[Geology2] Latest eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea takes breather

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Latest eruption at Hawaii's Kilauea takes breather

By JAYMES SONG

The Associated Press

HONOLULU — Kilauea volcano's latest eruption has decreased in activity and taken a breather from furiously spewing out lava for five days.

In this photo taken March 6, 2011 and provided by the US Geological Survey, a vent, around which a low cone was forming, is seen near Volcano Hawaii. Scientists are monitoring a new vent that has opened at the Kilauea volcano, sending lava shooting up to 65 feet high. (AP Photo/US Geological Survey)

In this photo taken March 6, 2011 and provided by the US Geological Survey, Lava spatters above the fissure just west of the base of Pu'u O'o crater near Volcano Hawaii. Scientists are monitoring a new vent that has opened at the Kilauea volcano, sending lava shooting up to 65 feet high. (AP Photo/US Geological Survey)

In this photo taken March 6, 2011 and provided by the US Geological Survey, Lava pours from the fissure just after daybreak and cascades out of sight into a deep crack near Volcano Hawaii.. Scientists are monitoring a new vent that has opened at the Kilauea volcano, sending lava shooting up to 65 feet high. (AP Photo/US Geological Survey)

In this photo taken Tuesday, March 8, 2011 and provided by the US Geological Survey, a view looking down onto the northeastern vent of the Kamoamoa eruption is seen in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaii. The latest eruption from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is decreasing in activity and has taken a breather from spewing out lava. (AP Photo/US Geological Survey)

The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said Thursday that the Kamoamoa fissure eruption that started Saturday "paused" by 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, with lava starting to recede from the channels a few hours earlier. Seismic activity and sulfur dioxide levels are also down but remain above normal.

"Our take is that it's paused," volcanologist Janet Babb said. "We're not using the word 'stopped.'"

Kamoamoa has paused before, but not for this long. And a break can last anywhere from hours to days, Babb said. Scientists headed back to the remote east rift zone Thursday to see if the eruption had restarted but no activity was observed as of 3 p.m. HT.

Kamoamoa has been unleashing loads of lava and gasses since the fissure cracked open Saturday. Lava shot as high as 100 feet and low-level fountains created several fiery lava flows, blanketing more than 120 acres.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has been in constant eruption since Jan. 3, 1983. The latest eruption is in the same area of the east rift where it started 28 years ago.

Because of the volcanic activity, the National Park Service has closed the Chain of Craters Road and all east rift and coastal trails, along with a campground until further notice. However, the park's most popular overlooks and summit trails remain open.

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