UPDATE – (10:50 a.m.) – The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the beginning of Episode 33 lava fountaining “is most likely today or tomorrow at the latest”, although it could still be delayed if current conditions change.
From an Observatory update posted on Thursday morning at 9:22 a.m. HST:
The Uēkahuna tiltmeter (UWD) has recorded approximately 22.5 microradians of inflationary tilt since episode 32 ended, and inflation has leveled off this morning. Overnight the magma column has been rising and falling in the vent in cycles (gas pistoning), which has been common in the build up to lava fountaining episodes. Dome fountains up to 10-20 feet (3-6 meters) accompanied filling and overflowing of the vent, drainback was marked by energetic bursts of gas that sent spatter 15-30 feet (5-10 meters) high and landed on the outside of the cone. These gas piston cycles have been occurring every ten minutes, producing small episodic lava flows covering the western crater floor. Vigorous gas pistoning continues this morning.
Elevated degassing continues from the vent. Average sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates during inter-episode pauses are typically 1,200 to 1,500 t/d, though emission rates vary on short timescales in association with gas pistoning.
Strands of volcanic glass known as Pele’s hair are present throughout the summit area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and surrounding communities and can be remobilized by wind even after lava fountaining has ceased.
USGS webcam shows a lava overflow from the north vent on Thursday
FIRST REPORT
(BIVN) – Episode 33 in the ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is in its precursory phase, as cyclic gas piston events with sizable overflows have been occurring at the north vent throughout the night.
The USGS Volcano Alert Level for Kīlauea is at WATCH.
Overnight, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory noted intermittent high dome fountains at the vent; one event had particularly large bubble-like bursts sending spatter 15-30 feet onto the outside of the north cone. “These overflows are vigorous and indicate degassed lava is being cleared from the vent,” the scientists wrote.
USGS webcam shows a lava overflow from the north vent on Thursday morning
On Wednesday, the Observatory revised its projected start window for Episode 33 to between September 17 and September 20.
This story will be updated with the latest information from the USGS HVO, which is expected to be published within the next few hours.
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