Kilauea Volcano’s summit lava lake level dropped more than 30 feet after amid deflation that began Thursday morning, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported Friday.
Since Monday, the lake has fluctuated between 168 feet below the rim of the Overlook vent within Halemaumau Carter to within 135 feet of the rim on Thursday, scientists said. The drop in the lake level between Thursday and Friday left behind well-developed veneer plastered to the vent wall.
Background seismicity continues at a low level at the summit, with a smattering of discrete events scattered around the summit and rift zone.
Seismicity rates at the East Rift Zone also remained at normal levels, the scientist said. At Puu Oo, several incandescent, outgassing crater vents remain.
Meanwhile, the June 27 lava flow remained active between 0.6 and 5 miles of the Puu Oo vent, scientists said Friday. The June 27 lava flow began June 27, 2014, and sent flows toward Pahoa that destroyed a home, prompted evacuations and inundated roads, land and a new transfer station. The flow’s forward progress came to a halt mauka of the town in March.