Kilauea’s Alert Level Reduced

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reduced Kilauea’s alert level Friday as the volcano remains relatively quiet following months of devastating lava flows on the lower East Rift Zone and dozens of caldera collapses at the summit.

The change from a watch to an advisory occurred after the passing of 30 days without seeing lava on the surface, along with low rates of earthquakes, ground deformation and only minor gas emissions. There have been no active lava flows since August, though lava was seen inside fissure 8 in Leilani Estates as recently as Sept. 5.

According to HVO, resumption of the eruption in lower Puna or summit collapses is “unlikely in the near-term.”

Tina Neal, HVO scientist-in-charge, defined that time scale as weeks or months; she noted they can’t be “super specific” about it.

That doesn’t mean there’s no sign of activity.

Neal said there are signs of inflation, which indicate buildup of magma, on the rift zone between Pu‘u ‘O‘o and Highway 130. She said it’s not “anything we are very concerned about.”

“It’s the most movement, the most inflation we are seeing anywhere on the volcano right now,” Neal said. “It doesn’t look like magma is very shallow. The rate of refilling is not so great that we think it means something is imminent.

“If the rate would suddenly pick up or we started seeing earthquakes there, it would be more of a concern.”

One thing is clear: Kilauea remains active and will continue to be monitored closely.

Neal said history shows that eruptions rarely resume at the same location if a pause exceeds 30 days. Outliers include a 48-day pause in 1986 at Pu‘u ‘O‘o and a 3.5-month pause during the Mauna Ulu eruption.

HVO noted in a volcanic activity notice that this is the first time since 1986 that there has been no surface activity for more than 30 days.

“In the past 200 years, the volcano has experienced periods of quiet, ranging from months to years with no eruptive activity,” the agency said. “However, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and additional eruptions will occur.”

The eruption that began May 3 destroyed more than 700 homes and covered major roads.

By TOM CALLIS Hawaii Tribune-Herald