June 12: Halema’uma’u’s Collapse Continues

Summit:  Today’s “Type A” explosion occurred at 1:52am. It produced almost no ash this time, although there’s still light ash and SO2 coming out of the crater from time to time. The view of the continued slumping/subsidence of Halema’uma’u crater is impressive (also see Jun 9 video on Twitter):

USGS: “Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks. Ground cracks circumferential to the crater rim can be seen cutting across the parking lot (left) for the former Halema‘uma‘u visitor overlook (closed since 2008). The deepest part of Halema‘uma‘u (foreground) is now about 300 m (1,000 ft) below the crater rim. The Halema‘uma‘u crater rim and walls continue to slump inward and downward with ongoing subsidence at Kīlauea’s summit.” (Full-sized)

Fissure 8’s cluster of vents is erupting up to 160ft today. With the cinder cone that’s built up around them, they’re mostly hidden. It’s entering the ocean today along a broad front. Fissure 16/18 are spattering weakly; this is the “weak activity” reported for the past few days. Apart from that, the Lower East Rift Zone is quiet, although other fissures are still releasing gasses.

The good news is, Fissure 8’s lava flow has built up such high, broad banks that unless it overflows them, it probably won’t cover many more homes or cut off new areas. The bad news is, the lava river could still break its levees, and there’s no guarantee other fissures won’t reactivate. USGS field crews reported a “non-erupting crack” in the Lower East Rift Zone with “temperatures as high as 430°C (806°F).”

Note, however, high temps may not indicate imminent changes. USGS clarified on Facebook: “This was at Fissure 10, which has long displayed high temperatures (fortunately, no SO2 was detected). It does not mean an eruption there is imminent, but rather it is a place where various superheated gases are escaping.” Similarly, there’s been high temps at the cracks across Highway 130, which have steamed but so far not erupted at all.

USGS overflight photo, morning of June 12. Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates. I think that’s Nohea Street. (Full-sized)

Somewhat abbreviated Daily Digest today because I started late, and then took forever transcribing 11AM conference call. But the stunning pictures keep coming…

USGS Daily 1-minute video briefing

Jessica Ball (USGS) – Transcript

Glossary: “littoral explosions” from Latin Lit[t]ora, beach(es), a collective noun for seashore

USGS noted they won’t be posting an updated lava flow map for today, since it’s  the same as yesterday’s. Total coverage: 9.1 square miles, 1.4 mile wide ocean entry, and the new lava delta is 250+ acres.

More USGS Images and video

Here’s another close-up view of the tortured summit:

USGS: “A closer view of the cracks cutting across the parking lot for the former Halema‘uma‘u visitor overlook (closed since 2008, when an active vent opened within the crater). Additional photos—ground views—of the parking lot cracks were posted on June 7 and 11.” (Full-sized)

And Fissure 8’s daily beauty shots:

USGS “Fissure 8 fountains reached heights up to 160 feet overnight. Lava fragments falling from the fountains are building a cinder-and-spatter cone around the vent, with the highest part of the cone (about 125 feet high) on the downwind side. USGS image taken June 12, 2018 around 6:10 a.m. HST.” Full-sized)

I showed this photo to someone today, and she was floored by how beautiful it was. When of course, as spectacular as it is, we’ve seen even more amazing photos on less rainy/voggy days. Don’t ever start taking these views for granted, eh?

USGS: “Fissure 8 (fountain visible in distance) feeds lava into an active braided channel that flows about 8 miles (north, then east) to the ocean entry in Kapoho Bay. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:50 a.m. HST.” (Full-sized)
USGS: “Aerial view of the ocean entry at Kapoho, where a lava delta about 250 acres in size is filling the bay. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:50 a.m. HST.” (Full-sized)
USGS: “The south side of the ocean entry was most active today, with many small streams of lava and corresponding steam plumes spread along a fairly broad section of the southern part of the delta. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:13 AM.” (Full-sized)

USGS caption: “Aerial views of the ocean entry on Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone on June 12, 2018, around 6:30 a.m. HST, show multiple small lava streams spilling into the ocean along the southern portion of the lava delta in Kapoho Bay. […] The helicopter overflight traveled from north to south along the coastline. Fissure 8 is visible in the distance near the end of the video.”

11AM USGS Media Conference Call

Once again, I took so long taking notes on today’s conference call that it’s 3AM my time. But it included a fascinating Q&A session in which Janet Babb and Brian Shiro went into some detail about what’s causing the periodic summit explosions, and about their latest thinking/models. Having more instruments than scientists in 1924, they’ve found steam explosions not sufficient to explain observed data, or at least not for current event.

June 12 Thermal Map
USGS: “This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 2 pm on Tuesday, June 12. The fountain at Fissure 8 remains active, with the lava flow entering the ocean at Kapoho. Very small, weak lava flows have been active recently near the Fissure 18 area.” (Full-sized)
Interview/article with Brian Shiro (USGS)

UPDATE: Ethan Siegal, Medium magazine, “What’s Happening At Kilauea In Hawaii? 16 Questions With a Front-Line USGS Scientist” REALLY GOOD ARTICLE

Let’s Cut to the Chase

I’m gonna skip today’s social media Q&As, although USGSVolcanoes is again posting great tidbits on Twitter. Note to self: last one I posted was Kilaeua Caldera comment.

Civil Defense today was same old, same old, but Mayor Harry Kim said Leilani residents east of Pomaikai St can now call and schedule official escort to retrieve important belongings. [Clever compromise; they were having problems with people abusing the “go in and retrieve vital belongings” system to sightsee, do various non-critical activities, and/or stay overnight.]

Local News Reports
Social Media – I’m calling it a vognado

… but apparently no one else is. Phooey.

TheWeatherBoy is here to remind us of human impact and not get too carried away by images of lava. (There’s several more I skipped of what’s essentially a Twitter news report; he was escorted in with media by National Guard today.)

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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And a gallery of still photos from this overflight. (First one):

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

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