Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be closed as of Thursday night due to possible explosion at Kilauea summit

By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Correction: The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be closed as of 10 p.m. Thursday (May 10) due to the new hours instituted after the 6.9 magnitude earthquake.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will close as of Friday (May 11) Thursday at 10 p.m. (May 10) due to the possibility of a steam-induced explosion and ash fall at the summit of KÄ«lauea Volcano. Halemaumau’s lava lake is lowering to the level of the water table and this combined with the continual rockfalls into Overlook Vent could create a dangerous situation of pressurized steam below these rocks.

The Kahuku Unit of the park will be open during its normal hours, Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The U.S. Geological Survey/Hawaiian Volcano Observatory explains how these explosive events occur below.

Explosive Eruptions
USGS Update

At KÄ«lauea, when the lava column drops below the water table, groundwater may come into contact with with magma or hot rocks, causing violent steam explosions.

At KÄ«lauea, when the lava column drops below the water table, groundwater may come into contact with magma or hot rocks, causing violent steam explosions.

Volcanic Activity Summary: The steady lowering of the lava lake in “Overlook crater” within HalemaÊ»umaÊ»u at the summit of KÄ«lauea Volcano has raised the potential for explosive eruptions in the coming weeks. If the lava column drops to the level of groundwater beneath KÄ«lauea Caldera, influx of water into the conduit could cause steam-driven explosions. Debris expelled during such explosions could impact the area surrounding HalemaÊ»umaÊ»u and the KÄ«lauea summit. At this time, we cannot say with certainty that explosive activity will occur, how large the explosions could be, or how long such explosive activity could continue.

Residents of the KÄ«lauea summit area should learn about the hazards of ashfall, stay informed of the status of the volcano and area closures, and review family and business emergency plans.

Resource on volcanic ash hazards: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanic_ash/

Ash column rises from the Overlook crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. HVO's interpretation is that the explosion was triggered by a rockfall from the steep walls of Overlook crater. The photograph was taken at 8:29 a.m. HST from the Jaggar Museum overlook. The explosion was short-lived. Geologists examining the ash deposits on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater found fresh lava fragments hurled from the lava lake. This explosion was not caused by the interaction of the lava lake with the water table. When the ash cleared from the crater about an hour after the explosion, geologists were able to observe the lava lake surface, which is still above the water table. Photo taken Wednesday, May 9, 2018 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Ash column rises from the Overlook crater at the summit of KÄ«lauea Volcano. HVO’s interpretation is that the explosion was triggered by a rockfall from the steep walls of Overlook crater. The photograph was taken at 8:29 a.m. HST from the Jaggar Museum overlook. The explosion was short-lived. Geologists examining the ash deposits on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater found fresh lava fragments hurled from the lava lake. This explosion was not caused by the interaction of the lava lake with the water table. When the ash cleared from the crater about an hour after the explosion, geologists were able to observe the lava lake surface, which is still above the water table. Photo taken Wednesday, May 9, 2018 courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

HAZARDS

Primary hazards of concern should this activity occur are ballistic projectiles and ashfall.

BALLISTIC PROJECTILES
During steam-driven explosions, ballistic blocks up to 2 m (yards) across could be thrown in all directions to a distance of 1 km (0.6 miles) or more. These blocks could weigh a few kilograms (pounds) to several tons.

Smaller (pebble-size) rocks could be sent several kilometers (miles) from Halemaʻumaʻu, mostly in a downwind direction.

ASHFALL
Presently, during the drawdown of the lava column, rockfalls from the steep enclosing walls of the Overlook crater vent impact the lake and produce small ash clouds. These clouds are very dilute and result in dustings of ash (particles smaller than 2 mm) downwind.

Should steam-driven explosions begin, ash clouds will rise to greater elevations above ground. Minor ashfall could occur over much wider areas, even up to several tens of miles from Halemaʻumaʻu. In 1924, ash may have reached as high as 20,000 feet above sea level. Small amounts of fine ash from these explosions fell over a wide area as far north as North Hilo (Hakalau), in lower Puna, and as far south as Waiohinu.

GAS
Gas emitted during steam-drive explosions will be mainly steam, but will include some sulfur dioxide (SO2) as well. Currently, SO2 emissions remain elevated.

WARNING TIME
Steam-driven explosions at volcanoes typically provide very little warning. Once the lava level reaches the groundwater elevation, onset of continuous ashy plumes or a sequence of violent steam-driven explosions may be the first sign that activity of concern has commenced.

BACKGROUND
KÄ«lauea’s lava lake began to drop on May 2, 2018. From its peak on May 2 to the most recent measurement at 9 pm on May 6, the lava lake surface dropped a total of more than 200 m (656 ft). The subsidence was at a relatively constant rate of about 2 meters (yards) per hour.

Measurements of subsidence have not been possible since May 6 because of thick fume and the increasing depth to the lava surface. However, thermal images indicate continued lowering of the lake surface since that time, consistent with deflationary tilt recorded at KÄ«lauea’s summit. Therefore, we infer that the lake surface continues to drop at roughly the same rate. So, while HVO cannot report exact depths of the receding lava lake, we can monitor the overall trend.

USGS and HVO scientists are monitoring changes at the summit 24/7 and watching for signs that hazardous conditions have increased or may increase. HVO is working closely with Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai’i County Civil Defense to respond to this situation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Updates on activity will be posted on the HVO website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/status.html

One Response to “Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be closed as of Thursday night due to possible explosion at Kilauea summit”

  1. jennifer masang says:

    I live in fern Acres on hibiscus st. My daughter jazz brought my attention to possibilities of danger. And to be aware if whats happening.
    My husband is not worried about the situation. I am trying to convince him , how important this is. He is in denial. Help

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