Pu'u O'o inflation

[glinda]

quote:

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Originally posted by Amrita

All of our would be volcanologists, any predictions?

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A look around at the tidbits of instrument data HVO shares with the rest of us I see that indeed the Puu Oo vent area is in what might be described as a very heightened state of inflation. This is not as easily seen when looking at short term data such as the weekly tilt as seen at the top of HVO's deformation page here:

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kil...ation.html

But if you look down at the bottom of the page at the Global Positioning System - Puu Oo Cone - Past Five Years plot you will see that the line length being measured has extended dramatically, which is indicative of inflation (ground rising) in the area. Further, while looking at this same plot you'll notice that the last time this type of event was seen was in May of 2016 which resulted in a new breakout on May 24, 2016 that started the flows to the South, to the sea. And, the time before that (on the plot) was in June of 2014 which started the fissure that produced the June 27th flow that went towards Pahoa. As such, I think it is reasonable to assume there is a good possibility that there will be a new fissure eruption on the flank of Puu Oo (which flank?) which will then start flows heading in whatever direction is topographically possible from there.