Logo link to homepage

Report on Kilauea (United States) — May 1992


Kilauea

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 17, no. 5 (May 1992)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.

Kilauea (United States) Lava production from episode-51 vent interrupted by brief pauses; lava lake in nearby crater

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1992. Report on Kilauea (United States) (McClelland, L., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 17:5. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199205-332010



Kilauea

United States

19.421°N, 155.287°W; summit elev. 1222 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Lava production at the E-51 vent halted on 28 April. Shallow long-period (LPC-A type, 3-5 Hz) microearthquake counts declined for a few days, then increased to > 200 events daily between the mornings of 1-3 May. During the interval of eruptive quiet, the small lava lake in Pu`u `O`o crater rose until it spilled onto the crater floor on 3 May.

The lava lake was still overflowing when activity resumed at the E-51 vent the next day. Channelized lava flows covered much of the S flank of the E-51 shield between 4 and 22 May, many forming tubes that extended to the shield's base. Flows emerged from the tubes under enough pressure to create dome fountains at their heads. Some ponding occurred at the base of the shield before flows advanced S and E. The perched lava pond on the E-51 shield fed large overflows as well as small aa flows on the shield's NW flank. The pond level fluctuated, dropping as much as 15 m below the rim when the eruption paused again on 22 May.

Shallow long-period (LPC-B type, 1-3 Hz) microearthquake rates were nearly 100/day 8-11 May, declined for a few days, then increased again 15-21 May, peaking on the 17th when 442 were detected. As these events declined, an increase in LPC-A types was noted. The amplitude of eruption tremor remained low, then abruptly dropped to near background on 22 May at about 1300.

The eruption resumed on 27 May, for the first time re-occupying tubes formed during the previous active period. Activity paused again on 29 May, resuming on 2 June, again using the same tubes on the S flank of the shield.

The lava lake in Pu`u `O`o remained active throughout May. Its level fluctuated between 35 and 70 m below the crater rim, periodically overflowing onto the crater floor. Collapses of the crater walls and floor left the lake with a smaller diameter, against the E crater wall.

Geological Summary. Kilauea overlaps the E flank of the massive Mauna Loa shield volcano in the island of Hawaii. Eruptions are prominent in Polynesian legends; written documentation since 1820 records frequent summit and flank lava flow eruptions interspersed with periods of long-term lava lake activity at Halemaumau crater in the summit caldera until 1924. The 3 x 5 km caldera was formed in several stages about 1,500 years ago and during the 18th century; eruptions have also originated from the lengthy East and Southwest rift zones, which extend to the ocean in both directions. About 90% of the surface of the basaltic shield volcano is formed of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the surface is younger than 600 years. The long-term eruption from the East rift zone between 1983 and 2018 produced lava flows covering more than 100 km2, destroyed hundreds of houses, and added new coastline.

Information Contacts: T. Mattox and P. Okubo, HVO.