Inflationary tilt continues at Kilauea Volcano’s summit, the U.S. Geological Survey reported Friday morning.
The inflation, which began Wednesday, was accompanied by a “modest” increase in the summit lava lake level, scientists said. Lava, however, remains out of sight of visitors at the Jaggar Museum within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
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.
Seismicity continues at normal background level at the summit. Seismicity rates at the East Rift Zone were at low levels, the scientist said.
At Puu Oo, several incandescent, outgassing crater vents remain.
The June 27 lava flow remained active between 2.5 and 5 miles of the Puu Oo vent, scientists said Friday. The most distant breakouts are evident by the smoke plumes produced where they are creeping into the forest and burning vegetation along the edge of the flow field.
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.
Scientists said Friday the flow currently does not pose a threat to any nearby communities.