Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Lava Flow Nears Pāhoa Properties

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Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Lava Flow Nears Pāhoa Properties

Scientists of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted ground observations of the June 27th lava flow on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. The flow continued to move through private property today. The advance rate of the narrow leading edge has been variable over the past day, and as high as 16 meters (17 yards) per hour. The flow width was less than about 50 meters (55 yards) at the leading edge and as wide as 150 meters (165 yards) immediately upslope as breakouts have occurred along margins of the flow. Portions of the flow continued to inflate by as much as 2 meters as new fresh new lava was delivered to the advancing flow front.

By dawn on Tuesday morning, lava had crossed into two privately owned properties above Pāhoa
By dawn on Tuesday morning, lava had crossed into two privately owned properties above Pāhoa

As of 5:30 PM, the flow was 310 meters (340 yards) in a straight line distance from Pāhoa Village Road and about 900 meters (985 yards) in a straight-line distance from Highway 130.

The lava lobe upslope of Apa`a Street advanced about 30 meters (82 yards) since yesterday.

Daily updates about Kīlauea’s ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

HVO scientists will continue to monitor the flow from the ground overnight and Wednesday; an overflight is scheduled for Wednesday morning, and new maps of the entire June 27th flow will be posted later in the day. A daily update will be posted in the morning, and status reports will be issued as new information becomes available. Updates are posted at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php.

Additional Information:

For a definition of volcano alert levels and aviation color codes: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

Maps, photos, Webcam views, and other information about Kīlauea Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php. A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.

A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/

HVO Contact Information: askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaii.

Source

Note: Authorities are preparing to evacuate 900 to 1000 people in the town of Pāhoa.

Photos (Courtesy USGS)

The June 27th lava flow remained active
The June 27th lava flow remained active
A wider view of the flow, showing its proximity to Pāhoa Village
A wider view of the flow, showing its proximity to Pāhoa Village
The white box shows the approximate extent of the thermal image. The elevated temperatures (white and yellow areas) around the flow front indicate that significant activity is focused at the front, driving its forward movement. In addition, a slow-moving lobe was active upslope of Cemetery Rd. Farther upslope, scattered breakouts persist in the wider portion of the flow.
The white box shows the approximate extent of the thermal image. The elevated temperatures (white and yellow areas) around the flow front indicate that significant activity is focused at the front, driving its forward movement. In addition, a slow-moving lobe was active upslope of Cemetery Rd. Farther upslope, scattered breakouts persist in the wider portion of the flow.
June 27th lava flow burns vegetation as it approaches a property boundary above Pāhoa early on the morning of Tuesday, October 28, 2014
June 27th lava flow burns vegetation as it approaches a property boundary above Pāhoa early on the morning of Tuesday, October 28, 2014
US Geological Survey map
US Geological Survey map. The red is the lava is hotter than 1,650 °F

Video Aerial footage: Kilauea volcano lava swallows residential areas of Hawaii

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