Geologists in the field on Friday, December 29, found active lava breakouts roughly 330 m (0.2 mile) out from the base of Pūlama Pali, and approximately 2.9 km (1.8 miles) from the emergency road. As these pāhoehoe fingers reached the edge of a ground crack, lava cascaded over a meter (yard) down. Photo taken Friday, December 29, 2017 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Just a few minutes after the initial lava cascades began, a large section of the pāhoehoe crust broke away, exposing the molten center of the flow. Lava quickly poured from the flow as it filled in the ground crack. This surface flow, which was near the base of the pali, was fed by the episode 61g breakouts that burned and covered most of a large kipuka over the past few weeks. A few remnants of the kipuka are visible on the pali in the background. Photo taken Friday, December 29, 2017 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

A telephoto image of lava pouring from the center of a pāhoehoe flow. As molten lava flowed out from beneath the solidified pāhoehoe surface, the new flow quickly formed a new crust, changing colors from bright orange to shiny silver as the lava started to solidify. Photo taken Friday, December 29, 2017 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Video of the December 29, 2017, pāhoehoe breakout on the coastal plain. USGS/HVO Video

Time-lapse movie of Halemaumau Overlook Vent. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO

Time-lapse movie of Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook Vent from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO

Time-lapse movie of KÄ«lauea Caldera from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO

Time-lapse movie of Halemaumau Crater looking Southwest. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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

This past week, Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake level fluctuated with summit inflation and deflation, ranging about 28–48 m (92–157 ft) below the vent rim. On the East Rift Zone, the 61g lava flow remained active downslope of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, with scattered breakouts on the pali and coastal plain, but no ocean entry. The 61g flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Rates of deformation and seismicity remain above long-term background levels, but rates are decreased from earlier in the year. Similar decreases have occurred in the past during the ongoing period of unrest; it is uncertain if these lower rates will persist or will pick up again in the near future. Small-magnitude earthquakes occurred beneath the summit caldera and upper Southwest Rift Zone at depths less than 5 km (3 mi). A few deeper earthquakes were scattered beneath the volcano’s southeast and west flanks at depths of 5‒20 km (3‒12 mi). GPS and InSAR measurements continue to show deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone. No significant changes in volcanic gas emissions were measured.

No earthquakes were reported felt on the Island of Hawaiʻi this past week.

Time-lapse movie of Pu’u ‘O’o Crater. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO

Time-lapse movie from a camera positioned on the southeast flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, looking toward the active flow advancing to the southeast. The breakout point is at the left edge of the image, and the mid-field skyline at the right is roughly coincident with the top of the pali. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO

Time-lapse image movie from a research camera positioned on Holei Pali, looking east towards Lava Flow 61G and Kalapana. December 28, 2017 to January 4, 2018. Images courtesy of USGS/HVO