Volcano Update from Archive
Sunday, June 17, 2007 15:01 HST (Monday, June 18, 2007 01:01 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW#1302-01-)
19.43°N 155.29°W, Summit Elevation 4009 ft (1222 m)
Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
Earthquake Swarm Beneath Kīlauea�s Upper East Rift Zone Continues
The earthquake swarm started at 2:15 a.m., June 17, 2007. By 2 p.m., about 230 earthquakes were located in the upper east rift zone. More earthquakes occurred but were too small to locate. Most are located between Pauahi and Maka`opuhi craters at depths of 1.5-3 km. Fresh cracks have opened about 2 cm in the Chain of Craters road near the Mauna Ulu turnoff.
All summit tiltmeters continue to record deflation. GPS receivers in the area of most intense seismic activity document an approximately 10 cm widening between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. near Makaopuhi.
A helicopter overflight this morning confirmed that the eruption at Pu`u `O`o vent continues. This afternoon, HVO observers noted rockfalls from the south wall of Pu`u `O`o cone and collapse of the crater floor around the vents. The lava level in East Pond vent appears to be dropping. The MLK vent on the south side of Pu`u `O`o has also collapsed.
All data so far indicate that an intrusion of magma started in the Mauna Ulu area and appears to be moving slowly down rift. This event may be decreasing lava supplied to Pu`u `O`o vent.
