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This animated GIF shows a sequence of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana CosmoSkyMed satellite system. The images illustrate changes to the caldera area of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred between May 5 and July 4 at about 6:00 a.m. HST. The satellite transmits a radar signal at the surface and measures the strength of the return, with bright areas indicating a strong return and dark areas a weak return. Strong returns indicate rough surfaces or slopes that point back at the radar, while weak returns come from smooth surfaces or slopes angled away from the radar. Over time, expansion of the summit eruptive vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater and the widening of Halema‘uma‘u itself are obvious. Starting in late May, the development of several cracks outside Halema‘uma‘u is clear, and inward slumping of a large portion of the western, southwestern, and northern crater rim begins. Much of this motion appears to be coincident with the small explosions from the summit that have taken place on a near daily basis since early June. The most recent radar scene, from July 4, shows continued motion along cracks over a broader area of the caldera floor, extending east of Halema‘uma‘u (these cracks are the scarps seen in recent photographs from the Keanakākoʻi overlook area). We expect this slumping to continue as long as the collapse events and overall subsidence persist.
In the lower East Rift Zone, lava enters the ocean along a broad flow front
Having crusted over about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) upchannel from the ocean entry, lava oozes from the flow's molten interior to enter the sea along a broad flow front on the northern (Kapoho) side of the flow.
Lava, from small overflows, cools and congeals along the banks of the lava channel to build lava levees. The levees also build up as moving lava pushes cooled crust over the edge. This image of the lava levee and perched lava channel were taken during the morning helicopter overflight of the lower East Rift Zone, in the vicinity of Luana and Kahukai streets, in the Leilani Estates subdivision. The lava levee is the rampart in the middle of the image with small spillovers and lava crusts visible on the levee walls. The active lava channel is the silver-colored flow with lines of visible incandescence in the upper part of the image.
Aerial view of the lava channel and active margins between Kapoho Crater (upper right) and the coast (lower left). The northern margin of the flow field is advancing at several points in the area of Kapoho Ag and Beach Lots (vegetated areas in center of image). Image courtesy of Hawaii County Fire Department.
Near the Kapoho Crater, in the area called Four Corners, the lava channel makes a 90-degree bend. After lava exits the bend, it makes a short drop to form a lavafall. A side channel makes a short surface diversion before rejoining the existing channel.
Collapse explosion at Kīlauea's summit sends rocks rumbling
At 1:20 PM HST on July 5, a collapse explosion event occurred at Kīlauea's summit. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a M5.2 earthquake. The shaking produced rockfall from Halema‘uma‘u's steep crater walls (brown dust), as viewed from a temporary observation post at Volcano House.
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