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Report on Kilauea (United States) — 14 November-20 November 2001


Kilauea

Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
14 November-20 November 2001
Managing Editor: Gari Mayberry

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2001. Report on Kilauea (United States). In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 14 November-20 November 2001. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (14 November-20 November 2001)

Kilauea

United States

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Lava continued to flow into the sea at the E Kupapa`u and Kamoamoa lava entries. The Kupapa`u entry appeared to be inactive by 18 November. Lava was mostly confined to the lava tube systems, with patches of incandescent lava visible above Pulama pali. Generally, volcanic tremor remained at low-to-moderate levels at Kilauea's summit and Pu`u `O`o. Tremor at the summit was relatively low. Tiltmeters across the volcano showed no significant deformation.

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)