June 27 lava flow activity remains limited to upslope areas within about 4 miles of Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent, U.S. Geological Survey scientists reported Wednesday morning.
Three areas of breakouts remained active in the upslope portion of the flow, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Scientists, viewing the flow using web cams, said the breakouts were located to the northeast of Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent on northern flank of Puu Oo, as well as near Puu Kahaualea, and about 3 to 4 miles northeast of Puu Oo.
During the overnight hours into Wednesday, tiltmeters positioned at the volcano’s summit recorded a weak inflationary tilt accompanied by a slow rise in the summit lava lake level. Earlier this week, scientists said that monitoring instruments positioned at the volcano’s summit had recorded around 8 a.m. Monday a steep deflation signal consistent with the onset of a deflation-inflation event, and by 10 a.m. Tuesday, the tiltmeters, which are used to measure tiny changes in the slope angle or “tilt” of the ground, showed a turnaround toward inflation.
“Summit tremor resumed intermittent bursts with relatively quiet interludes — a pattern which has been absent for several days,” scientists said Wednesday. Summit tremor, which had also been steady and somewhat elevated, peaked Monday as the summit tilt signal dropped, before decreasing as well.
During inflation, magma rises into the summit reservoir, according to the observatory. The summit reservoir enters the deflation portion of the cycle when the magma moves laterally into a rift zone and either erupts or is stored there.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Puu Oo continues to show no significant tilt, according to HVO.
The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory last week downgraded its alert level for Kilauea Volcano from a warning to a watch. Hawaii County Civil Defense also suspended its daily eruption and lava flow updates.
The observatory said the decision to lower the alert level from “warning” to “watch” was made because the lava flow nearest to the town of Pahoa has remained inactive in recent weeks. Further, officials said, it’s unlikely that the lava tube in the lower reaches of the flow could be reoccupied.