Major tsunami averted ~ Deflation subdues lava viewing fun

~ Full Moon-Feb27-2010 -- Above a Tsunami survivor: the Island of Hawaii ~
(Click on the image for a larger size)

I was hoping to post photos of waves sweeping over roads or other exciting (non-life threatening) tsunami images, but we were spared the anticipated 9 to 12-foot waves forecast to hit here at 11:00 Saturday the 27th of February - generated from the devastating 8.8 magnitude Chilean earthquake from the day before; but we did get a tsunami beginning about 11:20 AM.

The shores directly in front of my house were the first ones in all of Hawaii affected by the incoming waves, next was Hilo Bay. What we saw was a reseeding of water, followed by a rush of water back in that looked like a super fast high-low tidal event: stronger each time for the first four waves, then decreasing after that for nearly an hour. For awhile it was like, “Oh! This IS happening!”… But we could soon see it was not going to become serious.

Watch the water and reefs as these sped up images show the first few tsunami surges in this poor quality home web cam at a Hilo hotel lanai overlooking Coconut Island in Hilo Bay shows a time-lapse of this event

Otherwise the most exciting part was the blaring tsunami warning sirens waking us all up at 6:00 AM, and repeated every hour until 11:00AM. It was an absolutely perfect Hawaiian weather day as well. Surfing seemed the logical plan for the day except the ocean currents were majorly messed up for safe paddling out there.

So the only photo I took on this infamous event day/night was this Full Tsunami Moon out my bedroom window.


LAVA ACTIVITY
Magma pressures beneath Halema’uma’u & Pu`u O`o crater’s has dropped considerably in the past few days, resulting in minimal views of active lava being seen either in the day or after dark. This is true for both the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park’s Kilauea pit-crater lava vent (the Halema’uma’u), as well as sightings of lava from the Hawaii County Civil Defense viewing area’s off the end of highway 130 near Kalapana.

Until a return of inflationary magma pressure within the volcano I would expect only moderate glowing of lava at either active location after dark; weather permitting. If you have never seen lava glowing colors after dark then both venues may be worth trying to see.

Nighttime glows continue at two locations

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The image above is what the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Overlook web cam captured at midnight last night: a super bright broiling lake of lave down inside that pit vent. The one below here is the same vent earlier at 9:30PM, with much less activity.


Wind directions at the Kilauea Caldera area allowed for good views of the active vent at times, but occasionally limited the enjoyment by blowing toxic fumes towards the Jaggar overlook balcony. Below is the view from Park Jaggar Museum web cam at around 10:00 PM. When you can see this much red on this cam a night you know the vent is kickin big-time.


A two-thirds full moon is lighting up the whole crater and the sulfur dioxide plume in the evening, which allows for greater photography options:

Meanwhile down on the coastal flats and pali (off the end of highway 130 near Kalapana) lava flow conditions remain much the same over the past few days: some strong lines of lava seen at a distance of three miles. Bring binoculars if possible.

After a few days of strong lava pressures deflation appears to be kicking back in:

Lava activity continues strongly at two locations

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Between bouts of mist and fog, the Halema’uma’u Crater pit vent glowed brightly; as seen in this photo I took there last night. Visitors had to have time and patience to get unveiled pit vent glow views.

Reports from the coastal flats say that after dark molten lava glow down the pali is pretty bright in places and was even burning some more vegetation along the route to the growth-less coastal flats below. The Hawaii Civil Defense’s new coastal flats observation area seems to be delivering some good, but distant, views of the molten lava. Bring binoculars if possible.

Lava continues slowly advancing towards the sea, and if the direction of this part of the flow remains the same, it will be crossing into the borders of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park soon, not that it will make much difference to viewing the lava at this point. The the overall daytime scene on the coastal plains was described in this post & photo.

Lava activity strong

I watched strong glow emanating from Halema’uma’u crater cam late last night.

Civil Defense personnel at the coastal viewing area reported a very strong new line of lava coming down the mountainside and on to the coastal flats, which was quite pronounced after dark from their new lava viewing area located on the edge of the broad coastal flats, or Pele’s playground as I like to call it.

Using one of USGS/HVO’s recent aerial images of the lower regions of new active surface lava I added some descriptive text to help explain a few things:(Click on the image for a larger size)

Deformation graphs continue recording a strong rise in magma pressures below the Kilauea Caldera and Pu`u O`U crater.

Best Lava Viewing:
After dark: Both the Halema’uma’u crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as seen from the Jaggar Museum balcony overlook - and - Hawaii County Civil Defense viewing area off the end of highway 130 near Kalapana/Kaimu .

Inflation spikes back ~ New lava viewing trail is open

The new lava path goes right through this same area that was molten in October.
The road in the photo below is now 20-feet under lava and the new path runs right overtop that.


Deformation D/I graphs registered an inflationary spike early this morning at both Kilauea and Pu`u O`o craters.
This should translate to more visual activity of lava such as a periodically stronger glow after dark inside the Halema’uma’u crater pit vent, and stronger surface lava running down the mountain side and onto the coastal flats as it heads toward the sea; especially after dark. The surface lava has not yet reached the ocean; with renewed pressures it could do so in the next week or two.

This new pali lava will be all the more visible thanks to the newly marked pathway laid out across the lava fields west of the Hawaii County trail head information booths (end of highway 130 near Kalapana/Kaimu). The new path meanders about 1600-feet across uneven raw lava and this takes us out past the tree line that had been obstructing this most recent surface flow. Also, the lava path is still warm in places because it was flowing liquid hot at the end of last October. Photos and descriptions of that surface flow are posted on my blog over several days such as this post.

Best views of of lava are after dark at both the Halema’uma’u in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Jaggar Museum balcony overlook) and the surface flow near Hawaii Counties viewing area. Bring flashlights for the new path, vendors may or may not have these available. The county Civil Defense does not provide flashlights.

Deflation slows things down

Not much new to report:

Deflation of magma under Kilauea has dimmed the lava glow we have been enjoying after dark all week.

The same deflation has reduced the active surface lava running down the mountain, which now flows partway to the sea on the coastal flats. This surface flow is inland about three miles away from the Hawaii County Viewing area, but some glow spots can e seen after dark from there. The coastal section of the surface flow is now within ½ mile of the Volcanoes National Park Boundary.

For more information on the lava and other Big Island stuff you can refer to my list of links here

NOTE added Feb. 16th {Halema’uma’u glowing strong after dark ~ Royal Gardens lava flow continues towards ocean

EDIT NOTE: I will only post updates when active lava conditions substantially change from the current posting, or if some other noteworthy event takes place. So for February 16th the following information is still appropriate today/tonight:
(Click on these images for a larger size)

Despite an obscuring mist wafting across the crater, there were moments of good views of an undulating strong glow of molten lava reflecting up into the sulfur dioxide plume at Halema’uma’u last night. I took these two photos around 10:30 PM from the Jaggar Museum balcony overlook.

Meanwhile down on the coastal lava fields near Kalapana, lava continues it’s long flow down the pali and onto flatter ground on its way towards the ocean. The after dark scenes from Hawaii County viewing area are still possible, but are greatly diminished from last weeks bright line of lava that I reported on.

This reduction in glow intensity does not mean the lava is no longer there – it indicates it is crusting over and becoming hidden within self-created lava tubes along the way. Another factor in the diminished glow is the strong deflation taking place the past few days. Deflation has ended and pressures are beginning a return to the volcano, which are bringing enhanced glow at Kilauea and will strengthen surface flows in the days just ahead.

For an excellent view of what the current surface flow of lava is really doing, click on each of the three image links below from February 12th, 2010:
USGS Aerial of Royal Gardens surface flow facing north

USGS Aerial of Royal Gardens surface flow facing southwest toward the ocean

-And USGS Aerial of Royal Gardens surface flow closer overtop

Visitor suggestion:
If you have not witnessed the Halema’uma’u Crater after dark I highly recommend checking it out this week. If you have the time, and have not yet seen the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park in the daytime, I would suggest going there in the day and exploring the area; visit the information center, arts center and Jaggar Museum for sure. Then wait until dark at the Jaggar to possibly see fiery views of what Hawaiian’s consider to be the volcano goddess Pele’s Home.