The steady lowering of the lava lake in 'Overlook crater' within Halema?uma?u at the summit of Kilauea volcano has raised the potential for explosive eruptions in the coming weeks. The USGS More Quotes by The USGS More Quotes From The USGS You are safer practicing the drop, cover and hold on maneuver under a sturdy piece of furniture like a strong desk or table. The USGS top-news The Pacific Plate is moving to the northwest with respect to the North American Plate. The USGS top-news When hot lava buries plants and shrubs, methane gas is produced as a byproduct of burning vegetation, methane gas can seep into subsurface voids and explode when heated, or as shown in this video, emerge from cracks in the ground several feet away from the lava. When ignited, the methane produces a blue flame. The USGS science This morning dense ballistic blocks up to 60 cm (2 feet) across were found in the parking lot a few hundred yards (meters) from Halemaumau (Kilauea's crater), these reflect the most energetic explosions yet observed and could reflect the onset of steam-driven explosive activity. The USGS top-news More explosive activity generating larger ash clouds remains possible and can occur with no warning. The USGS top-news The magma chamber is likely imparting its own stresses on the crust around and above it, as the system slowly recharges. The stress drives fluids through cracks, producing the small quakes. The current pattern of seismicity is similar to swarms seen at Mount St. Helens in 2013 and 2014; recharge swarms in the 1990s had much higher earthquake rates and energy release. The USGS latest-headlines Significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response. The USGS top-news
