Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists continue to monitor the new eruption at Kilauea volcano.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists continue to monitor the new eruption at Kilauea volcano.
As of about 4:45 a.m. this morning, an HVO field crew noted the surface of the lava lake was 487 meters (1,598 feet) below the crater rim observation site, indicating that the lake has filled 134 meters (440 feet) of the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u crater.
That is more than double the depth of the water lake that was in the crater until Sunday night, when it was vaporized.
The scientists also noted this morning that the lake rose 3 meters (about a yard) in 3.5 hours.
Fountaining continues at two locations, more vigorously at the eastern vent, and both vents continue to feed the growing lava lake, according to HVO.
The eruption began Sunday night and was followed by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake.