June 11: Summit Hiccups, Ocean Entry Upwelling

Fissure8’s “three closely space fountains” are starting to climb down, reported at 115-130 feet last night, and “fluctuating heights from below the 115 ft high spatter cone around it up to 180 feet” this afternoon. But its lava flow is still full to its banks, entering the ocean in Kapoho with minor steam explosions. “Weak lava activity” was spotted at fissure 16/18 last night.

USGS: “The three closely spaced lava fountains at fissure 8 reached maximum heights of 115-130 feet overnight. Lava fragments falling from the fountains are building a cinder-and-spatter cone around the erupting vent, with the bulk of the fragments falling on the downwind side of the cone. Fissure 8 continues to feed a channelized lava flow that reaches the ocean at Kapoho.” (Full-sized)

Last night, Kilauea’s summit hiccuped: there was a small explosion at 12:46am, after which, seismicity did not drop off until after another, larger explosion at 4:43am like the ones we’ve seen lately (registered as M5.4).

USGS: “A series of wide-angle webcam images, captured by a camera in HVO’s observation tower between June 1 and June 10, 2018, show ongoing subsidence around Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea in this animated GIF.” (Full-sized)

Since Saturday, Fissure 8’s gas emissions have been much higher than last week, whereas summit SO2 is half what it was before the current eruption. (I’m not sure why HVO’s Kilauea alerts report “volcanic gasses” for one and only SO2 for the other.)

(The “Lava Livestream” house is still safe, if marooned, near white mast): 

USGS: “Aerial view of the fissure 8 lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone in the vicinity of the Kapoho cone, with fissure 8 fountains visible in the distance (upper left). Helicopter overflights of the eruption site are routinely scheduled to check for any new outbreaks of lava and to collect GPS data on the active flow—information that’s needed to make the flow field maps that are posted on HVO’s website” (Full-sized)

Here’s a double feature from Mick Kalber’s daily overflights— below is his June 11 lava video, but I missed his June 10 flyover vid and lava update notes.

Below the cut: more great images, overflight vids, and some interesting USGS answers to questions on social media.

MAPS: LOWER EAST RIFT ZONE, SUMMIT

 

 

 

June 11, 3pm Lower East Rift Zone lava flows map. (Full-sized)

Photogrammetry (below)– there’s a technology I didn’t even know existed. (Although on reflection, I should have. It’s basically taking enough photos from enough angles/distances for computers to convert visual reference points into a 3D model.)

USGS: “A photogrammetry survey of Kīlauea’s summit by the U.S. Department of Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ (UAS) Kīlauea response team show the topography of Halema‘uma‘u as of June 8. Cracks through the former overlook parking lot (bottom of image) wrap around the east margin of Halema‘uma‘u; the once-popular overlook viewing area (closed since 2008 due to volcanic hazards associated with the former summit lava lake) has collapsed into the crater. New faulting and slumping are obvious on the crater’s west side (left). The depth of the crater has increased by roughly 250 meters (820 feet) since early May” (Full-sized)
USGS Daily 1 minute briefing

Jessica Ball’s back on the ball (transcript)! She’s recapping Kilauea’s morning status report, which I basically did above.

HVO/usgs on Social Media

I’m going to try to summarize/consolidate some @USGSVolcanoes replies to make this section shorter, more readable (I hope).

USGS On Kilauea’s Summit Explosions

Internally, USGS has been calling the larger (~M5) explosions “Type A.” “To be classified as such, our scientists see four distinct geophysical signals: seismic, infrasound, tilt, and GPS.” After each “Type A” explosion, they see more slumping of the crater walls. The most recent measurement of Halema’uma’u is about 1.8km (1.1miles) across, “nearly twice as large as it was before May 17.”

“The M5+ events are not true fault-rupture earthquakes – instead they signal the explosive release of pressure, which builds up beneath rubble pile in the summit #Halemaumau vent. Yes – pattern is pretty recurrent, about 1/day.”

Question:  “We are not experiencing ‘steam-driven’ explosion, is this correct? and if so, when did they actually start? this is a good thing right?”

USGS answer: “Explosions started on May 17. We are experiencing explosions, which we once attributed to only steam. However after reviewing many different sets of data, including gas measurements of the plume from summit, we noticed that there is still magma involved somewhat. Current hypothesis is that pressure is building up behind the pile of rock rubble in the vent, which is released pretty regularly (~1/day) as the recordable ~M5 pressure releases.”

USGS: “This ‘warped-curb’ crack, the largest in the parking area for the former Halema‘uma‘u overlook (closed since 2008), is one of many that have sliced the parking area into slices. Ballistics (blocks of solid rock) strewn across the area are visible in the foreground. Loose, dislodged blocks along this crack have not moved in at least the past 30 hours. This photo was taken today (June 11); additional photos and information about this area were posted on June 7.This ‘warped-curb’ crack, the largest in the parking area for the former Halema‘uma‘u overlook (closed since 2008), is one of many that have sliced the parking area into slices. Ballistics (blocks of solid rock) strewn across the area are visible in the foreground. Loose, dislodged blocks along this crack have not moved in at least the past 30 hours. This photo was taken today (June 11); additional photos and information about this area were posted on June 7.” (Full-sized)

And there’s still one brave scientist on duty at the summit, holed up at Volcano House:

USGS:”We have a single scientist stationed there to monitor for the different type of activity, including explosive events, that occur at the summit. Volcano House is far more safe than HVO these days.”

Photo below obviously taken from Volcano House (there was a photo with better lighting from this spot a few days ago).

USGS: “OVernight, there were two explosions at the volcano’s summit. The first, smaller event occurred at 12:46 AM. Following this event, seismicity did not significantly drop off and a second explosion occurred at 4:43 AM. This event was larger than the first and was more typical of the size of events that have been occurring at the summit over the past week. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halema`uma`u continues in response to ongoing subsidence at the summit.” (Full-sized)

USGS on Fissure 8 / Lower East Rift Zone:

Some stats on Fissure 8: It’s erupted ~113 million cubic meters of lava so far. The levees on that channel are “at least 30 feet” tall. The lava in the channel is flowing 5-8m/s (11-16mph), slower at the flow fronts.

In response to a couple questions about whether Kilauea’s summit might be going extinct, with its “primary outlet” shifting to the LERZ:

“Not possible because of orientation of magma storage regions. Summit will be summit (like other Hawaiian volcanoes, e.g. Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea). is being fed by rift zone dike.”

USGS: “Well, the primary outlet was in the East Rift Zone at for 35 years. That vanished on April 30. Yet to see how long the will last, but history tells us the pathway for magma from summit gets blocked eventually.”

Caption for this vid: “Field crews conduct a helicopter overflight of the braided lava channel in Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone on June 11, 2018, around 6:30 AM, looking for spillovers. The three closely spaced lava fountains at Fissure 8 continue to feed a channelized flow trending north and then east to the ocean entry at Kapoho. Very minor spillovers are occurring at multiple places along the channel but have uniformly been short lived and are not threatening areas that were not previously covered by lava.”

USGS: “Past fissure eruptions have lasted from weeks to months… hopefully we will not reach the point of it lasting years.”

USGS on Lava Ocean Entry

USGS: “Lava has filled Kapoho Bay, building a new lava delta that is now about 250 acres in size. This aerial view of the ocean entry looks to the southwest.” (Full-sized)

USGS overflight video of ocean entry, June 11: 

Q: Why are explosions happening in that one spot? A: “It is a location where pahoehoe is flowing into the ocean instead of a’a. A’a is usually crusted over and transfers less heat in the moment when it comes into contact with the water, while pahoehoe is more fluid and molten and transfers more heat (= more energy for explosions.)”

I somehow missed the June 1 “USGS Groundwater News and Highlights” newsletter, discussing groundwater in the current summit explosions.

Hawaii Civil Defense / Other AgencIES

The standard evacuation announcements and volcanic hazard warnings today. 6AM | 12PM | 6PM | Resource: Live Air Quality Monitoring

No new overflight vids/images today,  but a reminder that their June 10 album  is worth browsing.

USGS AT 3pM PRESS CONFERENCE

This is the same press conference at which Mayor Harry Kim and FEMA spoke today. I wrote a transcript, but it’s a bit long, so I’ve put it in a separate post.

He summarizes the usual summit and LERZ activity, but goes into much more detail about the subsidence and collapse of Halema’uma’u, about the “upwelling” just offshore of where the lava’s entering the ocean and apparently traveling along the ocean floor, and about gas/SO2 emissions.  (Again, full transcript here)

From other scientists

From Hawaii News Outlets
HawaiiNewsNow reporters on social media:

#LeilaniEstatesEruption #KilaueaVolcano LATEST (June 11 at 12:45 PM): New pictures & video taken over the lower East Rift Zone today by @AndrewRichardHara — one of the hardest working most humble photographers in Hawaiʻi, who like so many others has committed all his time, energy & resources to covering this event for the people of Hawaiʻi mostly without pay and ALWAYS at no cost to @HawaiiNewsNow so that we can help keep this community we love informed! USGS HVO reports the #Fissure8 flow front along the coast in Kapoho is now about a mile wide and the lava delta that’s been created is about 250 acres. According to geologists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: “The three closely spaced lava fountains at Fissure 8 are erupting with a slightly lower maximum heights of 115-130 feet. Lava continues to be fed into the channelized flow trending north and then east to a single ocean entry at Kapoho. Weak lava activity at Fissures 16/18 was observed last night. This morning's overflight confirms that fountaining continues at Fissure 8 and that its channel is nearly full with no spillovers. Minor steam explosions were observed at the ocean entry. Overnight, there were two explosions at the volcano's summit. The first, smaller event occurred at 12:46 AM. Following this event, seismicity did not significantly drop off and a second explosion occurred at 4:43 AM. This event was larger than the first and was more typical of the size of events that have been occurring at the summit over the past week. Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues in response to ongoing subsidence at the summit. Sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano's summit have dropped to levels that are about half those measured prior to the onset of the current episode of eruptive activity. This gas and minor amounts of ash are being transported downwind, with small bursts of ash and gas accompanying intermittent explosive activity.” Stay tuned to @HawaiiNewsNow for the very latest developments #HInews #HawaiiNews #HNN #HawaiiNewsNow #WeAreYourSource

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Social Media Roundup

First photo of a slideshow, click the rest to see:

20180611 @ 11:30 – 12:30 HST Eruption Overflight . Lava channels continued to flow with little disruption from Fissure 8 in Leilani Estates down to the shores of Kapoho ocean entry. Fissure 8 fountained at varying heights ~50-100ft (at 12:00 HST) while the northeastern flank of F8 continued to channel a wide river of lava downhill with high SO2 gas and smoke concentrations in air and on the ground. Islands of kipuka continue to appear within massive channels of lava continuing to converge and diverge downhill toward Kapoho. Many streets have become unrecognizable due to the output of eruptive volume throughout these five weeks of activity. Lava continued to follow Highway 132, turning east at the edges of Noni Farms and Papaya Farms, toward and around Kapoho Cone, entering shorelines of Kapoho and Wai’opae Tidepools. Kapoho ocean entry continues to birth new land, completely changing the landscape and terrain with an incredible about of a’a, laze, and marine particulate within the nearby vicinity of the growing delta. No animals or evacuees were spotted during our overflight, a big plus. . All areas that I have documented throughout this eruptive series have been through approved with legal access. Please kokua and do not attempt to trespass in areas unless official approval has been granted. The majority of my efforts are without pay and all expenses are out of pocket. The content shared is being shared without cost to our local news networks for community awareness and support. Some footage does help to pay a very small portion of my expenses. . My respect and best wishes go out to the neighborhood of Leilani Estates, Lanipuna Gardens, and the areas within and between Kapoho. My heart especially goes out to all of my friends who have lost their homes in this fissure eruption. I am at a loss for words. _____ #leilaniestates #eruption #bigisland #helicopter #hawaii #aerial #volcano #lanipunagardens @hawaiitribuneherald @hawaiinewsnow @natgeo

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Part I of II : 20180611 @ 11:30 – 12:30 HST Eruption Overflight . Lava channels continued to flow with little disruption from Fissure 8 in Leilani Estates down to the shores of Kapoho ocean entry. Fissure 8 fountained at varying heights ~50-100ft (at 12:00 HST) while the northeastern flank of F8 continued to channel a wide river of lava downhill with high SO2 gas and smoke concentrations in air and on the ground. Islands of kipuka continue to appear within massive channels of lava continuing to converge and diverge downhill toward Kapoho. Many streets have become unrecognizable due to the output of eruptive volume throughout these five weeks of activity. Lava continued to follow Highway 132, turning east at the edges of Noni Farms and Papaya Farms, toward and around Kapoho Cone, entering shorelines of Kapoho and Wai’opae Tidepools. Kapoho ocean entry continues to birth new land, completely changing the landscape and terrain with an incredible about of a’a, laze, and marine particulate within the nearby vicinity of the growing delta. No animals or evacuees were spotted during our overflight, a big plus. . All areas that I have documented throughout this eruptive series have been through approved with legal access. Please kokua and do not attempt to trespass in areas unless official approval has been granted. The majority of my efforts are without pay and all expenses are out of pocket. The content shared is being shared without cost to our local news networks for community awareness and support. Some footage does help to pay a very small portion of my expenses. . My respect and best wishes go out to the neighborhood of Leilani Estates, Lanipuna Gardens, and the areas within and between Kapoho. My heart especially goes out to all of my friends who have lost their homes in this fissure eruption. I am at a loss for words. _____ #leilaniestates #eruption #bigisland #helicopter #hawaii #aerial #volcano #lanipunagardens @hawaiitribuneherald @hawaiinewsnow @natgeo

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Part II of II : 20180611 @ 11:30 – 12:30 HST Eruption Overflight . Lava channels continued to flow with little disruption from Fissure 8 in Leilani Estates down to the shores of Kapoho ocean entry. Fissure 8 fountained at varying heights ~50-100ft (at 12:00 HST) while the northeastern flank of F8 continued to channel a wide river of lava downhill with high SO2 gas and smoke concentrations in air and on the ground. Islands of kipuka continue to appear within massive channels of lava continuing to converge and diverge downhill toward Kapoho. Many streets have become unrecognizable due to the output of eruptive volume throughout these five weeks of activity. Lava continued to follow Highway 132, turning east at the edges of Noni Farms and Papaya Farms, toward and around Kapoho Cone, entering shorelines of Kapoho and Wai’opae Tidepools. Kapoho ocean entry continues to birth new land, completely changing the landscape and terrain with an incredible about of a’a, laze, and marine particulate within the nearby vicinity of the growing delta. No animals or evacuees were spotted during our overflight, a big plus. . All areas that I have documented throughout this eruptive series have been through approved with legal access. Please kokua and do not attempt to trespass in areas unless official approval has been granted. The majority of my efforts are without pay and all expenses are out of pocket. The content shared is being shared without cost to our local news networks for community awareness and support. Some footage does help to pay a very small portion of my expenses. . My respect and best wishes go out to the neighborhood of Leilani Estates, Lanipuna Gardens, and the areas within and between Kapoho. My heart especially goes out to all of my friends who have lost their homes in this fissure eruption. I am at a loss for words. _____ #leilaniestates #eruption #bigisland #helicopter #hawaii #aerial #volcano #lanipunagardens @hawaiitribuneherald @hawaiinewsnow @natgeo

A post shared by Andrew Richard Hara (@andrewrichardhara) on

theWeatherboy seems to have gone into Leilani Estates today with Civil Defense (I’m not sure whether this is for his meteorology research— I know he was bringing a full kit for that, because he took a photo of his gear— or as part of animal rescue efforts in which he seems to be involved).

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