Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) announced Tues., Sept. 7, that the Kīlauea volcano is not currently erupting.
However, 33 earthquakes have been detected under the surface within and southwest of Kīlauea’s summit caldera, and extending to the Koa'e fault zone.
Most of the earthquakes are less than magnitude 2 and have happened approximately 0.6-2.5 miles below the surface.
“Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates remain at very low levels that have persisted since May 2021, when the most recent summit eruption ended,” HVO stated in its weekly update. “The most recent SO2 emission rates, measured on Aug. 26, were 45 tonnes per day, close to levels associated with the non-eruptive period from late 2018 to late 2020 (less than 50 tonnes per day). This is significantly lower than emission rates that averaged over 800 tonnes per day from mid-February to mid-April when the summit eruption of Kīlauea was ongoing.”
The levels of volcanic gas, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide can remain locally hazardous, although the volcano is not erupting. HVO stated that sulfur dioxide gas emissions remain low.
As of today, the surface of Halema'uma'u lava lake is still covered by stagnant and solidified lava crust and has not demonstrated any indication of Halema'uma'u vent resuming eruption, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Halema'uma'u lava lake was actively erupting from December 2020 to May 2021.