(Activity updates are written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.) 

Surface flows in the Royal Gardens subdivision slowed early in the week in response to a deflation-inflation (DI) event at Kilauea’s summit last weekend. 

The flows had picked up again by mid-week, but another DI event, which began late Wednesday, July 8, will have likely caused the flows to slow or stagnate again by this weekend. At the coast, the Waikupanaha and Kupapau ocean entries fluctuated in response to the DI events but remain active as of this writing (Thursday, July 9).

The vent at Kilauea’s summit was dark and quiet all week, producing only a very small quantity of rock dust from frequent small collapses of the vent walls. The plume has been thin and wispy, and volcanic gas emissions have been relatively low. They are, however, still elevated above background levels, resulting in high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind. 

One earthquake beneath Hawaii Island was reported felt this past week. 

A magnitude-2.8 earthquake occurred at 9:58 a.m. Friday, July 3 and was located 4 miles northwest of Pohakuloa at a depth of  22 miles.

Visit the HVO Website (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov) for detailed Kilauea and Mauna Loa activity updates, recent volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.