Summit’s lava lake rises with new Kilauea spasm

Kilauea Volcano continued its usual gurgling Sunday following a relatively small swelling spasm at the summit the previous day.

So-called deflation-inflation events are regular, cyclical occurrences marked by an abrupt deflation, a few tiny angles of ground tilt, followed by a refilling of the subterranean lava well.

Weak events might last a few hours; stronger ones can last two to three days. Such events often occur when lava pulses or pauses in the eruption at the volcano’s Puu Oo and Peace Day vents.

Rises and falls in the lava lake level are also common, episodic events at the volcano. The lake lies within a nearly cylindrical vent cavity within the east wall and floor of Halemaumau Crater.

On Saturday Kilauea’s summit lava lake rose with the inflation, reaching about 105 feet below the rim of the vent, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

There were no observable changes at Puu Oo on Sunday.

Meanwhile, small breakouts remained scattered across what scientists call the June 27 lava field, the longest extending nearly 5 miles northeast of Puu Oo. The flow does not pose a threat to nearby communities, according to the observatory.