Lava lake continues to rise

The lava lake within Overlook Carter continues to rise, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported Monday.

The lake was within 7 feet of spilling over the crater rim and onto the floor of Halemaumau Carter, according to the observatory. The lake, which is located within Halemaumau Crater at the volcano’s summit, is at its highest level since the crater opened in 2008, according to the observatory.

The Overlook Crater is located about 279 feet below Halemaumau’s rim. Jaggar Museum sits about 0.8 mile from the edge of Halemaumau Crater.

The current rise in the lava lake level comes amid a period of steady inflation at the summit, which began abruptly on April 21. During inflation, magma rises into the summit reservoir, according to the observatory. The summit reservoir enters the deflation portion of the cycle when the magma moves laterally into a rift zone and either erupts or is stored there.

The lava lake previously reached a high in October 2012 when it rose to within 77 feet of the Overlook Crater rim. The activity also came amid a period of inflation that later entered the deflation phase without notable incident.

The Overlook Crater within Halemaumau opened in 2008, after the viewing area near the rim of Halemaumau was closed in 2007 because of sulfur dioxide levels and safety concerns. When the Overlook Crater vent opened just below the viewing area, it measured about 115 feet wide. Today is it about 500 feet by 700 feet. Lava last covered the entire crater floor of Halemaumau in 1967 and 1968, nearly 50 years ago.

Meanwhile, breakouts along the June 27 lava flow remain active within 5 miles of Puu Oo.

The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on March 25 downgraded its alert level for Kilauea Volcano from a “warning” to a “watch.”