Volcano Eruption Update

Pele puts on dramatic show for visitors

The summit vent is glowing again, and the exciting volcanic activity continues to evolve in Halemaumau crater at the summit of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The dramatic plume of steam and gas has been gushing from a vent in the crater wall since March 11th, 2008, representing the first eruption in Halemaumau since 1982. In its early stages, there were three small explosions – the first ones at the summit since 1924 – and the plume changed for a while from fluffy white to dusky brown, indicating that ash had sifted into the plume. Then it returned to a snowy white, rising up to a mile above the crater.

But beginning in early September, there were more small explosions and increased tremors, and the vent grew from about 90 feet across to twice that size, and by May 2009, three times that size, spreading onto the crater floor. As the levels of ash in the plume have changed, its color has shifted a number of times from cottony white to various shades of grey, brown and even pink, as the billowing steam is painted by the sun, clouds and moon. At night the dramatic glow from the vent keeps visitors mesmerized. (The park is open 24 hours.) One night in early September, lucky visitors saw blue flames shooting from the vent, though no molten lava has spilled onto the crater floor — yet.

When will that happen? Maybe today, maybe never. As of early June, roiling molten lava was observed through the vent just 100 yards below the crater floor.

Intrepid HVO geologists who regularly venture to the crater rim just above the vent, are finding lava rocks thrown onto the crater floor and over the top of the rim. The first March explosions damaged the crater rim viewing platform, but that area had already been closed to visitors because of this danger, and the plume’s heavy content of sulfur dioxide.

Excellent viewing is still possible most days from the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum overlook. The small museum has informative volcanology exhibits and an excellent, recently expanded bookstore with DVDs, posters, maps, cards, magnets, t-shirts and more — all of it contributing to our understanding of volcanoes and this extraordinary national park.

At the crater’s lip just above the vent, geologists have also found “Pele’s hair” (thin strands of solidified lava), and “Pele’s tears” (droplets of lava rock) above the crater rim. These artifacts of the eruption indicate that molten lava has been ejected from the vent.

The main concern is the elevated sulfur dioxide levels caused by the plume. Prolonged exposure to high levels of SO2 can be dangerous, especially to anyone with respiratory conditions. But as long as the customary tradewinds are blowing, visitors to the rest of the park are safe. If conditions should change, park rangers will alert visitors.

The tradewinds normally carry the steam and gas down along the Kona Coast. The good news is that, though the air may look hazy in Kona, there is very little SO2 left in it by then. (For a brochure from the state Dept. of Health explaining health issues related to SO2, volcanic ash and “vog,” see below.)

So Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is still very much open for business, though the downwind stretch of Crater Rim Drive is closed off for now.

But the excellent overlook at the Jaggar Museum is normally open, and will remain so as long as conditions permit. Visitors can also still get stunning views of the heavy plume of steam and gas from the wall at Volcano House hotel and along the adjacent trail.

For the very latest eruption viewing and health info, see the resources below.

Coastal viewing

Meanwhile, 25 miles down on the coast, is the lava viewing area where visitors have been watching molten lava flow into the sea.

This is a great vantage point from which to witness the mesmerizing movement of lava as it makes its way down-slope from Kilauea volcano to the sea. In July there were especially dramatic explosions as fiery lava burst into the sea, and from spectacular outbreaks of molten lava in remote upslope locations.

The show continues on the coast, and the Kalapana viewing site, located at the end of Highway 130 in the Puna District, is attracting thousands of visitors every week who watch the lava ooze and burn its way across the coastal plain, then roil into the sea with huge clouds of steam and sprays of molten rock.

The viewing area is open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the last car permitted into the parking area at 8 p.m. The afternoon opening gives volcano scientists ample time to assess the ever-changing lava activity and report to Hawaii County Civil Defense.

“I was completely hypnotized by the beauty and power of the molten lava,” said Rebecca Sawyer, a resident of Waikoloa who drove with her family more than three hours one Saturday to witness the natural phenomenon. “It’s something that will be seared into my memory forever,” she said.

Visitors to the viewing area are advised to carry at least one quart or liter of water each; wear sturdy, closed-toe boots or shoes with socks; carry at least one flashlight per person; wear long pants, a sun hat and plenty of sunscreen. There is no cell phone coverage in the viewing area.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi reminds visitors that the viewing area passes by private homes and properties, and so to proceed with respect and not leave trash behind. Portable restrooms are set up for public use.

Visitors on foot must obey all warning signs and are required to stay within permitted areas for safety purposes. A newly formed black sand beach and land area are extremely unstable, and could collapse into the ocean at any time. There is also the threat of acidic “laze,” a potentially hazardous gas that may be created when the super-hot lava enters the sea.

The lava is also currently visible from the ocean via passenger craft that can avoid laze-prone areas. Capt. Shane Turpin, owner of Lava Ocean Adventures, reported a huge demand for his boat tours that depart East Hawaii to take passengers to watch the lava pour into the sea.

Air tours are another popular way to view the current active flow. “We’ve had a lot of incredible flight-seeing in the last six months or so,” said Jeanne Alford, Big Island operations manager for Sunshine Helicopters. “But it can change as quickly as we are speaking. We never know what we’re going to see on each trip, the lava can be so unpredictable. But I can say we’re seeing lava activity in some areas now that we haven’t seen in many years.

And there’s still the activity up at Halemaumau, the summit crater of Kilauea. There’s no fresh lava, and a full-blown summit eruption is unlikely at the moment, but super-heated steam and gases (mostly sulfur dioxide) are spewing from the crater, causing incandescent glowing visible at night. Visitors are gathering at Jaggar overlook and along the wall by Volcano House hotel to see the dramatic scene. However, the elevated levels of sulfur dioxide have led rangers to close part of the park downwind of the vent.

“It’s all about the weather,” says Jim Gale, the park’s Chief of Interpretation. “You want to stay upwind.” Or if you drive into the “vog,” says Gale, “roll up your windows and turn on the air conditioner until you get through to clear air.”

Volcanic activity is subject to change and may not be exactly what is pictured.