Weak Magma pressure weakens further ~ Little change on the flow fields

January 2010 may have been designated Volcano Month but it has so far manifested as Active Lava Flow Viewing Cessation Month; and there are no indications this situation will be changing anytime soon.

There has been, though, some great viewing of the Halema’uma’u Crater glowing brightly after dark this past month; except the times when winds pushed sulfur dioxide fumes onto spectators, or when the broiling lava lake deep down inside the pit vent gets crusted over.

Summary of the last 24 hours:
*Halema’uma’u glow was again visible from Jaggar museum last night.

*No active lava is flowing into the ocean but some surface lava could be seen after dark at the 1500 foot elevation: the west edge of the now lava-destroyed Royal Gardens subdivision.

*Pressures within the magma reservoirs beneath Kilauea Volcano have begun dropping again according to deformation monitors located at Halema’uma’u and Pu`u O`o; further slowing the lava currently erupting from the TEB site, its tube system and visible breakouts on the pali.

* Southwesterly winds continue sending sulfur dioxide fumes inland over the Big Island.

* High surf warnings have been posted: EXPECT SURF ALONG WEST-FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND TO REACH HEIGHTS OF 10 TO 15 FEET.