Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the new Poupou ocean entry, which first poured into the ocean on May 16, continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started May 12 south and east of the summit continues.
The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there; most of the magma supply continues to feed the Pu`u `O`o vent. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout tube which starts about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast toward the base of Royal Gardens subdivision and into the ocean on May 16 at Poupou. The Kamokuna and East Lae`apuki ocean entries are no longer active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at the Poupou location within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There are still more than the typical number of earthquakes clustering south of the summit. Since May 12, small shallow quakes have been located south and/or east of Halema`uma`u and at scattered locations in the south flank. The focus of quakes in the last 24 hours has switched again to the upper southwest rift zone from the upper east rift zone. The tiltmeter network shows no summit-wide changes. Seismic tremor levels remain at low levels.
Air quality was good.
Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence is visible occasionally reflected in the gas plumes from East Pond, January, South Wall, and Drainhole vents. POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations. Seismic tremor levels remain at moderate levels.
NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Wednesday evening: Scant viewing opportunities again. Incandescence was intermittently visible from a source above the pali, possibly from the active surface flow emerging from the very upper part of the PKK tube. No incandescence was visible on the pali nor on the coastal plain. Incandescence was visible at the Poupou entry at night.
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Kilauea Daily Update issued May 23, 2007 07:51 HST Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
Summary: Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the East Rift Zone. The eruption is stable - the new Poupou ocean entry, which first poured into the ocean on May 16, continues to build a delta. The earthquake flurry that started May 12 south and east of the summit continues.
The long story that won't change daily: Over the past several months, Kilauea caldera has been expanding at a rate of 1.5 cm/month indicating minimal magma storage there. Pu`u `O`o cone is slowly collapsing as shown by cracks spreading on its south flank and about 1 cm/month subsidence of its north flank.
The PKK lava tube, the primary tube from Pu`u `O`o, is active but only to feed the Campout tube which starts about 1 km from the vent. The Campout tube provides lava to the coast at the weakening Kamokuna ocean entry, an eastward branch to the base of Royal Gardens subdivision that reached the ocean on May 16 at Poupou, and westward branch to the coastal plain inland of the East Lae`apuki sea cliff that may no longer be active. Lava continues to enter the ocean at Kamokuna and Poupou within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The last 24 hours at Kilauea summit: There are still more than the typical number of earthquakes clustering south of the summit. Since May 12, small shallow quakes have been located south and/or east of Halema`uma`u and at scattered locations in the south flank. The focus of quakes in the last 24 hours has been in the upper east rift zone between Keanakako`i and Pauahi craters. The tiltmeter network shows no summit-wide changes. Seismic tremor levels remain at low levels.
Air quality was good.
Last 24 hours at Pu`u `O`o: No big changes. Incandescence is visible occasionally reflected in the gas plumes from East Pond, January, South Wall, and Drainhole vents. POC tiltmeter recorded the usual oscillations with two abrupt but small deflations; these may indicate surface changes on the south side of Pu`u `O`o but did not correlate with any activity changes visible in the crater. Seismic tremor levels remain at moderate levels.
NPS eruption crew report from the coast for Tuesday evening: Incandescence was intermittently visible from a source above the pali, possibly Pu`u `O`o. No incandescence was visible on the pali nor on the coastal plain. Incandescence was visible at the Poupou entry at night.
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