Today’s Eruption Summary:
Status quo continues, with Fissure 8 feeding a large, fast-flowing channel to the ocean, where it’s entering on the south side of the lava delta today. Upstream along the river, there’s occasional spillovers, but these never travel far from the levees. Top speeds on June 18 were measured at 20mph, by the way. Fissures 6 and 16 have reverted to fuming. (I see no white speck left of Fissure 8 on the LERZ webcam [correction: it’s back at 9:45pm]). Today’s summit explosion occurred at 4:22am (5.3ish), with a minor ash plume rising 6,000 feet above sea level (2000 feet above Kilauea).
Saying Goodbye (At Least For Now)
USGS image taken June 18, 2018.”
Today’s big news was confirmation that Jaggar Museum has evacuated its exhibits:
Dramatic changes are taking place at the summit of Kīlauea. Yesterday we had to remove the artifacts from Jaggar Museum, which has endured considerable earthquake damage over the last few weeks. Learn more about our collection: https://t.co/ouVJu1E3jo#KilaueaErupts#Kilauea pic.twitter.com/BtmvCVooPJ
— Hawaii Volcanoes NPS (@Volcanoes_NPS) June 20, 2018
Hawaii Volcanoes NPS: “The cracks on the floor are from earthquake damage. Structural damage from the quakes may have already compromised the building. The observation deck has a new and noticeable tilt. The bigger worry is the increasing and dangerous instability of the crater rim under the building.”
Meanwhile, HVO staff is “making arrangements to remove as much archival and historical material as possible from the buildings,” They’re so busy monitoring this eruption that I think they may need to hire movers:
HVO staff visit the observatory to assess earthquake and subsidence damage: cracks, buckling, books tossed from shelves. Scientists working from temporary digs at UH-Hilo. https://t.co/bzZaUAkYUI pic.twitter.com/2e15vcWpbq
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) June 21, 2018
Outside, it’s time to bid farewell to the old Halema’uma’u overlook & parking lot:
