HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 4:47 PM

KILAUEA VOLCANO
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Kalapana Update

Lava from the TEB vent is flowing through tubes that carry lava down-slope to feed active surface flows in two locations on the coastal plain:

Lava continues to move eastward toward Kalapana Gardens, advancing at most about 100 m (330 ft) in the past 24 hours. Lava is creeping into remaining kipuka at the western edge of the subdivision, and the flow front is 75 m (250 ft) from the nearest structure.

Activity observed this afternoon is less vigorous than that observed yesterday, and the eastward advance of lava appears to have slowed.

Lava is still entering the ocean, forming a delta that continues to grow. About 500 m (550 yards) east of this ocean entry, another flow overtopped the Hakuma horst, and, as of noon today, this lava was about 20 m (65 ft) from the ocean.

Minor scattered lava flows also remain active about 1 km (0.6 mi) west and upslope of the Hwy 137 flow.

Public Access Information: Kalapana Gardens is a private subdivision and access will only be granted to subdivision residents. Private property borders highway 130 through Kalapana and no one is allowed access off the highway easement. Police will be monitoring the area.

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php