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Report on Kilauea (United States) — 13 June-19 June 2007


Kilauea

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 June-19 June 2007
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2007. Report on Kilauea (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 June-19 June 2007. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (13 June-19 June 2007)

Kilauea

United States

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


During 13-19 June, lava from Kilauea flowed SE across a growing lava delta into the ocean at the Poupou entry. On 14 June, the Petunia flow went over the top of the Pulama pali. On 16 June, the front of the Petunia flow advanced down the Pulama pali and was about 90-180 m wide.

On 17 June, a swarm of earthquakes and rapid deflation began at 0215 in the upper E rift zone. The earthquakes were centered about 1 km SW of Mauna Ulu and about 1.5-3 km deep. About 70 earthquakes were recorded in the first 2 hours; at least 10 of those earthquakes were M 3 or greater. NPS crews evacuated visitors and closed the Chain of Craters road and the Crater Rim Drive between Jaggar museum and the Thurston lava tube parking lot. Fresh cracks about 2 cm wide opened in the Chain of Craters road near the Mauna Ulu turnoff. GPS receivers in the area of most intense seismic activity documented an approximate 10 cm of widening across the rift zone, near Makaopuhi crater. HVO observers noted rockfalls from the S wall of Pu'u 'O'o cone and collapse of the crater floor around the vents.

On 18 June, the earthquake swarm continued at a lower rate; about 10 to 15 small earthquakes per hour were recorded compared to more than about 100 per hour the morning of 17 June. Strong tremor beneath the summit was recorded and deflation continued. GPS receivers continued to show widening across the rift zone to more than 40 cm. According to a news article, Crater Rim drive and a few trails were re-opened to the public.

On 18 June, the earthquake swarm continued at a lower rate; about 10 to 15 small earthquakes per hour were recorded compared to more than about 100 per hour the morning of 17 June. Strong tremor beneath the summit was recorded and deflation continued. GPS receivers continued to show widening across the rift zone to more than 40 cm. According to a news article, Crater Rim drive and a few trails were re-opened to the public.

Seismicity decreased on 20 June and GPS receivers no longer showed extension on the rift zone. Aerial views of the crater floor and SW flank indicated more subsidence since 18 June.

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.

Sources: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), Associated Press