KAILUA-KONA — The eruption in the lower East Rift Zone continued Friday with no significant change during the day prior, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists report.
Fountains from the fissure 8 spatter cone, which now reaches 180 feet, continue to supply lava to the open channel that reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay. There are intermittent small, short-lived overflows, however, the overflows rarely extend beyond the existing flow field, HVO said.
No active overflows were observed during Friday morning’s helicopter overflight.
At the coast, the northern margin of the flow field is still oozing lava at several points in the area of Kapoho Beach Lots and a few burning areas were observed on the south side of the flow and west of Highway 137. Lava was entering the sea over a broad area Friday morning primarily on the northern side of the entry area.
The lava channel has crusted over about a half-mile inland of the ocean entry, HVO said, noting that lava is moving beneath the crust and into still-molten interior of earlier flows before it enters the sea.
Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from the lava fountain at fissure 8 continue to fall downwind of the fissure, dusting the ground within a few hundred yards of the vent. High winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Also Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey Unoccupied Aircraft Systems team conducted a flight on Kilauea’s lower East Rift Zone to collect video in the upper lava channel of fissure 8.
USGS said that when it is dark the incandescence (glow) of lava is easy to see against the darkened surroundings. Overnight UAS missions are the most efficient way for geologists to observe the lava channel to identify overflows and breaches of the channel.
Scientists also use the video to assess lava flow velocities, which are measured by tracking surface features in the stationary video view. Information obtained from this mission was relayed to Hawaii County emergency officials to aid in issuing emergency alerts and notices about the timing of evacuations.
