Summit Lava Lake at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Reaches New High Level

Halema‘uma‘u from Jaggar Museum viewing area on April 24, 2015 at 5:13 a.m. NPS Photo/S. Geiger

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: Tiltmeters at Kīlauea’s summit recorded continued inflation over the past day, marking a total of about 4.5 microradians since inflation started on Tuesday afternoon (April 21). Mirroring this trend, the level of the summit lava lake has risen to its highest level since the summit eruption began in March 2008. It was measured at 20 m (66 ft) below the rim of the Overlook crater yesterday afternoon, and is at least a few meters (yards) higher this morning.

Collapse on April 24, 2015 at 5:20 a.m. – NPS Photo/S.Geiger

The surface of the lava lake came into view yesterday afternoon, when observed from the Jaggar Museum overlook, and remains in view this morning. The high level triggered a small collapse from the overhanging west wall and rim of the Overlook crater at about 5:20 AM this morning, triggering a small explosive event that threw spatter out onto the Halema`uma`u crater floor.

The lava lake is just visible from Jaggar Museum this morning – NPS Photo/S. Geiger