The USGS and their Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) have raised the Volcano Alert Level to WARNING and the Aviation Color Code to RED in response to a fresh eruption that began at Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii this morning at 4:44 am local time (10:44 am Easter Time.)
“Kīlauea volcano is erupting. Eruptive activity is currently confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kīlauea’s summit caldera. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. Kīlauea’s volcano alert level and aviation color code will remain at WARNING/RED as this new eruption and associated hazards are evaluated,” the HVO said in their daily update released 4 hours after today’s eruption began.
Multiple minor fountains are active in the central eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and one vent is open on the west wall of the caldera, within the closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The largest lava fountain is consistently about 50 feet high; during the early phase of the eruption, fountain bursts reach at least approximately 200 feet high. Lava flows have inundated much of the crater floor, an area of approximately 370 acres. As of approximately 8 am, about 33 feet of new lava had been added to the crater floor.
The eruption is contained entirely within the summit caldera which itself is entirely within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There is no threat of lava reaching populated communities or extending beyond the park territory at this time.
A live-stream video of the crater is available at https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live.
This is the only place in the United States you can view an active erupting volcano today. While there are numerous hazards, most people can view this sight safely. #Kilauea https://t.co/DldVe4lHzo
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) June 7, 2023
“Expect major delays and limited parking due to high visitation,” the National Park warned. “Parking areas may close unexpectedly when full. Consider viewing the eruption from less crowded areas, hike to popular viewing areas from other parking lots, or visit at an unconventional time. Visit before 9 am or after 9 pm for the best experience.”
While lava can be seen safely for now, there are other hazards present inside and outside of the park from the volcano. HVO is warning about volcanic gas, lightweight volcanic debris, and ground instability.
“The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Therefore, high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects down-wind. Large amounts of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)—are continuously released during eruptions of Kīlauea volcano. As SO2 is released from the summit, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) that has been observed downwind of Kīlauea. Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock.,” HVO said in today’s statement.”
“Additional hazards include Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from the lava fountains that will fall downwind of the fissure vents and dust the ground within a few hundred meters (yards) of the vent (s). Strong winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances.”
“Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public. This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of Kīlauea caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since late 2007. ”
In the U.S., the USGS and volcano observatory units are responsible for issuing Aviation Codes and Volcanic Activity Alert Levels. Aviation Codes are green, yellow, orange, or red. When ground-based instrumentation is insufficient to establish that a volcano is at a typical background level of activity, it is simply “unassigned.” While green means typical activity associated with a non-eruptive state, yellow means a volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background levels. When a volcano exhibits heightened or escalating unrest with the increased potential of eruption, it jumps to orange. Finally, when an eruption is imminent with significant emission of volcanic ash expected in the atmosphere or an eruption is underway with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, the code becomes red. Volcanic Activity Alert levels are normal, advisory, watch, or warning. As with aviation codes, if data is insufficient, it is simply labeled as “unassigned.” When the volcano is at typical background activity in a non-eruptive state, it is considered normal. If the volcano exhibits signs of elevated unrest above background level, an advisory is issued. If a volcano exhibits heightened or escalating unrest, a watch is issued while a warning is issued when a hazardous eruption is imminent.
