Activity Summary for past 24 hours: Overall eruptive activity was low. DI deflation and the summit lava lake stabilized at low levels. Minor surface flows may be active a short distance southeast of Pu`u `O`o cone; glow could be seen from sources within Pu`u `O`o crater via webcam. Overall seismic tremor levels were low and gas emissions were elevated.

Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The summit tilt network recorded DI deflation stabilized at about 5 microradians – the largest since a mid-October deflation of 7 microradians. The lava lake level remained low and steady. Although not measured this morning, a small amount of ash-sized tephra, mostly fresh spatter bits, was probably wafted within the gas plume from the summit vent and deposited on nearby surfaces. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 900 tonnes/day on January 6, 2012; new measurements must await the return of moderate trade winds.

Seismic tremor levels remained low and steady. Nine earthquakes were strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea volcano: one beneath Halema`uma`u Crater, five deep quakes west of the southwest rift zone which may actually be within the Ka`oiki Seismic Zone, and three on south flank faults.

Background: The summit lava lake is deep within a ~150 m (500 ft) diameter cylindrical vent with nearly vertical sides inset within the east wall and floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. Its level fluctuates from about 70 m to more than 150 m (out of sight) below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater. The vent has been mostly active since opening with a small explosive event on March 19, 2008. Most recently, the lava level of the lake has remained below an inner ledge (75 m or 250 ft below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater) and responded to summit tilt changes with the lake receding during deflation and rising during inflation.

Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents: Satellite imagery included a weakening thermal anomaly about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Pu`u `O`o cone. Flow field webcams showed no surface flow activity anywhere on the flow field from the pali to the coast. There was no active ocean entry.

The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o cone recorded slowing DI deflation; a small amount of inflation was recorded between 4 and 5:30 pm yesterday but was not accompanied by any changes visible in the webcam. Glow could still be seen from sources on the northeast, southeast, and west edges of Pu`u `O`o crater floor. Seismic tremor levels near Pu`u `O`o were low. The most recent (preliminary) sulfur dioxide emission rate measurement was 150 tonnes/day on January 6, 2012, from all east rift zone sources.

Background: The eruption in Kilauea’s middle east rift zone started with a fissure eruption on January 3, 1983, and has continued since at Pu`u `O`o Cone, or from vents within a few kilometers to the east or west, with few interruptions. In early August, the Pu`u `O`o crater floor collapsed to a depth of about 75 m (245 ft) below the east rim of the crater as lava burst from vents on the lower west flank of the cone. A DI tilt event several days later cut off supply to Pu`u `O`o and the west flank vents; lava reappeared in Pu`u `O`o Crater on August 21st and filled it to overflowing. A fissure eruption on the upper east flank of Pu`u `O`o Cone on Sept. 21 drained the lava lakes and fed a lava flow advancing southeast. Since then, activity has waxed and waned with DI tilt variations with a lava tube feeding pahoehoe flows to the southeast through the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision and to the ocean within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in early December. These flows have been inactive since late December.

Hazard Summary: East rift vents and flow field – near-vent areas could erupt or collapse without warning with spatter and/or ash being wafted within the gas plume; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide gas may be present within 1 km downwind of vent areas. All active lava is within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and adjacent State land managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kilauea Crater – ash and Pele’s hair can be carried several kilometers downwind; potentially-lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide can be present within 1 km downwind.

Viewing Summary: East rift zone flow field – There are no active lava flows within the closed-access Kahauale’a Natural Area Reserve and private property within the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision; however, these areas can only be viewed from the air and from the County Viewing Area at Kalapana. Pu`u `O`o Cone, the (inactive) West Ka`ili`ili lava ocean entry, and Kilauea Crater – the activity within Pu`u `O`o crater, the inactive lava ocean entry, and Kilauea Crater are within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park; access and viewing information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm.