May 21: Daily Roundup, Fire & Water Edition

Mick Kalber’s daily helicopter flyover includes some intense views of the rivers of lava heading into the ocean, and the big complex of fountains— 20? 22? we’re starting to lose track— that have dominated the Lava Livestream With Rooster for the last several days.

May 21 Fissure Map (USGS Maps page)

The USGS thermal scan is very informative, too: an infrared satellite detects heat sources (the whiter the image, the hotter it is), and USGS then overlays it on a daylight satellite image of same area. Result, accurate map of where the main flows are, even when they crust over so the lava inside is hidden:

May 21 Heat map of today’s flows (USGS Maps page)

Below the cut: a digest of the day’s eruption news, USGS updates (summarized), and striking social media images and video clips like this:

USGS/HVO Updates:

[From Hawaii Civil Defense] Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that an explosive eruption at Kilauea summit has occurred at 5:51 PM. The resulting ash plume may affect surrounding areas.

HVO Photo & Video Chronology has great photos, including aerial photos, accompanying a field report of the day’s eruption activities.

Short clip, dramatic flyover of Fissure 20/22 fountains (not sure which, or if they’ve merged) early morning:

Video clip of Fissure 22 complex, 8:50AM:

Small detail that doesn’t affect anything except pedantic viewers of CivilBeat’s Lava Livestream (i.e. “The one with the rooster”) — USGS has started calling the biggest fountain of the cluster Fissure 22 instead of fissure 20 (which is to its left). Above clip says that at this time F22 was ~150 feet tall.

USGS Caption: “By the end of the afternoon, only a single ocean entry was active. The lava channel originates from fissure 22. This photo was taken during a late afternoon overflight of the lower East Rift Zone, Kīlauea Volcano.”

Excerpts from 4PM USGS Daily Update:

Moderate-level eruption of lava continues from multiple points along the northeast end of the active fissure system. Residents in lower Puna should remain informed and heed Hawaii County Civil Defense closures, warnings, and messages (http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts)

[USGS update cont’d] Fissure 22 is erupting a short line of low lava fountains that feed a channelized flow that reaches the coast just north of MacKenzie State Park. Spattering continues from a reactivated Fissures 6 that intermittently feeds a short lava flow. Fissures 17 and 19 continue weak spattering.

[USGS update cont’d] Volcanic gas emissions have tripled as a result of the voluminous eruptions from Fissure 20 so SO2 concentrations are likely elevated to higher levels throughout the area downwind of the vents. Moderate trade winds today means that areas downwind of Kilauea gas emission sources may experience varying levels of vog. For forecast information, please see: http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/vmap/hysplit/

For other information about vog, please see:https://vog.ivhhn.org/

[USGS update cont’d] One explosive eruption of ash occurred at about 1 am this morning. Several smaller ash emissions have also taken place and produced abundant ash. Additional explosions possible at any time. Seismic levels, which abruptly decreased after the recent explosive eruptions, are again slowly increasing. At this time, based on HVO web cameras, a robust plume of gas and steam is billowing out of the Overlook vent and drifting generally southwest

Roundup of Other Scientists:

Digest of Today’s BigIslandVideoNews:

Vid1: May 19 Interview with USGS scientist Carolyn Parcheta. With good footage from Friday (Fissure 17) and Friday night.

Summary: She’s worried about people being trapped. On Friday, Fissure 20 flow built a pond, south levee broke, suddenly flooded around east side of Lanipuna Gardens. At first, it flowed 400meter/hr (a little less than 0.5mi/hr.) She’s worried about officials having time to warn people when something like that happens so quickly. Most fissures uprift have stopped, but could start again.

Vid 2: Interview with admin of Hawaii Emergency Management Agency on attempts to quench/cap geothermao wells. 10 of 11 quenched; none capped yet; attempts will be made tomorrow (Tuesday).

Vid3: Civil Defense Daily update: (Text on civil defense website.) Includes evacuation and road block notices for Lower Puna/LERZ.

Vid4: USGS evening eruption update with Jim Kauahikaua.

Summary/notes on his talk:

  1. Persnickety discussion of fissure numbers. The big tall fountain in the cluster (up ia 130m/430ft high). I can’t tell anymore whether it’s 20 or the new one, 22.  17, 19 weakly spattering; rest quiet.
  2.  The Lower East Rift Zone is beginning to stabilize, no longer inflating, and the rate of earthquakes slowing. There are still smaller infusions of lava coming.
  3. This is still early part of eruption. “Usually in an eruption the first two or three days, the eruption rate is quite high, then it will tail off. So I think this was just a sort of long ‘pre-eruption’ before we got to the really voluminous stuff.”
  4. Fissure 22 is sending lava flow south to ocean, but also building “perched ponds” (explanation in video) on n. that are encroaching on property line of geothermal plant.
  5. The ground under Highway 130 is very hot, although still no SO2 detected.
  6. Summit had 1AM explosive eruption, cloud up to 7000 feet, small ash eruptions during day.
  7. Scientists are using drones with lidar, which will help with volume estimate.

[smbed]https://twitter.com/KeraunosObs/status/998219019240067073[/embed]

Above photo: For those watching CivilBeat’s lava livestream (below), the camera is in one of the houses near that white mast (pole from which power line is suspended?)

HawaiiNewsNow Digest:

They have a “latest news” eruption page they keep updating, with news, dramatic pictures, video clips. News tidbits: Fissure 17 still sputtering up to 150ft. At least 22 fissures now, although not all active. Fissure 20 sending up 200-foot fountains overnight. Air quality (SO2) continues to cause problems for residents of Puna. ER visits spiking due to toxic emissions, including in Kohala 100 miles downwind. Video spot/article on Kua O Ka La Charter School having to evacuate equipment due to threat of lava lobe headed there in 1-2 days.

HNN 1 minute Monday eruption update video says explosions at Halema’uma’u continue (good clip of billowing ash cloud). Multiple fissures erupt, lava entering sea (good video of “toxic fumes” laze cloud). Lava encroaches on geothermal plant but stalled.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Video clip with footage of “perched lava pond” overflowing onto edge of Geothermal plant (See also accompanying news clip/report):

 

Other Miscellaneous News Articles

HNN Reporter Mileka Lincoln

has brief video reports on lava flow progress on her instagram, plus clips her crew filmed for her TV spots. A few of today’s:

#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano LATEST: Mesmerizing images of the pāhoehoe flow entering the ocean after crossing Highway 137 northeast of MacKenzie State Park and southwest of Isaac Hale Beach Park. Getting a closer look comes with risk — according to Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency officials, one of those hazards is laze — which is formed when hot lava hits the ocean sending hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles into the air. Laze can cause significant harm to a person’s respiratory system in addition to being an eye and skin irritant. Officials also warn newly formed lava deltas or existing cliffs could collapse at a moment’s notice and they caution there is the potential for localized tsunamis along the coastline and out to sea. The United States Coast Guard has established a safety zone that encompasses all waters extending 300 meters — or about 1,000 feet — in all directions around the entry of the lava flow into the ocean for all mariners without prior limited entry approval, like permitted lava tour boat operators. Highway 137 is closed between Kamaʻili Road and Pohoʻiki Road. Kamaʻili Road is closed to all through traffic. Stay tuned to @HawaiiNewsNow for the very latest developments #HInews #HawaiiNews #HNN #HawaiiNewsNow #WeAreYourSource (Video: @johnkaponocarter)

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#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano UPDATE (May 21 at 12:30 PM): Puna Geothermal Venture officials confirm that despite contrary reports there is no lava flow on their plant site — though they are closely monitoring a small flow that broke off of fissure 22 that appeared to be heading northwest toward their property line, but has since stalled. According to USGS HVO geologists — fissures 6, 8 and 21 all showed some "incandescence", but have quieted. Fissure 20 is also no longer active, as it appears the magma once feeding it has shifted to fissure 22 instead — which is now the main fountain of the lower East Rift Zone system that is producing the lava flow entering the ocean in two places at Pohoiki northeast of MacKenzie State Park and southwest of Isaac Hale Beach Park. USGS says the path of the pāhoehoe flows into the ocean have changed a bit and they will soon be releasing a new map. Experts say fissure 20's old and new magma are mixing and causing a change in composition, which they are analyzing in their lab. The hole they spotted downrift from fissure 20 yesterday is no longer filling with lava since the activity at fissure 20 has died off — but fissure 19 is now active again and being watched. USGS says fissure 17 is still just splattering and not advancing — however it continues to release violent gas explosions. They say the latest hazard is methane explosions that are occurring from areas of vegetation being covered by lava. At the summit of the Kīlauea Volcano, HVO scientists say last night's summit explosion sent an ash cloud about 10,000 feet above sea level. They say between 2 – 4 AM there have been frequent emissions of ash. Rocks continue to fall within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater causing additional explosions and they are expected to continue. Stay tuned to @HawaiiNewsNow for the very latest developments #HInews #HawaiiNews #HNN #HawaiiNewsNow #WeAreYourSource

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#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano LATEST (May 20 at 1:45 PM): You’ve seen the images of the lava flow entering the water off Pohoʻiki from an area known as Mālama Flats — northeast of MacKenzie State Park and southwest of Isaac Hale Beach Park — but here’s what the lava looks like where it crosses Highway 137 south of mile marker 13 after traveling 3.8 miles from fissure 20. USGS HVO scientists say sulfur dioxide emissions have tripled in the area. Highway 137 is closed between Kamaʻili Road and Pohoʻiki Road. Kamaʻili Road is closed to all through traffic. The Department of Water Supply says an emergency water restriction is still in effect for customers between Kapoho and Pohoʻiki. The flow that has crossed Pohoʻiki Road cut off water supply to residents. Two water tankers are providing public drinking water access to residents and visitors in Vacationland and Kapoho Beach Lots. HELCO advises residents in the down rift of the flow to be aware of downed power lines. Always assume the power lines are active and exercise extreme caution. Stay tuned to @HawaiiNewsNow for the very latest developments #HInews #HawaiiNews #HNN #HawaiiNewsNow #WeAreYourSource

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#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano PUNA GEOTHERMAL VENTURE UPDATE (May 21 at 5:15 PM): New video from on the ground shows the lobe that broke off of fissure 22 and is heading toward the Puna Geothermal Venture plant site. Officials with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency say if lava interacts with PGV’s wells, it could trigger the deadly release of hydrogen sulfide. After contradictory statements earlier today, Puna Geothermal Venture officials are now confirming that there is a lava flow on PGV property — however, they clarify that it is not on their plant site. According to PGV spokesperson Mike Kaleikini, PGV leases 815 acres of land in Puna and uses 40 acres of it for the geothermal plant. Kaleikini says there is lava on the 815 acres of property the company is leasing — but NOT within the perimeter or boundary of the 40 acres they use to operate their plant. Kaleikini says the flow front from a lobe that has broken off of fissure is now 100 meters away from the plant site, but has stalled. Officials say a berm is currently preventing it from flowing into or over any equipment. According to Mike Kaleikini, plant personnel have been working around the clock to finish “quenching” the six wells on site. Officials describe quenching as the procedure they follow to “kill” the wells by pumping cold water into the wells prior to plugging them. Kaleikini says the quenching process is not complete, but in various stages and at least one well has proven to be problematic. According to PGV officials, KS14 resisted both fresh and salt water being injected into the well in an effort to kill the heat and pressure — reportedly because it had access to a great deal more heat than it had prior. PGV officials say worst-case scenario would be a blow-out of a well, if the well head was sheared off — but they say they believe the lava itself would probably prevent a violent blow out of the pressure. Stay tuned to @HawaiiNewsNow for the very latest developments #HInews #HawaiiNews #HNN #HawaiiNewsNow #WeAreYourSource

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#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano #HappeningNow (May 20 at 12 PM): Two lava flows have crossed Highway 137 and are pouring magma into the ocean at Pohoʻiki near Mālama Flats, northeast of MacKenzie State Park and southwest of Isaac Hale Beach Park. USGS HVO scientists say sulfur dioxide emissions have tripled in the area where two lava flows have made contact with ocean water. According to the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense alert that was just released: “Be aware of the laze hazard and stay away from any ocean plume. Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean sending hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles into the air. The U.S. Coast Guard is actively monitoring the area. Only permitted tour boats are allowed in the area. Be aware that the laze plume travels with the wind and can change direction without warning. Health risks are present both landside and on the water. Due to hazardous conditions from lava and fires, the following policies are in effect: Highway 137 is closed between Kamaʻili Road and Pohoʻiki Road. Kamaʻili Road is closed to all through traffic. The Department of Water Supply says an emergency water restriction is still in effect for customers between Kapoho and Pohoʻiki. The flow that has crossed Pohoʻiki Road cut off water supply to residents. Two water tankers are providing public drinking water access to residents and visitors in Vacationland and Kapoho Beach Lots. HELCO advises residents in the down rift of the flow to be aware of downed power lines. Always assume the power lines are active and exercise extreme caution.” Stay tuned to @HawaiiNewsNow for the very latest developments #HInews #HawaiiNews #HNN #HawaiiNewsNow #WeAreYourSource (Video: @JohnKaponoCarter)

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Also here’s a gorgeous one from Saturday morning before dawn: