On March 3, 2011, the lava lake inside the Halemaumau Crater vent at the summit of Kilauea Volcano rose to within 230 feet of the vent rim, the highest level observed thus far in the ongoing summit eruption. (USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory photo courtesy of Tim Orr)

MEDIA RELEASE

While the recent fanfare of lava fountains and flows on Kilauea’s east rift garnered worldwide attention, not to be overlooked is the volcano’s “other eruption.”

March 19, 2011 marks the third anniversary of the ongoing eruption within Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

In early March, the summit lava lake rose to within 230 feet of the vent’s rim. However, during the short-lived east rift eruption, the lake drained from view, buried by rubble.

By March 14, the lava lake was again visible, very deep within the vent. Today, the lava lake is crusted over, with molten lava once again out of sight. Clearly, the only constant is change.

Scientists of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) closely monitor the summit vent. They collect the strands and droplets of glass that rain down around the vent, calculate the depth and breadth of the lava lake, and measure sulfur dioxide emission rates.

HVO also provides daily updates at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov and focuses webcams on the eruption at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cam.

Throughout the day and into evening, visitors and staff gather and watch the ash-laden plume waft skyward, its direction determined by the whim of wind. Unpredictably, glow from the vent waxes and wanes. Dim glow reflects a crusted over lava lake; brighter glow tells of a lake agitated by rockfalls and bursts of spatter.

The summit eruption continues. We commemorate an anniversary not to be overlooked, a third year milestone not forgotten.

(USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory photo courtesy of Tim Orr)