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Report on Kilauea (United States) — 23 July-29 July 2008


Kilauea

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 23 July-29 July 2008
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2008. Report on Kilauea (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 23 July-29 July 2008. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (23 July-29 July 2008)

Kilauea

United States

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Based on visual observations from HVO geologists, video footage, and web camera views, HVO reported that during 23-29 July, lava flowed SE through a lava tube system from underneath Kilauea's Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) and rootless shield complex to the Waikupanaha ocean entry. A bench collapse at the ocean entry occurred on 22 July. Pu'u 'O'o crater incandescence originated from vents on the crater floor and was reflected in a gas plume emitted from a vent on the E wall. A surface lava flow was seen behind the coastal bench on 28 July. The sulfur dioxide emission rate at Pu'u 'O'o was high at 4,700 and 5,400 tonnes per day on 24 and 26 July, respectively; the average background rate is about 2,000 tonnes per day.

During the reporting period, Kilauea earthquakes were variously located beneath Halema'uma'u crater, along the Koa'e fault system, beneath Makaopuhi crater, along the S-flank faults, and along the SW rift zone. Beneath Halema'uma'u crater, another 20-60 small earthquakes per day also occurred but were too small to be located more precisely. The vent in the crater continued to produce a white plume with minor ash content that drifted mainly SW. Night-time incandescence was seen at the base of the plume. Rock-clattering sounds were heard in the vicinity of Halema'uma'u crater. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was high and between 600 and 800 tonnes per day, during 24-26 July. The pre-2008 background rate was 150-200 tonnes per day. On 26 July, incandescent material was ejected from the vent in Halema'uma'u crater.

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.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)