Categorized | Sci-Tech

Volcano Watch: Kilauea activity update for week of Nov. 25

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

A breakout on the coastal plain that began Wednesday, Nov. 24, reached Kalapana Gardens subdivision and destroyed one residence on Saturday, Nov. 27.

Just two days later, a vigorous breakout above the pali diverted lava out of the tube system that was supplying lava to the coast and ocean entry.

Coastal flow field activity had stalled by Tuesday, Nov. 30, as a low shield began to grow over the new breakout point above the pali. In addition, a small flow was active at the top of the pali.

At Kilauea’s summit, the circulating lava lake in the collapse pit deep within the floor of Halemaumau Crater, has been visible via Webcam throughout the past week.

The circulation pattern was interrupted sporadically by abrupt increases in the height of the lava surface. These periods of high lava level have been short-lived, lasting up to several hours, and each ended with a sudden drop of the lava surface back to its previous level.

Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, resulting in high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind.

Eight earthquakes beneath Maui, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii Islands were reported felt during the past eight days.

Five of these quakes were located in the same area about 19 km (12 miles) southwest of Makena, Maui, at a depth of 16-17 km (10 miles).

Three of these Maui earthquakes occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 23 with a magnitude of 4.7 at 6:34 p.m., 3.9 at 6:51 p.m., and 3.4 at 11:15 p.m.

Earthquakes of magnitude 2.6 occurred at 2:41 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 28 and 2.9 occurred at 4:25 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29.

A magnitude-2.3 earthquake occurred at 7:32 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010 and was located 5 km (3 miles) north of Pahala at a depth of 36 km (22 miles).

Two earthquakes occurred Monday, Nov. 29, at locations south of Kilauea summit: at 1:16 a.m., a magnitude-2.1 quake was located 4 km (2 miles) southeast and, at 4:58 a.m., a magnitude-1.7 quake, was located 1 km (1 mile) southwest.

A magnitude-2.1 earthquake occurred at 1:16 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, and was located 4 km (2 miles) southeast of Kilauea Summit at a depth of 25 km (16 miles).

A magnitude-1.7 earthquake occurred at 4:58 am Monday, Nov. 29, and was located 1 km (1 mile) southwest of Kilauea summit at a depth of 1 km (1 mile).

Visit the HVO Web site (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov) for detailed Kilauea and Mauna Loa activity updates, recent volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 

Quantcast