Kīlauea Volcano Lower East Rift Zone Vigorous eruption of lava continues from the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) fissure system in the area of Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens.
Fissure 8 continues to maintain eruptive fountains reaching 200-250 feet. Subsidiary fountains in the vicinity of Fissure 8 are also active although with much less vigor, seldom exceeding 60 feet in height. This fountaining continues to feed a lava flow that is moving north out of Leilani Estates and then northeast along Highway 132 into the area of Noni Farms road. Flow front advance has slowed to less than 50 yards per hour.
Video of fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano’s lower East Rift Zone on May 30, 2018. Fountain heights exceeded 200 feet and secondary fountains reached heights of 60 feet. The second video looks down Kupono Street, just south of Leilani Street, in the Leilani Estates subdivision, where chilled rock from the fissure 8 fountain have fallen. (Public domain.)
By late afternoon, the front of the Fissure 18 flow was about 0.5 miles from Highway 137 and was spreading and slowing. In the late afternoon, a new flow lobe began branching from the south side of the fissure 18 flow approximately 1.5 miles upslope from the flow front. During the day, sporadic bursts of activity were also observed from Fissures 22, 6, and 13.
Low level spattering and intermittent fountaining from Fissure 21 were also observed in the late afternoon and early evening. Pele’s hair and and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are falling to the west of the fissure and accumulating on the ground within Leilani Estates.
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. The most recent map of lava flows can be found here: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/…
HVO field crews are on site tracking the fountains, lava flows, and spattering from multiple fissures as conditions allow and reporting information to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Crews are also checking on the status of ground cracks on Highway 130. Aerial of lava flow Lava flow erupted from fissure 8, photographed during HVO’s early morning overflight today.
The lava channel was estimated to be about 100 feet wide. (Public domain.) Volcanic gas emissions remain very high from the fissure eruptions. Trade wind conditions are bringing vog to the south and west sides of the Island of Hawaii. Magma continues to be supplied to the lower East Rift Zone. Earthquake locations have not moved farther downrift in the past few days and the number of located earthquakes remains low.
Additional ground cracking and outbreaks of lava in the area of the active fissures are possible. Residents downslope of the region of fissures should heed all Hawaii County Civil Defense messages and warnings. Kīlauea Volcano Summit A UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) mission during this past week documented the widening of the Overlook vent.
Earthquakes in the Kīlauea Volcano’s summit region continue as the area subsides and adjusts to the withdrawal of magma. The vent is widening due to the collapse of the steep enclosing walls and rim. Large rockfalls from these areas have triggered explosive events that produce minor amounts of ashfall downwind.
The video surveys the southeast rim of the Overlook vent to the old Overlook parking lot, showing cracks in the rim and areas dusted with ash. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The information is used to quantify change and informs our assessment of hazards, which is shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Footage is courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Aviation Services. USGS/DOI
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