This reference map depicts the features on Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone and past eruptive activity. Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park follows the path of the upper East Rift Zone. Pit craters, thermal areas, and lava flows are evidence of a long history of magma moving along this rift zone pathway. Upper East Rift Zone eruptions have typically occurred near the southeast margin of Kaluapele, or where the upper East Rift Zone meets the middle East Rift Zone near Pauahi Crater. PC: USGS
Important Takeaways:
- Earthquake and ground deformation rates in Kilauea’s upper East Rift Zone decreased significantly following a “burst of intense activity” at approximately 3:30 a.m. HST on July 23, 2024. Accordingly, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has lowered the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from WATCH to ADVISORY and the Aviation Color Code from ORANGE to YELLOW.
- The HVO reports: “More than 100 events occurred between 3–9 a.m. at depths of 0.6–1.8 miles beneath the surface. Most events were smaller than magnitude-3, though there were eight events larger. The largest event was a magnitude-3.4. Earthquake activity was accompanied by an abrupt change in ground deformation patterns in the upper East Rift Zone, shown by the ESC tiltmeter. Tiltmeters in Kīlauea summit region did not show significant changes associated with this activity.”
- The observations indicate the “likely movement of magma in the subsurface.” The Alert Level for ground-based hazards was increased from ADVISORY to WATCH
- Kīlauea erupted most recently briefly on Monday, June 3, southwest of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) within the closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The half-day eruption lasted approximately 12 hours before pausing.
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