Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea East Rift Slowly Adjusts, September 12, 2024

This past week saw no significant changes on Kīlauea, even as earthquake rates beneath the summit, Upper East Rift and Middle East Rift slowly continue to pulse as the area adjusts to the recent influx of magma. Summit monitors show increasing ground tilt over the past week, while the magma body intruded near Maunaulu shows further stabilization as its filling rate slows. Downrift at Puʻu’ōʻō and beyond, only minor changes are evident, registering deformation from the Makaopuhi area to the west. 

Altogether the situation remains dynamic but confined within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and poses no increased threat to people. Gas emissions are the volcanic hazard of present concern, and while emissions remain relatively low for the volcano around 75 tonnes of SO2 per day, these can still be of concern for sensitive individuals nearby. “Additional pulses of unrest in the upper to middle East Rift Zone are possible and may evolve quickly,” according to USGS-HVO. Maunaloa volcano continuing to recharge in a normal quiet pattern following its 2022 eruption. 

As a special this week, we conclude our series on Kīlauea’s East Rift activity of the 1960s with the February 1969 eruption. These 9 Middle East Rift eruptions span the decade between the more famous Kapoho and Maunaulu eruptions. Combined with Southwest Rift intrusions and the summit eruption of 1967-68, this historical period could inform potential outcomes of our current activity.

As usual, we review the monitoring signals, imagery, and reports available courtesy of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, annotating the presentation on screen as we go and discussing live viewer questions. 

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