A three year inflation of Kilauea volcano appears to be over. Instruments have showed that inflation of the east and SW rift zones ceased in October. This may indicate the supply of magma to the volcano may have leveled off. The swelling at the summit and rift zones stopped about a week before the October 15 earthquake which hit the west side of the Big Island. There is no evidence that the two events are related. Since the volcano began the current eruptions in 1983 there has only been three periods of inflation. Inflation began shortly before the eruption shifted from Pu'u 'O'o vent to Kupaianaha in 1986, and again before the eruption shifted back to Pu'u 'O'o in 1992. In April this year, inflation was measured at southwest rift zone which has not been active since 1974. Kilauea volcano continues to erupt from Pu`u`O`o vent on the East Rift Zone, and lava is flowing through PKK and Campout lava tubes to the coast where it enters the sea at East Ka`ili`ili and East Lae`apuki ocean entries.
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About John Seach
- John Seach
- John Seach is a scientist and the world's leading volcano adventurer. Over the past 24 years John has traveled to the world's most exciting volcanoes, and witnessed eruptions during trips to more than 200 volcanoes. John's work has been featured on award winning television programmes. John is the founder of "Volcano Live", the world's first volcano news and volcano travel website.