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USGS HVO Volcanic Activity Notice — Kīlauea Volcano is no longer erupting

May 26, 2021

Kīlauea Volcano is no longer erupting. Lava supply to the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake has ceased and sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased to near pre-eruption background levels.

HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice 

Volcanic Activity Summary: 

Kīlauea Volcano is no longer erupting. Lava supply to the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake has ceased and sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased to near pre-eruption background levels.

Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is lowering the Volcano Alert Level for ground based hazards from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea Volcano for signs of renewed activity. Should volcanic activity change significantly a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.

Hazards are still present on Kīlauea Volcano and are described below. Residents and visitors should stay informed and follow County of Hawai‘i and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guidelines.

Recent Observations:

[Volcanic cloud height] Minor fume emanating from previously active areas within Halemaʻumaʻu crater is producing a weak plume at the summit of Kīlauea. Visibility of the plume varies with humidity and temperature and may be stronger in the early morning.
[Other volcanic cloud information] None at this time.

Remarks: 

Lava supply to the lava lake appears to have ceased between May 11th and 13th based upon elevation measurements of the lake surface that showed the surface was no longer rising. Dwindling lava supply over the previous month had caused the active lava lake to shrink to two small ponds by May 11th and was completely crusted over by May 20th. The last surface activity on the lake was observed on May 23rd. Changes in the lava lake have been accompanied by a drop in gas emissions to levels close to pre-eruption background level. Seismic tremor persistent during the eruption has weakened significantly but continues to indicate some shallow magmatic activity. Since May 11th, there has been weak inflation and an increase in shallow volcano tectonic earthquakes at the summit, suggesting magma entering the system is being stored at depth. These observations indicate that the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano has paused. It is possible that the Halema‘uma‘u vent could resume eruption or that Kīlauea is entering a period of quiescence prior the next eruption.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea’s seismicity, deformation, and gas emissions, and maintains visual surveillance of the summit and the East Rift Zone for signs of renewed activity. There are currently no indications suggesting that a resumption of volcanic activity is imminent. Kīlauea remains an active volcano and future eruptions are possible at the summit or elsewhere on the volcano. Should volcanic activity change significantly a new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued.

Continuing Hazards:

Levels of volcanic gas (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) can remain locally hazardous even though Kīlauea is no longer erupting. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emissions have greatly decreased. However, local concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) may persist in downwind areas, and residents may from time to time notice odors of these gasses. Significant hazards also remain around Halemaʻumaʻu from crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public.

More Information:
Kīlauea activity summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862
Kīlauea webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams
Kīlauea photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/photo-video-chronology
Kīlauea lava-flow maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/maps
Kīlauea FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/faqs

Contacts: askHVO@usgs.gov

Next Notice: 

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea's seismicity, deformation, and gas emissions for any sign of reactivation. HVO will continue to issue weekly Kīlauea updates on Tuesdays until further notice.

Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/

Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes

Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi.

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