Source: Volcano Discovery - 1/16/13
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Multiple ocean entry points for Kīlauea lava in December 2012. | |
Pu`u `O`o thermal webcam capture on January 16, 2013 showing lava lake overflows. | |
Halema`uma`u thermal webcam capture on January 14, 2013 showing an overflow onto the inner ledge 30m deep. | |
Halema`uma`u visible image from USGS overflight on January 10, 2013, showing lava lake rising almost to the previous 1974 crater floor. |
For most of December 2012, lava from Kīlauea was visible erupting onto the coastal plain and continued flowing over the sea-cliff into the Pacific Ocean. As each different lobe of the 0.6mi/1km wide flow reached the ocean, it created a small ocean entry for several days before losing its volume to a neighboring lava flow. This pattern continues today, with typically 3 to 6 different lava ocean entry points reported by our guides, as well as active lava flows visible just inland where they can be more safely approached. The ~5mi/8km round-trip hike takes an average person 2 hours each way, coming from the upwind and shorter direction.
There is also a big breakout of lava flows on the coastal plain closer to the base of the pali, with more vigorous action but at a farther distance for those willing and able. This activity has persisted for almost a week amidst a general pattern of inflation and more lava on the volcano over the recent month.
In fact this renewed pressure has caused the Halema`uma`u lava lake to rise within 30m/100ft of spilling onto the 1974 crater floor, close to our record high for the current eruption of 27m/89ft on October 26, 2012. Frequent cracking & booming sounds are audible from the Jaggar Overlook in the National Park, with very strong glow from dusk to dawn. Previous estimates indicate the lava lake would be directly visible from Jaggar Overlook if it rises to within 20m/65ft, so stay tuned for the inevitable!
High pressure has also played a part in a persistent lava lake present within Pu`u `O`o crater spilling out and continuing to repave the crater floor, as well as actually overflowing the eastern crater walls on several occasions during the past week! A string of clear nights on the typically cloudy side of the island has allowed views of glow from that area from a distance.
Earthquake counts are also increased as the volcano strains over the magmatic pressure, with a M4.6 widely felt across the island on January 5, 2013 at the beginning of the sequence. The summit GPS line shows a similar uptick since about the same time, leading us to speculate that once again more magma is entering the volcano from below than is leaving it from above through lava flows.
This brings us back to an increasingly common situation of wondering how the volcano will relieve this new pressure, with its options being more abundant and more vigorous lava flows, lava lakes spilling over from both craters, or a new fissure eruption in the months to come. We've already had 3 new fissures and 2 major increases in lava flows in the last 2 years, Pu`u `O`o has spilled over or out several times, and the Halema`uma`u lava lakes inches ever closer. What will happen next?? Come join us on the volcano and find out!
