Magma pressure flat lines ~ The Hawaiian Hot-spot ~ Vog… again

Deformation graphs are displaying new territory: a virtually total lack of magma pressure. If this were a heartbeat monitor we would be hearing that dreaded sustained tone of a flat-lining patient. But of course this is Pele and she has been creating island after island right here at this location for an estimated 80-million years and is not likely to stop anytime soon.

The Hawaiian Hotspot (Excerpts from my new lava photography book being published now):
The Hawaiian Hotspot is a weak section within the Earths mantle that allows magma to plume, or slice the Earth’s crust. The islands of Hawai'i are riding atop the Pacific Plate: the oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Plate is the seafloor and in Hawai'i it is constantly moving in a northwesterly direction at an average of 49 miles per million years (about 3 or 4 inches per year).

As the Pacific Plate moves along, the hotspot has formed landmass after landmass - creating this chain of islands named the Hawaiian Archipelago. The Hawaiian Archipelago is a volcanic ridge of islands and atolls approximately 1,600 miles long. When we include the underwater portion of this contiguous chain of ridges it is then named the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain and the length becomes nearly 3,600 miles, and many millions of years in the making.

Here, under my house, under this Big Island, the Hawaiian hotspot is permanently stationed. Oddly, the location of this upwelling of magma through the mantle does not change; it does not move off with its northwesterly parade of islands. Instead it continually slices like a laser of inner molten earth up into, and through, the Pacific Plate itself. This nearly continuous pluming of magma slowly creates underwater volcanoes that can eventually reach the ocean’s surface at up to 19,000 feet above the seafloor - just as the Big Island has - thus forming the next island in the chain.

From the perspective of humans and linear time, this birthing of islands is a very long and drawn out process. The Hawaiian hot spot has been building islands, atolls and seamounts for about 80 million years. The spectacularly sculptured-by-time Na Pali Coast Mountains of Kauai, our eldest island neighbor situated 250 miles to the northwest, were formed on this very hot spot about 5 million years ago. Only 3,000 feet below the ocean surface a new seamount volcano is erupting just offshore 26 miles south of my home and is already named Lo'ihi… the next Hawaiian Island…


Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s (HVO) Jaggar webcam reveals the lack of wind this morning I am also seeing here at my house; and with it, the widespread vog in all directions.

Reports from the active lava flow fields as viewed from the end of highway 130, the Hawaii County viewing area, are bleak. Only a few small, glowing, lava spots could be seen on the pali far away; likely a result of the surface lava being reduce by this current deflationary stage.

Bottomed-out deflation ~ Kilauea GPS observation ~ Pit Vent video

The deformation graphs reveal deflation has leveled out at a very low range (-7 to -9).
As expected, these low magma pressures are manifesting as a lessening of eruptive lava from the Pu`u O`u fissure field and corresponding surface flows of molten lava makai (toward the sea) of there. Reports from those looking mauka (inland) from the Kalapana Gardens area after dark last night confirm a lessoning of surface lava in the areas I photographed and posted yesterday.

The five days of strong inflation of magma that was recorded between January 15 & 20th was strong enough to also be registered on the USGS GPS graphs (scroll down on that site to see it).
The above chart is an interesting record provided by USGS and is their Global Positioning System (GPS) that is graphing the change in distance between two stations located on opposite ides of Kīlauea's caldera. A rapid increase in distance can be interpreted as inflation of the summit magma reservoir. This graphs is from today, and note the two up-tics; one in July 2008 and the other right now – both indicate rapid and strong inflation.
July 2008 was when we had some of the most intense lava explosions entering the ocean at Waikupanaha. Below are two images I took from the County viewing area on July 14&17th 2008:

And Static lighting flashing inside the plume July 17th, 2008:


And a zoomed in shot the same night:
I wonder if this pronounced up-tic on the GPS graph indicates what we were watching, until the 20th -- the strong surface flows of lava this week -- was the beginning of a similar episode of extra strong eruption with the potential of the dramatic results we witnessed during July’s 2008 episode. The new surface flows of molten lava came downhill fairly fast and in several areas of the mountain at once. Deflation has ended, for now, the chance to know for sure how those flows would play out.

Video: Shot from a helicopter January 7th & 13th, this Quicktime movie clip, using a thermal camera, shows the entire floor of the Halema`uma`u vent and the spectacular lava movement. USGS:“The first half of the video shows observations on January 7, when a dome fountain on the floor of the vent cavity was feeding a wide, vigorously flowing lava stream towards the north. The second half of the video shows observations on January 13, at which point the lava stream had disappeared and two degassing holes were active.”

Lava activity within the Kilauea Crater pit vent has also lessened; glow from there last night was greatly diminished from previous nights this past week.

Waikupanaha lava ocean entry over? ~ Major deflation

Setting moon and stars hover above the broad crest of the pali as molten lava moves into view. I took this photo, and the ones below, yesterday and last night from the end of highway 130 - the trailhead to the Hawaii County lava viewing area. My added text in the photos should help identify what we are seeing. (Click on the photos to see a larger size)





Major deflation of magma pressures below the Halema’uma’u & Pu`u O`o craters began just after I posted my blog yesterday. In the past a drop of pressure this strong is what severed the ocean entry of lava at Waikupanaha a couple weeks ago. So we will likely see a slowing of these new surface flows shown in my photos.

While I was out at the viewing area I spoke with Civil Defense personnel and they reported seeing a 30-second long puff of steam shoot up along the shore out front by Waikupanaha. And again, a few hours later another short-lived plume puff was seen further west on the shoreline near Kupap`u. These two ocean entries, particularly Waikupanaha, have been actively depositing molten lava into the sea since March 6th, 2008 – were these two steam puffs their dying display? … Perhaps.

But--- from my lanai this morning I could see a fuzzy steam plume out that way. It did not last long and I am eighteen miles away so I phoned Blue Hawaiian Helicopter tours, who had just flown over this area an hour ago, and they reported seeing some light steam and ocean water decolorizing near the Kupapa`u area AND a narrow surface flow of lava about a mile inland from there…. What they are seeing may be an overnight extension of the surface flow in my photos above.

An earthquake near Pahala on Monday, 18th has been upgraded to a magnitude 4.3. The U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated that the 1:01 p.m. temblor on the south flank of Mauna Loa was a 3.8. It was felt across most of the island, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Here is the sunset over the Hawaii County viewing area trailhead last night:

Two surface lava flows appear on pali – East & west of Royal Gardens

Lava from the "TEB" (Thanksgiving Eve breakout lava flow November 21st, 2007) vent flows through the upper tube system and feeds surface flows above the pali.

We have been watching the leading edge of an advancing surface flow of lava high up the mountain above the Kalapana terminus of highway 130 for the past three days. Visually, this flow appears to be above and to the west edge of the old Royal Gardens subdivision; miles away and seen only as lava glow off clouds and lately forest can be seen flaring up into flames. Last night while looking at this flow we still could not see the lava itself, but almost.

As I was leaving the end of 130 at 10:00 PM last night I glanced back up the mountain and was totally surprised to see molten lava appearing on the crest of the pali - far east of the other tree-burning flow to the west.
I will let the text on these photos detail these two flows:(Click on any image for a larger size)







The deformation graph shown below shows a continued gradual deflation of magma pressures below Kilauea. The pressures appear to still be strong enough to keep lava pouring out the eruption vents near Pu`u O`o:

Strong glow was visible again from the Jaggar Museum Overlook overnight (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). This strong glow was recorded by webcam from locations on the floor of Pu`u `O`o crater overnight. USGS reports the broiling molten lava surface within the crater pit vent rose to its highest level in at least a year.



3.8 quake near Pahala Monday, January 18, 2010 at 1:01:35 PM (HST)

Molten lava burning forest west of Royal Gardens –heading toward the sea

The photo above I took last night from the Hawaii County viewing area trailhead at 10:00 PM. Low clouds reflect molten lava glow above the new surface flow erupting from the Pu`u O`o site, and the yellow areas are burning forests.

The intensity and length of the glow indicate a large and hot surface flow of lava. The image below is a photo I took in December showing the fuming line of lava tubes running down the pali (cliffs). The tubes were, at that time, carrying lava to Waikupanaha where it poured into the ocean. I am using this image to indicate where I believe the present surface flow is located on the mountain; where the forest was burning last night:

Those gathered at the trailhead witnessed large fireballs of yellow flames as the lava burned through remnant forest high atop the pali. The lava significantly advanced seaward during the six hours I was there. Another measurement was the difference between the lava cloud-glow image I posted two days ago compared with the one at the top of the page above. If this new surface continues to be pressurized from the magma reservoirs beneath Kilauea, we should be able to visually see surface lava flowing down the distant pali tonight after dark (about thee miles away).

I spoke with island visitors at the Hawaii County viewing area last night who had earlier in the evening reported enjoying a strong lava glow within the Halema’uma’u Crater
and were afterwards watching in awe as the new surface flow ignited kipuka (remnants from past lava flows) forests and lit the clouds into the red orbs shown on my opening photo of this posting.

Deformation tiltmeters are currently recording deflation of magma at both Halema’uma’u and Pu`u O`o, but doing so a gradual rate; there appears to still be a strong pressure remaining and pushing lava out the eruption site:

Code Purple at the HVM Park ~ Lava erupting at Pu`u O`o downrift fissures

Gates to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Kilauea Volcano entrance were locked early this morning due to very high sulfur dioxide emissions reaching hazardous levels of over 5.0 ppm SO2 levels within the park and beyond. Hawaii Civil Defense announced warnings about this over the radio as well.
The air in the park has since cleared somewhat and may be open now.

Park staff contributed this photo of a vogged-out Halema’uma’u at dawn this morning:

USGS Hawaiian Observatory Update: Lava from the TEB vent flowed through the upper tube system and fed at least two surface flows but was apparently not getting beyond that to the pali and coastal plain. MODIS images recorded prominent thermal anomalies centered at the 520 m (1,700 ft) elevation yesterday afternoon. CD officials reported glow above the pali yesterday evening but no activity below. Webcams picked up at least two surface flows emerging from the tube above the top of the pali overnight. GOES-WEST imagery recorded a strong thermal anomaly through dawn.

So it seems there are continued surface flows at the Pu`u O`o eruption site but this lava is far from any accessible viewpoints at this time. In the past year this eruption site has ceased then resumed flowing from this location and has reentered the established lava tubes that carry the lava to the ocean. But with this cessation period the lava has stopped flowing through these tubes for over a week now; it is possible they have become blocked. These new surface flows are, at present, being driven by a higher than normal pressure and could possibly bypass the lower section of the old tubes and come over the top of the pali and down the mountain towards the sea at a more rapid rate than we have seen since the start of this Waikupanaha entry began in February-March 2008. It would be an exciting show to witness again if it does that!… Meanwhile we have to sit back and wait to see what Pele decides to do.

Here is how those rivers looked last year:




The deformation graphs continue show a strong overall magma pressure that has leveled off and deflated a little overnight:

Magma pressure strong ~ Halema’uma’u glows brightly again ~ Very high surf warning

After dark last night I was standing on the trailhead of the Hawaii County lava-viewing-area (at the Kalapana end of highway 130) to survey for any molten lava activity. There was none to be seen other than this fuzzy red lava glow reflecting off the mauka clouds far up the pali towards the Pu`u O`o eruption site, as this photo I took shows: Yep that was it; not much to see.

Reports from web cams up on the mountain, and from pilots, describe some hot & active surface flows of lava. If these new flows are reaching and reclaiming the pre-existing lava tube system, it is yet to be seen down slope from there.

Inflationary pressures beneath Kilauea Caldera, including the Pu`u O`o crater remain quit elevated at this time, though the Halema’uma’u pressure has leveled off, as shown of this mornings deformation graph:

Last night I watched the three cams that aim at the active vents: two aimed at Halema’uma’u and one at Pu`u O`o. All three were showing very bright lava glows late into the night. Below are two captures from the Halema’uma’u cams: A broiling lake of molten lava.

The more distant cam view from the Jaggar Museum.

Volcanoes Observatory reports that a possible rock fall subdued the crater pit vent at around 1:40 AM but glow returned afterwards.

National Weather Service out of Honolulu has posted a high surf warning affecting all islands: In brief: ”… A STORM FAR NORTHWEST OF THE ISLANDS WILL BRING A VERY LARGE...LONG PERIOD NORTHWEST SWELL TO THE ISLANDS LATER TODAY. THIS DANGEROUS SWELL IS EXPECTED TO LAST AT LEAST THROUGH MONDAY. …. SURF ALONG NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF KAUAI AND NIIHAU AND NORTH FACING SHORES OF OAHU MOLOKAI AND MAUI WILL RISE RAPIDLY THIS AFTERNOON...REACHING 30 TO 40 FEET TONIGHT AND SUNDAY.

SURF ALONG WEST FACING SHORES OF OAHU AND MOLOKAI WILL RISE RAPIDLY THIS AFTERNOON....REACHING 15 TO 25 FEET TONIGHT AND SUNDAY.