WAITING TO INHALE: Recent changes in Kilauea's eruptive activity

After a period of relative stability and quiet, instruments on Kilauea's flanks signaled the beginning of what could mean changes - a big deflation.

Changes in pressure in the magma beneath the summit and Pu'u 'O'o vent cause the ground to rise or fall minute amounts, as if the volcano is breathing. Scientists monitor these changes to try and understand what's going on beneath the surface.

Inflation is caused by magma moving up closer to the surface and deflation occurs when pressure drops and magma recedes or erupts. The significance of these cycles is not yet well understood by science.

This week we saw the very first Deflation/Inflation cycle in over a month begin with a big deflation. The green line on the chart below tracks deflation at Kilauea summit, which dipped dramatically on the 18th. The blue line tracks deflation at Pu'u 'O'o cone. The cone, which is fed by magma from the summit, followed the summit's deflation about 5.5 hours later.

Changes we've seen so far include the collapse of the northeast spatter cone within Pu'u 'O'o crater which has fed the Kahauale'a 2 flow (the island's only active surface lava flow at this time). The spatter cone collapsed, presumably due to reduced pressure. For the last few days it appeared that the cone complex still fed the Kahauale'a 2 flow, however the flow has dramatically weakened.

The lava lake within Halema'uma'u crater at Kilauea summit dropped more than 65 feet in response to the deflation. You can see in this screenshot from the webcam the lake deep within the cavity.

Yesterday, after 4 days totaling more than 5.5 microradians of deflation, a cycle of inflation began at the summit. Scientists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory expect an increase in eruptive activity with inflation over the next few days. It will probably occur on the Kahauale'a 2 flow field or somewhere else within or near Pu'u 'O'o crater.

Below is a screenshot of spattering at the margin of the lava lake within Halema'uma'u.

These changes are exciting to us and we're watching closely to see what happens.
Check out our DAILY LAVA ACTIVITY UPDATE to find out what's happening!

MEET THE PIONEERS!

There aren't many places on Earth where life gets a clean slate to start all over but Kilauea Volcano is one of them. Here vast areas of land are covered by recent lava flows of varying ages. It's a fascinating place to study how pioneer species take hold in a very harsh climate.

Yellow Lehua - Photo: Kim and Forest Starr

Hawai'i Island is estimated to be only about 500,000 years old. Pretty much a youngster, even in Hawaiian terms, when you consider Maui is 1.3 million years old and Kaua'i is a ripe old 5-6 million.

On the southern slopes of Kilauea you can find some of the island chain's newest land, some of which is not even completely cooled!  It's amazing that anything can survive on the lava flows, but survive it does, and it's a pattern that has repeated over and over through the millennia on each and every island in the chain. Every majestic Hawaiian forest began in just this way.

Here are a few of the trailblazers, the rugged pioneers, the leading edge of the green blanket of life that becomes the forest. When you find them on the lava it's like a look into the island's distant past.



Stereocaulon vulcani 
"Hawaiian Snow" Lichen

Close up of S. vulcani - Photo: Cindy Fontane

This frosty colored lichen is so named because it resembles a dusting of snow on bare lava flows. It's most often found on 'a'a and can appear within just a few years of cooling.

This rugged plant can survive the extreme sunlight and heat of the bare, dark colored rock because its light color reflects light and heat very well.

Seeds of other species can survive and germinate in the microclimate provided by this lichen. It has also been shown to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, adding precious nutrients to young soils.



Polypodyium pellucidum var. vulcanicum
'Ae Fern

This amazing fern is one of the first colonizers of new lava flows. Its tiny spores, blown by the wind, can endure harsh temperatures and dryness for long periods before it finds an opportune place to begin growing.

'Ae ferns on 3 year old lava flow

The 'ae takes advantage of the smallest bit of shade and shelter found in cracks and fissures to take hold where there is not even any soil.

Ferns are well represented in the native flora of Hawai'i because their tiny, tough spores can resist extreme cold and heat to travel around the globe on high altitude air currents, which occasionally deposited them here.



Metrosideros polymorpha
'Ohi'a lehua

A young 'ohi'a on the 1990 flow

This amazing and highly adaptive endemic tree can be found from sea level up to the tree line on all the main Hawaiian Islands. The tiny seeds of its ancestor may have arrived from New Zealand or the Marquesas on high altitude air currents millions of years ago. 

'Ohi'as are responsible for most of the organic soil found in newer Hawaiian forests as their fallen leaves break down around them. If you look around the base of these remarkable trees you'll see a lot more plants growing than in the surrounding bare lava. The trees offer shelter from the sun and drying winds, and a steady stream of nutrients as their fallen leaves decay.

The beautiful lehua blossoms also provide an important source of shelter and food for native birds, many of which are nectarivores. 

Hi'iakaikapoliopele - Illustration: Solomon Enos

In Hawaiian mythology, Pele's youngest sister, Hi'iakaikapoliopele wears a magical skirt made of fern fronds. In many stories, after Pele covers land with lava in fits of rage, Hi'iaka appears and makes it green again. She lives amongst the many ferns in groves of 'ohi'a lehua, which are sacred to her. Here on the southern slopes of Kilauea we can witness this dramatic cycle beginning again.

I just love this illustration of her by Solomon Enos on the cover of the ancient epic Ka Mo'olelo o Hi'iakaikapoliopele originally written down by Ho'oulumahiehie.

 

You can meet these and other exciting plants with equally sparkling personalities on our Lava, Wine and Stars Tour. 

For reservations click HERE

Until next time - Aloha!

Aloha and welcome to our blog!

Here at Lavaland Hawaii, we are fortunate to be able to spend our days and evenings exploring the Big Island's many natural wonders, from misty fern filled rainforests to spectacular molten lava flows. 

There really is no substitute for experiencing Hawaii's magic first hand, so we hope you'll be able to join us soon! Until then, follow us here for a peek at the natural splendor that awaits you.

To learn more about us or reserve a tour click HERE to visit us at lavalandhawaii.com

Be sure to visit our photo gallery to see the latest photos and videos of lava and forest walks.