Pele puts on a show

            On March 19, 2008 a lava lake was formed by an explosion in Halemaʻumaʻu crater in the summit of Kilauea Volcano. The lava lake exists in what has come to be called the Overlook Crater within Halemaʻumaʻu. Over the 7 years of its existence the level of the lake has fluctuated but never was visible from the Jaggar Museum observation area. That has now changed.

            The photo above, captured from the Hawaiʻi Volcano Observatory web site, shows the extent of the lava lake. As of today, April 25, the level of the lake is about 40 feet below the rim of th Overlook Crater. That is a high enough level that some of the lava lake surface can be seen from the Jaggar Museum. In addition spattering of the lava in the lake can also be seen and the roar of gas release from the lake can be heard. So, if the weather cooperates Pele is putting on a show that hasn't been seen since the lake formed. There is no way of knowing how long the lava lake will be visible. The lake level typically fluctuates due to inflation/deflation episodes. We are presently in an inflation phase, but it may reverse at any time.

Has Pele stopped her march to the sea?

            I have not provided recent updates regarding the lava flow in the Puna district because the leading edge of the flow has stalled. All is quiet in the town of Pahoa and life there has returned to normal. Businesses that had closed in the face of advancing lava have now reopened. If you examine the map below produced by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory you will see that the red area (active flow) is about six miles from the town. 

            That does not mean that all danger is past. Those red areas on the map are still active which means lavas is flowing and moving down slope. However, at the normal rate of movement, any close approach to Pahoa is months away in the worst case scenario. Of course, in the best case the eruption will cease and all worry will end. Unfortunately, there is no indication that the eruption will end. It has been erupting since 1983, varying the direction of the lava flows from time to time.

            If there is a change in the eruption or flow direction I will let you know.