Today’s eruption summary
…Status quo continues another day.
Fissure 8 continues to do its thing (fountains up to 230 ft today), pumping a vast river of lava towards Kapoho. Its flow front is about a mile wide where it meets the ocean. USGS reported ~190 acres of new land added to Hawaii as of noon. Some or all of this may be temporary, since “lava deltas” tend to collapse.
[Above: 2 photos from Hawaii County Fire Department’s extensive videos/photos for June 8. Good to browse if you’re checking on homes in Kapoho.]
Summit activity continues to follow its geyser-like cyclical pattern. Earthquakes increased until 2:44 AM, when there was an explosion (equivalent of M5.4), after which seismicity died down. Pu’u O’o also had a small earthquake (3.2) and rockfalls today, sending up a red plume of ash. (Still hunting for photos, but it’s been reported several places.)
East and southeasterly winds sent an unpleasant amount of vog over Hilo and the Saddle. This will continue through Saturday, then tradewinds come to the rescue.
Helicopter overflight of the Kapoho Bay area on the morning of June 8, 2018, shows a flow front that is nearly a mile wide, extending south to Vacationland. #LERZ https://t.co/lRhaWdElzG pic.twitter.com/IxpU9undLT
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) June 8, 2018
Today’s Kilauea Alerts, Videos, Images, and Eruption News
HVO – Kilauea Alert – 2018-06-08 06:05:32
“At 2:44 AM HST, a small explosion occurred from Kīlauea’s summit. PTWC magnitude is 5.5, but shaking was equivalent to a ~M4 event. No radar observations*, but satellites suggest any plume is less than 10,000 feet ASL.”
*[NWS Hawaii radar broke. Waiting for replacement part, hoping to be back up by end of weekend. Plumes <10K feet are hard for satellites to detect.]
After explosion, seismic activity dropped. S02 emissions lower than early-mid May but still high enough to cause problems downwind.
Civil Defense Alerts: the usual evacuation orders, shelter notices, and volcanic hazard warnings, plus a special vog warning and reminder there’s a new air quality map one can check. (6AM |9AM (corrects curfew mistake in 6AM)| 1PM | 6PM )
Today’s Lower East Rift Zone Lava Map
USGS Map of LERZ: “Map as of 12:00 p.m. (noon) HST, June 8, 2018. The fissure 8 flow has created a lava delta approximately 190 acres in size, filling Kapoho Bay and shallow reefs along the nearby coastline.” (Full-sized)
11AM USGS conference Call
Paraphrase/excerpts (timestamps from full unabridged audio) :
ERUPTION SUMMARY by Steve Brantley, Deputy Scientist-in-Charge HVO [timestamp 02:30]: Fissure 8 eruption continues as it has 1-2 weeks. Ocean entry flow front almost a mile wide. Summit explosive event 2:44am. Followed 12-24 hrs increased seismic activity. Similar to seismic pattern of past 1-2 weeks. Accompanied by additional subsidence (10 ft) of crater floor [does he mean caldera?] right next to Halema’uma’u crater rim. Common for these events. “Downdropping as well as slumping towards Halema’uma’u.”
Q&A first question: Do you see anything in Mauna Loa’s activity to be concerned about? [09:00] Steve: Mauna Loa activity decreasing over past year, no impact whatsoever from Kilauea.
[Note: people keep badgering the USGSVolcanoes Twitter about supposed increased activity at Mauna Loa, sometimes posting an earthquake chart they claim is from Mauna Loa, but it’s actually a chart of Kilauea seismicity, which one can tell at a glance since the peaks on the graph match the times of Kilauea’s summit ash explosions. This conspiracy theory needs to die.]
Q on subsidence at Halema’uma’u [11:00]
USGS Geophysicist Ingrid Johanson: The large amount of subsidence seen at that GPS station [10 foot drop mentioned earlier] mainly related to blocks slumping into Halema’uma’u Crater. We’ve seen other blocks drop tens of meters as they’re falling in. So essentially, that was landsliding rather than deflation of summit reservoir.
Q on whether new fissures could open [19:30]. Steve says yes, although right now activity is at Fissure 8. But old fissures could reactivate, new segments/fissures could form. Added postscript about how USGS is monitoring cracks (extension, widening, temperature, steam) to watch for signs of new fissure eruptions. No change lately.
HVO/USGS Answering Questions On Twitter
Good morning Kīlauea: fissure 8 fountains to 230 ft; lava enters the ocean at Kapoho Bay and Vacationland; sunrise highlights gas plume at the summit. https://t.co/1mwIrn0yK3 pic.twitter.com/juYRFQ8aDv
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) June 8, 2018
USGS reply to why they’ve released “very few photos & other media”:
“Some of it is because of sensitivity – we’re trying our best not to release anything that shows homes burning, for example. We don’t always get appropriate broad overview photos from our field crews because they’re busy collecting data, and we can’t hassle them too much. (1/x)
“Our media team is also busy fielding calls, interviews, maintaining the website, answering social media questions, taping updates, writing reports – and we are spread from Hawai’i to Virginia. Sometimes we’re just swamped! We’re doing as much as we can at the moment. (2/x)
“We do appreciate that people are anxious to see what’s going on in the eruption, and we try to select media that gives as much information as efficiently as possible. So while we are collecting lots of photos and video, we may only post a small portion of it at one time. (3/x)
“Eventually, all of it will be archived and available to the public, but it may take some time. (4/4)
[followup to comment that other people are showing such photos.]
“It’s good these are being provided by other outlets. We have guidelines relating to showing burning homes, and it’s important for us to remain sensitive to those who have, in the past, expressed not wanting those images to be broadcast by us.”
#Kilauea Update: #LERZ #eruption continues. #Fissure8 fountains 220 ft high. Fissures 24, 9, 10 fuming heavily, but no lava on surface. #OceanEntry 1 mi wide. Winds push #vog inland over next 3 days.
2:44am HST #Halemaumau explosion w/ ash <10k ft.https://t.co/7sDZqcOJ5s pic.twitter.com/WZBcFYmmDh
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) June 8, 2018
On the Kapoho ocean entry:
“Yesterday flight conditions were difficult and there wasn’t a great deal of change in the flow front above water – we think that there’s underwater lava advance going on, but we can’t map that from photos.”
It’s “Too early to tell!” whether Cape Kumukahi will remain Hawaii’s easternmost point.
USGS overflight video of Pu’u O’o
You may be thinking of Overlook vent in #Halemaumau Crater. This is #PuuOo, which had overflowed in the past. When eruption started it was forming a perched lava pond within the crater. Photo from April 23. pic.twitter.com/6gPeJ0YCxR
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) June 8, 2018
On whether Pu’u O’o might refill:
“We really can’t tell. We can track magma movement in the shallow subsurface, and even somewhat deeper, but we don’t know if new magma from #Kilauea‘s summit reservoir will refill #PuuOo.”
And in answer to someone’s question about possible Pu’u O’o activity today:
“A rockfall and small plume of rock dust rose from the crater today. Likely it’s just caked rock dust on the lens.”
Which explains what we observed on the Pu’u O’o webcam today (and two days ago):
Articles From other Scientists
- LivesScience’s “The Science Behind Hawaii’s Surprising 2018 Volcanic Eruption” is a daily summary of the eruption through June 4, with a short paragraph and one photo for each day.
- Dr. Robin G. Andrews has been posting delightfully readable articles on Kilauea. Some articles I’ve linked to; others are geared more towards normal people who don’t obsessively check HVO webcams to see what Fissure 8 is doing. Either way, this is a fun thread which also sums up the current eruption with a few short
catgifs. - Dr. Jess Phoenix, the geologist who ran for a California congressional district but got edged out Tuesday, jumped right back into teaching with a quick Twitter thread on the current Kilauea eruption.
From Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks
5 weeks ago lava spilled onto Halema‘uma‘u Crater floor. This photo was taken 4/26/18. It’s a different story now – day 28 of the closure, dramatic changes at the summit, and that lava lake has vanished!#TBT #KilaueaEruption
Photo/NPS Volunteer Janice Wei pic.twitter.com/7xqWd2H1aX— Hawaii Volcanoes NPS (@Volcanoes_NPS) June 7, 2018
26th day of closure for the Kīlauea section of the park. Here's why, and where you can #FindYourPark in the meantime: https://t.co/h4YKUCcRBD NPS Photo. pic.twitter.com/4wJAumKchC
— Hawaii Volcanoes NPS (@Volcanoes_NPS) June 5, 2018
From Local News Outlets
- LERZ eruption news
HNN: “There are 24 fissures in Puna. Only one is spitting out 26,000 gallons of lava per second” - Vog problems today
HNN: “Thick vog on Big Island prompts health warnings”
HSA: “Vog, sulfur dioxide from Kilauea limits visibility on roads” - Puna Geothermal Ventures
HNN: “Debate underway about future of Puna geothermal plant” - Human (and nonhuman) impact
BIN: “Public Meeting ‘No Animals Left Behind,’ Sat June 9”
HSA: “Hawaii island mayor ‘positive’ as state covers county relief expenses”
BIVN (Video): “Insurance Forum Held After Homes Lost to Lava”
KITV: “Nearly 80% of Hawaii’s papaya farms destroyed by lava”
HNN: “Hundreds of evacuees turn to central hub for housing, food aid”
HSA: “Volcanic activity burns biggest economic driver for Big Island”
HSA: “Cruise line will resume Big Isle port calls”
KITV: “OHA ‘providing sincere need’ for Hawaiians affected by recent disasters”
Mileka Lincoln video reports:
#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano LATEST: An incorrect @CivilDefenseHI alert caused a lot of confusion today; #LeilaniEstates curfew only lifted for evacuees living west of Pōmaikaʻi St, not Moku St., & they can stay overnight https://t.co/B2Jite8d1D @HawaiiNewsNow #HINews pic.twitter.com/Yea5KouUby
— Mileka Lincoln (@MilekaLincoln) June 8, 2018
#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano LATEST: USGS says morning overflight reveals fissure 8 is still fountaining 220ft into the air, while fissure 24 is incandescent & fissures 24, 9 & 10 are fuming heavily https://t.co/UsOvq5PaQW @HawaiiNewsNow #HINews (Images: Brad Lewis) pic.twitter.com/cAhtTtRpIe
— Mileka Lincoln (@MilekaLincoln) June 8, 2018
More eruption-related Social Media
Vog layer on Saddle Road is smelly and nasty. The air leaves a foul taste in your mouth. #KilaueaVolcano pic.twitter.com/3PMgnU3JZu
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) June 8, 2018
There's a decent area of land in between coastal Puna lava flows where abandoned livestock & pets are gathering. From trapped cats to dogs & horses to chickens, very sad scene unfolding. We dropped off these brave people in #Pohoiki to take care of as many animals as they could. pic.twitter.com/TyBQSiP3Wj
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) June 8, 2018
As an update on this, they were succesful in helping many animals & pets today. Unfortunately, they have yet to find the 3 legged dog that went missing in the evacuation zone. Will try again at first light tomorrow. https://t.co/kPNIoS62gQ
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) June 9, 2018
See also his photo album from Nighthawk flight. First image:
Everyone is so tired.
With hurricanes & other weather we cover, its usually a quick hit & recovery efforts can happen the next day or sooner. But here at #KilaueaEruption site, there is no end in sight. Geologists, rescue workers, & even reporters growing weary into week 6. 😞 pic.twitter.com/odGjfbt4Xb— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) June 9, 2018
According to USGS, overnight lava fountaining @ Fissure 8 continue to reach heights of about 220 feet. There is no lava activity from the other fissures but Fissure 24 is incandescent and Fissures 24, 9, and 10 are fuming heavily. Photo: @extremeexposure @Paradisecopters #kilauea pic.twitter.com/0qh50YoS1a
— IG: @MalikaDudley (@MalikaDudley) June 8, 2018
Fissure 8's fountain might be at its highest point yet. #halemaumau #Hawaii #hvnp #hppa #volcano #Kilauea #lava #NEWSで妄想 #KilaueaVolcano #LeilaniEstates #BigIsland #eruption #Kapoho pic.twitter.com/dh3V7WvexA
— lavapix.com (@lavapixcom) June 8, 2018
June 7 @CopernicusEMS #Sentinel2 satellite image. #Fissure8 channelized then broad-spreading #lavaflow entering ocean at #Kapoho. #Laze plume combines with cloud layer during a rainy day. Northern margin moved into Beach Lots.
Thanks @Pierre_Markuse for stellar data processing. pic.twitter.com/tIruvKC72y
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) June 8, 2018
Kilauea lower East Rift Zone thermal map animation May 13 – June 06 2018. Locations estimated, contrast adjusted. Images from: https://t.co/kWGPdAFjZY #KilaueaErupts #hvo #lerz pic.twitter.com/FtVPzU7Xqv
— Transferrins (@Transferrins) June 9, 2018
Searching Flickr for photos tagged “Kilauea” nets some amazing images, unsurprisingly.
(by Hawaii Air National Guard)
The sky here in eastern Hawaii can be best summed up as rainbows & explosions. The juxtaposition of beautiful wonder and sad horror leaves everyone touched. #KilaueaEruption pic.twitter.com/VmemQ3WYUz
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) June 9, 2018