Swarm of Quakes Hit Hawaii - Crater Collapse Possible
Swarm of Quakes Hit Hawaii - Crater Collapse Possible
17 Jun 2007
by Mitch Battros - Earth Changes Media
About 70 shallow earthquakes in 2 hours occurred beneath the upper east rift zone of Kîlauea early this morning. The swarm began at 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 17 and is ongoing. Some quakes are in the mid 3's magnituds. The earthquakes are centered 1 km (1 mile) southwest of Mauna Ulu and are concentrated between 1.5 and 3 kilometers (1-2 miles) deep. As of 4:30 a.m., ten of the quakes had magnitudes greater than 3 and were felt by nearby residents.
All data so far is consistent with the event being a shallow intrusion of magma. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is watching the situation closely and has deployed field crews to the scene.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has taken the following precautionary measures: Chain of Craters road is closed. Crater Rim Drive is closed between Jaggar museum and the Thurston lava tube parking lot. NPS personnel are sweeping both roads to evacuate visitors.
(newsletter earthchangesmedia.com)
Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days: http://tinyurl.com/9odru
Hawaii Volcano: More Than 100 Quakes Per-Hour
Mon, 18 Jun 2007
By Mitch Battros - Earth Changes Media
June 18th 2007
Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE - The earthquake swarm in the upper East Rift Zone of Kîlauea that started early Sunday morning is continuing but at a lower rate. Most of the earthquakes are located between Pauahi and Makaopuhi craters at depths of about 1.5-3 km. About 10 to 15 small earthquakes per hour are being recorded in this area compared to more than about 100 per hour Sunday morning. Seismicity in the summit area consists of strong tremor.
Tiltmeters in the summit area are recording steady deflation, totaling about 37 microradians since early Sunday. GPS receivers in the area of most intense seismic activity continue to show widening across the rift zone in near Makaopuhi crater; preliminary data indicate widening of more than 40 cm (15 inches). A tiltmeter on Pu`u `O`o is also showing steady deflation.
Intermittent faint glow is only occasionally visible from the East Pond vent in the crater of Pu`u ``O`o, much less than is typical of the crater. On Sunday afternoon, HVO observers noted many rockfalls from the south wall of Pu`u `O`o cone and collapse of the crater floor around the vents. The lava level in East Pond vent dropped several meters in late morning.
All data indicate that an intrusion of magma started in the Mauna Ulu area early Sunday morning and moved slowly 5 km (3 miles) east along the rift zone during the day. The intrusion is continuing at this time.
Fieldwork and an overflight of Pu`u `O`o and the flow field is scheduled for Monday morning to evaluate changes, if any, to the ongoing eruption of Pu`u `O`o.
(newsletter earthchangesmedia.com)
17 Jun 2007
by Mitch Battros - Earth Changes Media
About 70 shallow earthquakes in 2 hours occurred beneath the upper east rift zone of Kîlauea early this morning. The swarm began at 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 17 and is ongoing. Some quakes are in the mid 3's magnituds. The earthquakes are centered 1 km (1 mile) southwest of Mauna Ulu and are concentrated between 1.5 and 3 kilometers (1-2 miles) deep. As of 4:30 a.m., ten of the quakes had magnitudes greater than 3 and were felt by nearby residents.
All data so far is consistent with the event being a shallow intrusion of magma. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is watching the situation closely and has deployed field crews to the scene.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has taken the following precautionary measures: Chain of Craters road is closed. Crater Rim Drive is closed between Jaggar museum and the Thurston lava tube parking lot. NPS personnel are sweeping both roads to evacuate visitors.
(newsletter earthchangesmedia.com)
Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days: http://tinyurl.com/9odru
Hawaii Volcano: More Than 100 Quakes Per-Hour
Mon, 18 Jun 2007
By Mitch Battros - Earth Changes Media
June 18th 2007
Volcanic-Alert Level WATCH - Aviation Color Code ORANGE - The earthquake swarm in the upper East Rift Zone of Kîlauea that started early Sunday morning is continuing but at a lower rate. Most of the earthquakes are located between Pauahi and Makaopuhi craters at depths of about 1.5-3 km. About 10 to 15 small earthquakes per hour are being recorded in this area compared to more than about 100 per hour Sunday morning. Seismicity in the summit area consists of strong tremor.
Tiltmeters in the summit area are recording steady deflation, totaling about 37 microradians since early Sunday. GPS receivers in the area of most intense seismic activity continue to show widening across the rift zone in near Makaopuhi crater; preliminary data indicate widening of more than 40 cm (15 inches). A tiltmeter on Pu`u `O`o is also showing steady deflation.
Intermittent faint glow is only occasionally visible from the East Pond vent in the crater of Pu`u ``O`o, much less than is typical of the crater. On Sunday afternoon, HVO observers noted many rockfalls from the south wall of Pu`u `O`o cone and collapse of the crater floor around the vents. The lava level in East Pond vent dropped several meters in late morning.
All data indicate that an intrusion of magma started in the Mauna Ulu area early Sunday morning and moved slowly 5 km (3 miles) east along the rift zone during the day. The intrusion is continuing at this time.
Fieldwork and an overflight of Pu`u `O`o and the flow field is scheduled for Monday morning to evaluate changes, if any, to the ongoing eruption of Pu`u `O`o.
(newsletter earthchangesmedia.com)
bin66 - 18. Jun, 01:51
