Report on Kilauea (United States) — 2 June-8 June 2010
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 2 June-8 June 2010
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2010. Report on Kilauea (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 2 June-8 June 2010. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Kilauea
United States
19.421°N, 155.287°W; summit elev. 1222 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
During 2-8 June HVO reported that activity at Kilauea continued from the summit and the east rift zone. At the summit, the level of the circulating, crusting, and bubbling lava-pool surface remained mostly stable in the deep pit inset within the floor of Halema'uma'u crater; glow from the vent was visible. A plume from the vent drifted SW, dropping small amounts of ash and spatter downwind.
At the east rift zone, lava flows that broke out of the TEB lava-tube system at 580 m elevation built up rootless shields. Minor surface lava flows from the shields were active on the pali and the coastal plain. Lava stopped flowing into the ocean at the Ki entry sometime during 2-3 June. The Pu'u 'O'o' web camera recorded a growing and circulating lava pond on the crater floor that on 5 June was an estimated 300 x 125 m in dimension. A small spattering cone was seen on the floor to the N of the pond.
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)