was about 390 meters (425 yards) downslope of Apaʻa Street and 660 meters (720 yards) upslope from Pāhoa Village Road. It had an average width of about 40 m (45 yd). The slightly slower-moving southern lobe in the pasture south of the cemetery reached slightly steeper terrain at mid-afternoon today, and was traveling at about 9 meters per hour (10 yards per hour) at 5 PM. It will likely rejoin with the finger that came through the cemetery near the northeast end of the pasture.

The pasture is located between two of the steepest decent paths plotted on HVO’s lava flow maps, and the flow is trending toward the southerly of these two paths. This path joins the northerly steepest-descent path about mid-way between the cemetery and Pāhoa Village Road, so the inferred flow path leading to Pāhoa Village Road is unchanged.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground on Monday, and an HVO overflight is scheduled as well. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATESunday, October 26, 2014 9:32 AM HST (Sunday, October 26, 2014 19:32 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continued to erupt at its summit and within the East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. Currently, the June 27th flow has traversed the Pāhoa cemetery between Apa`a St/Cemetery Rd and Pāhoa Village Road and is continuing downslope. The leading edge of the flow has been advancing at rates varying between 9 and 15 m/hr (10 to 16 yd/hr) during the past 24 hours. The flow front has spread out since yesterday afternoon and is roughly estimated to be about 150 yd wide at 9AM this morning. It is currently about 760 m (0.5 mi) straight-line distance from Pāhoa Village Road and 1.4 km (0.9 mi) from Hwy 130.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the leading portions of the June 27th flow on the ground yesterday. The narrow lobe that had been moving rapidly downslope reached Apaʻa St/Cemetery Rd near the driveway to the Pāhoa cemetery at 03:20 yesterday morning and finished crossing it at 03:50.

As of yesterday afternoon, this flow is the only area of the flow front that is advancing downslope. The rate of advance was varying between 10 and 15 m/hr (11-16 yd/hr) yesterday. The front moved 140 m (150 yd) from 5pm yesterday to 9am this morning, a rate of 9 m/hr. There appears to be an area of slightly steeper slope just below the cemetery and higher advance rates are possible if the flow reaches that point. The flow front was about 40 m (45 yd) wide at 5pm Saturday, but spread out in the relatively flat terrain near the cemetery and is roughly estimated to be (150 yd) wide presently.

The flow was deflected away from the steepest-descent line it had been generally following, and toward the cemetery, by an old man-made cane-field berm just above Apaʻa Street. The flow is now advancing downslope between two intersecting steepest-descent paths and will likely return to the original steepest-descent path about 300 m (330 yd) upslope from Pāhoa Village Rd (see map ).

Scientists are currently monitoring the flow front and will issue a status update this afternoon.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: There was a small, rainfall-induced tilt signal at Puʻu ʻŌʻō yesterday evening, otherwise, no significant tilt was recorded. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit recorded very slight deflationary tilt over the past two days. The lava lake level fluctuated during the course of the past day, but there was no significant net change. Seismic tremor beneath the summit varied with changes in spattering on the surface of the lava lake. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July, but no significant change in elevation during that time. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014. A small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTSaturday, October 25, 2014 5:33 PM HST (Sunday, October 26, 2014 03:33 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

HVO scientists conducted ground observations of the June 27th lava flow throughout the morning and afternoon of Saturday, October 25, 2014. Earlier that morning, at about 3:50 AM, HST, the narrow finger that had been moving rapidly downslope reached and crossed Apaʻa Street / Cemetery Road near the driveway to the Pāhoa cemetery. The lobe located to the southeast of the narrow finger, described in yesterday’s status report, is no longer advancing.

Over the course of the day, the advance rate of the narrow finger varied between 10 and 15 m/hr (11 to 16 yd/hr)—that’s equivalent to 240–360 m/day (260–390 yd/day). Through the morning, the flow moved downlope along the cemetery driveway before veering to the southeast into the adjoining pasture in the early afternoon.

As of 5 PM, the flow was about 90 m (100 yd) above the cemetery and 160 m (175 yd) downslope of Apaʻa Street, and it had an average width of about 40 m (45 yd).

The pasture between Apaʻa Street and the cemetery is characterized by gentle topography, but the slopes increase at or just below the cemetery. If the flow reaches this point, its advance rate may increase.

The pasture is located between two of the steepest decent paths plotted on HVO’s lava flow maps, and it is unclear at this point which path the flow will follow. Both paths, however, join just below the cemetery, so the overall flow path leading to Pāhoa Village Road is unchanged.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground on Sunday. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Saturday, October 25, 2014, 1:40 PM HST (20141025/2340Z)
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2014/H20
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: HI Hawaii and Pacific Ocean

Volcanic Activity Summary: The June 27th flow remains active and has moved downslope at a higher rate in the past few days (240 m, or 260 yd, per day). The flow front crossed Apa‘a Street at approximately 3:50 AM, HST, Saturday morning, October 25, 2014, and is continuing to advance downslope along the path of steepest descent towards the central part of Pāhoa town. As of 1:00 PM on Saturday, the flow was approximately 115 m (125 yd) downslope (NW) of Apa‘a Street and moving down the driveway to the Pāhoa cemetery, 1 km (0.6 mi) from Pāhoa Village Road and 1.6 km (1 mi) from Highway 130.

Pāhoa town is in the Puna District of the County of Hawai‘i.

Recent Observations:
[Lava flow] The June 27th lava flow has advanced rapidly during the past several days, averaging 240 m/day (260 yd/day) during the past 2 days. The flow crossed Apa‘a Street at 3:50 AM Saturday morning, October 25, and has followed the steepest descent path as it has moved downslope. The rapid advance is likely caused by the combination of a slight increase in the lava eruption rate, a concentration of activity at the distal end of the flow (no breakouts were observed upslope of the flow front during an overflight on October 24), and the influence of small-scale topography that has caused the flow to narrow considerably (less than 100 m, or 110 yd, wide). As shown by the varying advance rates of the past several weeks, the flow’s future advance rate is likely to continue fluctuating, making it difficult to forecast arrival times at particular sites. However, as long as the June 27th flow keeps advancing, it is projected to continue following the path of steepest descent through Pāhoa town, towards Pāhoa Village Road and Highway 130.

Hazard Analysis:
[Lava flow] The June 27th lava flow from the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent is active and advancing toward Pāhoa town, having crossed the first road (Apa‘a St./Cemetery Rd.) above the town early on the morning of October 25. The flow could impact other infrastructure within days (depending on the actual advance rate of the flow, which fluctuates over time).

Remarks: The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent in the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano began erupting on January 3, 1983, and has continued erupting for more than 31 years, with the majority of lava flows advancing to the south. Over the past two years, lava flows have issued from the vent toward the northeast. The June 27th flow is the most recent of these flows. On June 27, 2014, new vents opened on the northeast flank of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and fed a narrow lava flow to the east-northeast. By late October the flow had reached over 21 km (13 mi) in length after advancing over the previous 4 months to the NE at an irregular rate, up to 400 m (440 yd) per day on some days and not at all on others. The flow crossed a road above Pāhoa town on the morning of October 25, at which time it was 1 km (0.6 mi) upslope of Pāhoa Village Road.

Contacts: HVO media contact
askHVO@usgs.gov

Next Notice: Daily updates on all volcanic activity at Kīlauea, including the June 27th flow, will be issued each morning, and status reports will be made as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATESaturday, October 25, 2014 9:18 AM HST (Saturday, October 25, 2014 19:18 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continued to erupt at its summit and within the East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. The leading edge of the June 27th flow has been advancing at a rate of approximately 240 m/day (260 yd/day) from yesterday afternoon to this morning. The flow crossed Apaʻa St/Cemetery Rd in Pāhoa early this morning and is moving northeast towards the cemetery and Pāhoa Village Rd.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the the June 27th flow on a mid-day overflight yesterday afternoon, and the distal portion of the flow on the ground yesterday. As part of the overflight, HVO scientists measured the cross sectional area of the lava tube feeding the flow. This measurement suggests that the volume of lava being supplied to the flow from the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent has increased slightly. There were very few active breakouts on the flow behind the front. The rate of advance of the lobe that is now the leading edge of the flow is about 240 m/day (260 yd/day). Scientists are currently monitoring the flow front and will issue a status update this afternoon.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: There was no appreciable tilt measured at Puʻu ʻŌʻō over the last day. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit did not record any significant tilting over the past day. The lava lake level fluctuated slightly, as usual, but there was no significant net change over the last day.

Seismic tremor beneath the summit remained low and varied with changes in spattering on the surface of the lava lake. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July, but no significant change in elevation during that time. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014. A small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORTFriday, October 24, 2014 3:56 PM HST (Saturday, October 25, 2014 01:56 UTC)

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

HVO scientists completed a helicopter overflight of the June 27th lava flow early Friday afternoon and have been observing the flow from the ground throughout the day.

Today’s mapping shows that the lava flow has advanced 730 m (800 yd) over the past two days. The leading edge of the flow is moving downslope along two fronts: a narrow finger and a slower-moving and broader lobe that split from the narrow finger and is moving slightly to the SE.

The narrow finger was 50 m (55 yd) wide at its leading edge, which was 135 m (150 yd) from Cemetery Road and advancing about 10 m (11 yd) per hour as of 2 PM Friday. The broader lobe, which is only moving forward by a few meters (yards) per hour, was about 100 m (110 yd) behind the front of the narrow finger and as of 2 PM was 250 m (275 yd) from the point it is projected to cross Cemetery Road if it continues to advance.

About 275 m (300 yd) upslope of Cemetery Road, the narrow finger of lava, which has been restricted by a man-made berm, has now inflated up to the level of the berm and may overtop it, which could send lava closer to the Pāhoa transfer station if it continues to flow downslope.

Upslope of the flow front, near the north border of Ka‘ohe Homesteads, a large breakout, which has been active for the past few days, is widening the SE margin of the flow field.

As part of the overflight, HVO scientists were able to measure the cross sectional area of the lava tube feeding the flow. This measurement suggests that the volume of lava being supplied to the flow from the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent has increased slightly. The cross-sectional area of the tube measured today—2.3 square meters (2.8 square yards)—is about the same as that measured 2 weeks ago.

Daily updates about Kīlauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

Our next overflight is scheduled for Monday, but HVO scientists will be conducting field work each day to map the advance of the flow and collect other observations. New status reports will be posted as additional data become available, typically each morning and afternoon.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATEFriday, October 24, 2014 9:10 AM HST (Friday, October 24, 2014 19:10 UTC)

This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continued to erupt at its summit and within the East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. There was slight inflationary ground tilt at the summit, and there was no obvious net change in lava lake level. At the East Rift Zone, the leading edge of the June 27th flow moved at a rate of about 420 m/day (460 yd/day) yesterday, as measured between the Civil Defense morning overflight and HVO ground crew observations in the afternoon. Civil Defense reports that the flow front was approximately 250 yds from Apa`a St/Cemetery Rd in Pāhoa during their 7AM overflight today.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the distal portion of the June 27th flow on foot yesterday afternoon. The rate of advance of the narrow lobe that is now the leading edge of the flow was about 420 m/day (460 yd/day), consistent with the rate measured by Civil Defense the previous day. Localized topography is keeping the lobe from spreading out, resulting in the narrow, fast-moving flow.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: A tiltmeter on Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone recorded very slight inflationary ground tilt over the past 2 days. Seismic tremor remained steady. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor, but there were no significant changes in activity within the crater. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 450 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 9, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit recorded very slight inflationary tilt over the past two days. The lava lake level fluctuated slightly, as usual, but there was no significant net change over the last day.

Seismic tremor beneath the summit remained low and varied with changes in spattering on the surface of the lava lake. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight contraction across the caldera since early July, but no significant change in elevation during that time. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014. A small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume.

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