Kilauea Update: Six Weeks Later
May 3rd marked the start of fissures opening and lava flowing at Kilauea. In the last six weeks, more than 20 fissures have opened in Kilauea's Lower East Rift Zone. Many of those were small and short-lived, but not all of them. One fissure - Fissure 8 - pushed lava toward the ocean, and the damage can be seen from space. Since May 3rd more than 110 million cubic meters of lava have come from Kilauea which would fill 45,000 Olympic swimming pools, according to the USGS.
Image Credit: NASA via EarthSky (May 14th)
Image Credit: NASA via EarthSky (June 7)
On June 3 USGS tweeted, " At 10 AM, lava entered Green Lake. By 3PM, HCFD confirmed lake filled & water evaporated. Wide flow front is moving toward ocean." Green Lake was Hawaii's largest freshwater lake. The organization also said the lava advanced 656 yards per hour, which is the fastest lava flow rate recorded.
Image Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Earthquakes continue at alarming rates (about 30 per hour last night according to USGS), and USGS continues with a current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING and current Aviation Color Code: RED.
Image Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
The cone in the picture above has been built by splattering lava from Fissure 8 and is roughly 170 feet tall. USGS estimates the lava plume is up to 200 feet tall proving that activity continues. At last count more than 100 residents are still living in shelters because they cannot return home.
-Hannah Strong
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