Update on Kilauea Volcano

Posted by Maureen K. Fleury Apr 1, 2008

Am I psychic or what?

I wrote an article on Kilauea on March 15th and it erupted 4 days later!

After many years of very slow lava flow, an eruption occurred in the Halema‘uma‘u Crater in Kilauea.

This area of the volcano has not been very active and the last eruption was in 1924. Since January 1983, the daily flow of lava has been on the eastern side of Kilauea in the East Rift Zone.

According to Science Daily, a small explosion occurred just before 3:00am and it was passed off as a mild earthquake. This report was dismissed once evidence of an explosion was detected.

Rock fragments were found in an area of about 75 acres from the crater. The observation deck and parking lot in at Halema‘uma‘u were covered with debris and to a lesser degree on Crater Rim Drive. Most of the fragments were quite small (less than 1 inch) but a large block of 35 cubic feet was found.

The vent is located 230 feet below the crater rim but the exploding gas was able to propel rocks a fair distance. Strangely enough, no lava was found. Sulfur dioxide gas continues to emit and the sounds of breaking rock can be heard.

Scientists say that future explosive activity is possible and Kilauea is being carefully monitored by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The emission of sulfur dioxide has increased to a level that could be hazardous for areas downwind of the crater.

We will have to wait and see what happens next.