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.

Outside links to Kilauea Volcano activity ~ Blogger on a break

I will be unavailable for posting first hand accounts of our lava activity or any other reporting for a few days. Below I have listed various links for daily updates for the volcano, as well as weather & surf conditions.

USGS/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory update status page. This great site contains a nice summary of current volcano conditions.
Across the top of that page are prime links to their other websites:
Deformation (DI/Deflation-Inflation graphs),

latest volcano images,

Timelapse movies,

flow field maps,

Webcams (day or night)

Other Links:

Recent Earthquakes on Big Island,

USGS/HVO sulfur dioxide emissions map update,

National Weather Service Honolulu

Hawaii surf conditions and alerts

Hawaii radar loop showing rain shower activity.

Infrared vapor loop Hawaii

Northeast Pacific water vapor imagery

Other links are located on the bottom right side of the blog,

Aloha,
Leigh

Deflation returns ~ Surface flows continue

As the graph above reveals, deflation returned within the magma chambers beneath Kilauea crater and Pu`u O`o at 5:30 PM yesterday.

The USGS/HVO map of recent earthquakes on the Big Island continues recording lots of small tremors; some possibly related to the onset of magma deflation:

For an in-depth report for the volcano you can read through today’s USGS/HVO report here. They talk about rock falls within the Halema’uma’u crater pit vent and related earthquakes, as well as their take on the eruptive zones and sulfur dioxide emission rates, etc.

I was unavailable for any first-hand accounts last night, or for posting this blog at my usual 10 to 11:00 AM time this morning. In fact I may be less & less available to write this blog in the days and weeks ahead because I am starting on some other projects that will use up a lot of energy and time. One of those projects is a large photo assignment I have given myself… But I will try to keep posting a little bit of lava activity and other news as often as possible, or at least provide outside links for some information as I did above.

I did get one report from a friend who is a vendor at the county viewing area and he said the lava glow coming down the pali had diminished somewhat from the night before. Added to his report and the current deflationary stage we are now into, we could see an even further reduction in visible lava-glow activity at night in the days ahead.

The Halema’uma’u has still been displaying some variable pit vent glow after dark, as seen from the Jaggar Museum overlook lanai.

Lava activity strong at Halema’uma’u and surface eruption flow

(Click on the image for a larger size)

A woman holds her camera up to capture the Halema’uma’u Crater at dusk last night from the Jaggar Museum overlook balcony. I stitched together the USGS/HVO Jaggar cam’s three images. Clicking on this link will take you to the cam to see what’s happening there right now.

Hawai’i Volcano Observatory’s update this morning reported , “ The glow, visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook, was the brightest since January 19, 2010.”

Deformation graphs are showing a holding pattern for the magma pressure uder the volcano. This is good news for those wanting to view lava activity after dark at either Halema’uma’u Crater in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or out at the Hawaii County lava viewing area at the end of highway 130 near Kalapana. (Bring binoculars if possible)

More small eathquakes under Kilauea Volcano and the local rift zones:

Increased activity down the pali ~ Unidentified object in sky over lava flow

(Click on image for a larger size)

Above is a comparison of the surface flow of lava coming down the pali on the night-before-last and last night; as viewed from the Hawaii County viewing area trailhead. Last night’s line of lava flowing down the pali was much brighter than the previous night; likely do to the increased magma inflation below the Kilauea volcano over the past two days.

Okay, now on to the other photo I took last night (below)… I took only two photos of the pali surface flow last night, and only a couple minutes apart: This one below is the first of the two, and when I got home and reviewed them I immediately saw his very odd aberration in the sky above the burning forest and rivers of molten lava… and I continue to be puzzled as to what it actually is and/or, what caused it. If you have any ideas I would love to hear from you! (Click on image for a larger size)

Below is the current deformation monitor graphs showing continued inflation at both Halema’uma’u & Pu`u O`o craters.

Summary and projection:

Molten lava has been flowing for several miles down the mountainside for the past week or more, and has become much more active and visible after nightfall. The lava is a mix of pahoehoe and A`a and is also burning all vegetation along its path, terminating onto the coastal lava plain below the pali (cliffs). Field reports confirm the lava is slowly proceeding onto the coastal plain.

Views of the lava down the pali can be seen from the last mile of highway 130 near Kalapana, as well as within the Hawaii County lava viewing designated area. (The County is completing a new view trail and viewing area this week. This area will have a good vantage point for the current flow).

Halema’uma’u crater pit vent has been glowing after dark and can be viewed from the Jaggar Museum lanai all night. Sulfur dioxide fumes pushed by changing winds can sometimes ruin the outlook view, and are not good to be breathing.

The UGS/HVO deformation monitor graphs above are demonstrating a slowing or even a possible reversal of the last two days of inflation. In the past, a switch to deflation has reduced the Halema’uma’u after-dark glow, as well as reducing the intensity of the visible lava on the pali. This lessening of lava movement & volume sometimes takes a few days to be pronounced on the pali surface flows.

So if you are wanting to witness either of these molten lava events, tonight and tomorrow might be better than the days to follow – IF – deflation of magma returns, which is not quite known yet. (If you are reading this late in the day or on the 9th, then click on the deformation link above for a refreshed look at the graphs).

If visiting the coastal lava viewing area, bring binoculars if you can.