Hawaii's Kilauea volcano eruption

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the recent eruption of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, including its impact on local residents, geological features, and comparisons to other volcanic events. Participants share personal experiences, observations, and reactions to the ongoing volcanic activity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at housing developments being built on ancient lava fields, questioning the decision-making behind such developments.
  • There are reports of multiple fissures opening in Leilani Estates, with ongoing volcanic activity being monitored by officials.
  • One participant shares a personal anecdote about planning a trip to the Big Island, expressing concern about the timing of their visit amidst the eruptions.
  • Another participant discusses the nature of Kilauea as a volcano that is "always" active, noting its historical eruptions since 1983.
  • Comparisons are made between Kilauea's eruptions and the eruption of Mount St. Helens, highlighting differences in eruption styles and impacts.
  • Participants engage in mathematical reasoning regarding the volume of lava erupted from Kilauea compared to that of Mount St. Helens, with one participant seeking confirmation of their calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a mix of curiosity and concern regarding the volcanic activity, with no clear consensus on the implications of living near active lava fields or the safety of current conditions. Multiple viewpoints on the nature of volcanic eruptions and their impacts are present.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the complexity of defining volcanic activity and the differences in eruption characteristics between various volcanoes. There are also references to the historical context of Kilauea's eruptions and the ongoing monitoring by local officials.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals following geological events, those planning travel to volcanic regions, and anyone curious about the implications of living near active volcanoes.

  • #121
OmCheeto said:
Well... Poop!

BillTre said:
Wow, that is pretty weird!
"Intellectual property," perhaps? Bit of a stretch, putting it on the web and then pulling it, but stranger things have happened.
 
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  • #122
nsaspook said:
WOWOW
 
  • #123
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, August 16, 2018, 1:24 PM HST (Thursday, August 16, 2018, 23:24 UTC)KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Kīlauea summit and lower East Rift Zone

The lull in activity at Kīlauea Volcano continues. No summit collapse events have occurred since August 2, and, with the exception of a small, crusted-over pond of lava deep inside the fissure 8 cone and a few scattered ocean entries, lava stopped flowing in the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) on August 6. Sulfur dioxide emission rates at both the summit and LERZ are drastically reduced; the combined rate is lower than at any time since late 2007.

Earthquake and deformation data show no net accumulation, withdrawal, or significant movement of subsurface magma or pressurization as would be expected if the system was building toward a resumption of activity.

It is too soon to tell if this change represents a temporary lull or the end of the LERZ eruption and/or summit collapse activity. In 1955, similar pauses of 5 and 16 days occurred during an 88-day-long LERZ eruption. During the Mauna Ulu eruption (1969-1974), a 3.5 month pause occurred in late 1971.
 
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  • #124
Here is a NY Times article that reviews the timeline of this eruption.
It has some nice pictures.
Something I found interesting was that the approximate volume of lava coming out was about what they predicted the volume of magma in the volcano that was affected from the drop in magma level (if I understand it correctly).
This seems to mean that the erupting lava was squirting out a side leak of the main volcano's plumbing and no new magma was required.
 
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  • #125
BillTre said:
This seems to mean that the erupting lava was squirting out a side leak of the main volcano's plumbing and no new magma was required.

yup, the existing full magma chamber emptied out. This was very evident with the collapses of the caldera
 
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  • #126
As an update, here is a recent helicopter video showing the terran and where some roads have been made over the lava.
 
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  • #127
I would imagine that the song of Jimmy Buffet's, Volcano would apply""Now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a going to go
When the volcano blow..."But they are making inroads on it!