Kilauea earthquake swarm

[David]

0550 December 7

A notable earthquake swarm is under way at Lo`ihi Seamount, the submarine volcano off Kilauea's south coast. The swarm started at about 2200 yesterday and by 0349 this morning had produced 16 earthquakes with preliminary magnitudes of between 3 and 4.7. The swarm may be tapering off, for no earthquakes have been recorded from there since 0349.

On the 64th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a bright, lightning-lit sky looks down on a cool, windy Kilauea with lava visible on Pulama pali and at the coast. Lava is flowing in two small streams on the pali, one (the western) at about the 1000-foot elevation and the other in several places between the 900- and 700-foot elevations. The activity is minor but up somewhat from its weak level yesterday morning.

At the coast, lava is visible at the new East Lae`apuki delta. Two sources of glow are apparent, and lava is dropping off the southwest side of the delta into the sea.

Glow is visible from Pu`u `O`o, though often obscured by the intense lightning, and all vents except Beehive are visible.

Background volcanic tremor is about normal at Kilauea's summit. Volcanic tremor is at a moderate level at Pu`u `O`o.

The tilt at Kilauea's summit stepped down almost 0.5 microradians during the past 24 hours. Each of the two steps ended with flat tilt lasting several hours. Pu`u `O`o dropped about 1.6 microradians in the same time, climbed up about 0.9 microradians, and currently is again deflating.

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/update.html

[irishgrl]

interesting...has the lava flow been ongoing? if so, when did it start?

and what is the latest with Mount St. Helens?

[snowman]

Originally Posted by David

0550 December 7

A notable earthquake swarm is under way at Lo`ihi Seamount, the submarine volcano off Kilauea's south coast. The swarm started at about 2200 yesterday and by 0349 this morning had produced 16 earthquakes with preliminary magnitudes of between 3 and 4.7. The swarm may be tapering off, for no earthquakes have been recorded from there since 0349.

On the 64th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a bright, lightning-lit sky looks down on a cool, windy Kilauea with lava visible on Pulama pali and at the coast. Lava is flowing in two small streams on the pali, one (the western) at about the 1000-foot elevation and the other in several places between the 900- and 700-foot elevations. The activity is minor but up somewhat from its weak level yesterday morning.

At the coast, lava is visible at the new East Lae`apuki delta. Two sources of glow are apparent, and lava is dropping off the southwest side of the delta into the sea.

Glow is visible from Pu`u `O`o, though often obscured by the intense lightning, and all vents except Beehive are visible.

Background volcanic tremor is about normal at Kilauea's summit. Volcanic tremor is at a moderate level at Pu`u `O`o.

The tilt at Kilauea's summit stepped down almost 0.5 microradians during the past 24 hours. Each of the two steps ended with flat tilt lasting several hours. Pu`u `O`o dropped about 1.6 microradians in the same time, climbed up about 0.9 microradians, and currently is again deflating.

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/update.html

You know, I just read about an earthquake in Africa (the Congo?). It appears to me that notable seismic activity seems to happen in groups or bunches and take place in random areas over a large geographical area. I remember back in 1989, reading about a series of world wide quakes- nothing real major- then boom- the Loma Prieta quake hit Nor. Cal. Is there something to this, or is it coincidence?

[goldie]

I was there in January and saw the lava flowing right at my feet. It was so amazing. Here's a pic I took.

[goldie]

Here's another! My husband took this one. Borders on porn if you ask me.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by goldie

Here's another! My husband took this one. Borders on porn if you ask me.

Good grief... I wonder what's in THOSE balls......