Why did the crater overflow if it's in a DI cycle?

[unknownjulie]

If you look on the graph from HVO it shows a big deflationary downturn, and it seems that at it's nadar- the lava lake overflowed- last night. The overflow is in the report put out this morning. This doesn't make sense to me. What I am misunderstanding? thanks.

[rainyjim]

You appear to be assuming that anyone actually understands volcanoes to the extent that they could accurately judge what will happen.

[Carey]

It is probably best to actually ask the experts at HVO this question...as they are the experts & they have the most data...

But from the little I have learned going to the Volcano Talks they give... RJs answer may be the most accurate that you will get from anyone that is not working at HVO

[Guest]

Good question Julie, I thought when the lava lake level at the summit starts its deflationary periods is when the lava surges down the chamber to this other lava lake at Pu'u'o. This lava lake at Pu'u'o then over flows and pushes more lava down its lava tube to increase the activity of the forest burning and slow moving flow. Showing no signs of stopping after 30 years now, This is a very long lasting eruption if you ask me, maybe Kiluea has had longer eruptions in the past???

[Royall]

I have been under the impression that the inflation/deflation is in reference to the volcano its self. expansion and contraction of the mountain. So I don't think the lava level is necessarily in sync with the previous. Very good chance that I'm wrong too!!

Royall

Hale O Na Mea Pa`ani

[Bullwinkle]

It is my impression that the DI cycle is just that - this current eruption cycle consists of cycles of inflation and deflation ....

inflation part of the cycle the lava lake in the crater rises and spills out of the fissures

deflation - being the "quiet" low lava volume part of the DI cycle

one can smell it in the air today - the woody smokey scent of the ohia roasting.....

[Midnight Rambler]

gypsy - the eruption from the summit that produced the Ai Laau flows that all the big Puna subdivisions sit on (and resulted in the formation of the current caldera when it stopped) lasted ~200 years.

[unknownjulie]

Hey, thanks for the explanations! On the graph, there are two lines that are plotted. ONe is for the actual volcano, and one is for the vent. The vent one showed the DI, but that is when the vent overflowed- and it was confusing to me.

[bluesboy]

the blue line is for POC which is at Puu Oo. the green line is for UWE which is at the summit. With regards to DI events, POC usually lags behind UWE by at least a few hours, as it takes time for changes at the summit to reach Puu Oo. theoretically at a given point in time, you could have summit deflation (UWE) and Puu Oo (POC) won't have started feeling it yet.

dakine brings up a good point - always look at the y axis - that scale fluctuates depending on the data contained in the graph for that time period. the current graph with only 2.5 microradians diff between min and max y axis values is close to background.

[Obie]

The crater didn't overflow,it was small pond within the crater that overflowed.

The pond is within Puu Oo !