Kilauea on Warning, Aviation Code Red
Posted by JAC on 3/6/2011, 9:03 am

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php



Recent Kilauea Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (CAVW #1302-01-)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Previous Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Current Aviation Color Code: RED
Previous Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Saturday, March 5, 2011, 5:39 PM HST (20110306/0339Z)
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2011/H1
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: HI Hawaii and Pacific Ocean

Volcanic Activity Summary: At 1:42 p.m. this afternoon, HVO instruments indicated the onset of rapid deflation at Pu'u '' and increased tremor along Klauea's middle east rift zone. At 2:00 p.m., Klauea's summit began to deflate.

Between 2:16 and 2:21 p.m., the floor of the Pu'u '' crater began to collapse, and within 10 minutes, incandescent ring fractures opened on the crater floor a few tens of meters away from the crater wall. As the floor continued to drop, lava appeared in the center of the crater floor, the NE spatter cone collapsed, and an obvious scarp developed on the west side of the crater floor, with lava cascading over the scarp toward the center of the crater.

At 2:41 p.m., the scarp on the west side of the crater floor appeared to disintegrate, exposing incandescent rubble, and the lava in the center of the crater enlarged.

At 2:46 p.m., the collapse of a large block along the east crater wall produced a dust plume and the lava continued to enlarge.

Webcam images showed that the Pu'u '' crater floor continued to drop through 4:26 p.m., when fume obscured the camera view.

Coincident with the collapse, an earthquake swarm began along Klauea's middle east rift zone in the area of Maka`opuhi and Npau craters. Tiltmeters in this area show continued deflation.

At 5:15 p.m., an HVO geologist flying over Klauea's middle east zone reported "an eruption in Napau Crater." When more is known about this eruption, an updated status report will be posted.

Klauea's summit continues to deflate. The lava lake level within the Halema'uma'u Crater vent continues to drop, facilitating rockfalls from the vent wall.

Daily updates on Kilauea's ongoing eruptions (summit and east rift zone) will be posted each morning. These will be supplemented by additional status reports and updates as warranted.

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano are available at

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] Unknown
[Other volcanic cloud information] Unknown

Contacts: HVO media contact
askHVO@usgs.gov

Next Notice: A new VAN will be issued if conditions change significantly or alert levels are modified. While a VAN is in effect, regularly scheduled updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
57
In this thread:
IMPRESSIVE LAVA FOOTAGE: New VOLCANIC FISSURE opens in Hawaii - March 6, 2011 - JAC, 3/6/2011, 8:54 am
< Return to the front page of the: message board | monthly archive this page is in
Post A Reply
This thread has been archived and can no longer receive replies.