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More information on Kilauea...

USGS Volcano Status Messages:
Pagan Weekly Update issued Sep 3, 2010 05:12 ChST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
Details...

USGS Kilauea Webcam

Tropical Cyclone

Kilauea Volcano, Halema'uma'u Crater


Map by J. Johnson, 2000
Simplified map of Kilauea Volcano showing the summit caldera, southwest and east rift zones, Pu`u `O`o, roads, and several communities located on the volcano's flanks. From USGS

Halema`uma`u gas plume becomes ash-laden.
Halema`uma`u gas plume becomes ash-laden. March 24, 2008 Photo by M. Sako (Photo from USGS)

Infrared Satellite image - click for loop
Infrared Satellite image - click for loop


Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes, but it is of the sort that tends to ooze lava more often than it explodes. Until March 19, 2008, the last explosive eruption from the Halema'uma'u Crater, the summit crater, occurred in 1924. But starting on March 19, a small explosion from the crater rained rock and ash over the summit. The explosion heralded further activity at the summit, including a two to four fold increase in the amount of sulfur dioxide seeping from the volcano. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory warned on March 28 that sulfur dioxide concentrations in the air downwind from the volcano were likely to be hazardous, particularly to children or those with asthma or other breathing difficulties. Even before the March 19 explosion, elevated sulfur dioxide levels prompted the National Park Service to close part of Crater Rim Drive starting in mid-February.

Current Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Conditions from National Park Service


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Recent Volcano Observatory Activity Reports from USGS


Pagan Weekly Update issued Sep 3, 2010 05:12 ChST Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
Volcanic unrest continues at Pagan Volcano. Clouds obscured satellite views of Pagan for most of the past week, though a weak steam and gas plume was observed during clear periods. Pagan is not monitored with ground-based geophysical instrumentation and the only source of information is satellite observation and occasional reports from observers who visit the island. We will continue to evaluate satellite imagery and on-island reports when they become available, but because the volcano is not monitored with ground-based instruments, we cannot provide advanced warning of ... Details...

Cleveland Status Report issued Sep 2, 2010 10:57 AKDT Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
Thermal anomalies continue to be detected at Cleveland Volcano in satellite images yesterday afternoon. The volcano was cloudy in satellite views last night. No other activity has been reported. AVO continues to monitor the volcano using satellite imagery. Without a real-time seismic network at Cleveland, AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest. Low-level ash emissions at Cleveland occur frequently and do not necessarily mean a larger eruption is imminent. Short-lived explosions with ash clouds or plumes that could exceed 20,000 ft above sea level ... Details...

Kilauea Daily Update issued Sep 2, 2010 07:40 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: DI inflation started yesterday evening while Kilauea eruptive activity continued at two locations. In the east rift zone, lava flowed from the TEB vent through tubes to supply one ocean entry and no surface flows in Kalapana. The summit eruptive vent within Halema`uma`u Crater hosted a lava pond that produced red glow visible from the Jaggar Museum overnight. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the summit and east rift zone vents remained elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeter network recorded the switch to DI ... Details...

Cleveland Status Report issued Sep 1, 2010 12:28 AKDT Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY - Aviation Color Code YELLOW
Thermal anomalies continue to be detected at Cleveland Volcano in satellite images last night. No other activity has been reported. AVO continues to monitor the volcano using satellite imagery. Without a real-time seismic network at Cleveland, AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest. Low-level ash emissions at Cleveland occur frequently and do not necessarily mean a larger eruption is imminent. Short-lived explosions with ash clouds or plumes that could exceed 20,000 ft above sea level can occur without warning and may go undetected on satellite ... Details...

Kilauea Daily Update issued Sep 1, 2010 07:40 HST Volcano Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE
Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Another DI deflation started yesterday evening while Kilauea eruptive activity continued at two locations. In the east rift zone, lava flowed from the TEB vent through tubes to supply one ocean entry and no surface flows in Kalapana. The summit eruptive vent within Halema`uma`u Crater hosted a lava pond that produced red glow visible from the Jaggar Museum overnight. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the summit and east rift zone vents remained elevated. Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tiltmeter network recorded the start of DI ... Details...