James P. Kauahikaua

Reevaluation of vesicle distributions in basaltic lava flows

A fundamental dichotomy in the study of basaltic lava flows is that observations of active flows are restricted to flow surfaces, yet older flows are often exposed only in vertical cross section. Cross-sectional exposures of an inflated basaltic sheet flow emplaced in Kalapana, Hawaii, from 1990 to 1991 provide an unusual opportunity to merge these two viewpoints, permitting the development of the internal structure of the flow to be viewed in the context of its known emplacement history. We demonstrate that fundamental features of the flow structure—a thick upper vesicular crust that diminishes downward in overall vesicularity, a dense flow interior, and a thin lower vesicular zone—are generated through syn-emplacement cooling of upper and lower flow crusts. Both the inverse correlation of overall vesicularity and vesicle size and the constant relative thickness of the upper vesicular zone are unique to inflated flows and permit a reinterpretation of flows previously interpreted to be ponded (rapidly emplaced). Identification of inflation, in turn, implies near-horizontal paleoslopes and permits estimates of flow duration based on upper flow crust thickness.

Chronology of the episode 54 eruption at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, from GOES-9 satellite data

The free availability of GOES satellite data every 15 minutes makes these data an attractive tool for studying short-term changes on cloud-free volcanoes in the Pacific basin. We use cloud-free GOES-9 data to investigate the chronology of the January 1997, episode 54 eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Seventy-six images for this effusive eruption were collected over a 60-hour period and show the opening and shutdown of active fissures, the draining and refilling of the Pu‘u ‘O‘o lava lake, and the cessation of activity at the ocean entry.

Conclusion: recommendations and findings of the RED SEED working group

Abstract RED SEED stands for Risk Evaluation, Detection and Simulation during Effusive Eruption Disasters, and combines stakeholders from the remote sensing, modelling and response communities with experience in tracking volcanic effusive events. The group first met during a three day-long workshop held in Clermont Ferrand (France) between 28 and 30 May 2013. During each day, presentations were given reviewing the state of the art in terms of (a) volcano hot spot detection and parameterization, (b) operational satellite-based hot spot detection systems, (c) lava flow modelling and (d) response protocols during effusive crises. At the end of each presentation set, the four groups retreated to discuss and report on requirements for a truly integrated and operational response that satisfactorily combines remote sensors, modellers and responders during an effusive crisis. The results of collating the final reports, and follow-up discussions that have been on-going since the workshop, are given here. We can reduce our discussions to four main findings. (1) Hot spot detection tools are operational and capable of providing effusive eruption onset notice within 15 min. (2) Spectral radiance metrics can also be provided with high degrees of confidence. However, if we are to achieve a truly global system, more local receiving stations need to be installed with hot spot detection and data processing modules running on-site and in real time. (3) Models are operational, but need real-time input of reliable time-averaged discharge rate data and regular updates of digital elevation models if they are to be effective; the latter can be provided by the radar/photogrammetry community. (4) Information needs to be provided in an agreed and standard format following an ensemble approach and using models that have been validated and recognized as trustworthy by the responding authorities. All of this requires a sophisticated and centralized data collection, distribution and reporting hub that is based on a philosophy of joint ownership and mutual trust. While the next chapter carries out an exercise to explore the viability of the last point, the detailed recommendations behind these findings are detailed here.

Operational thermal remote sensing and lava flow monitoring at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Abstract Hawaiian volcanoes are highly accessible and well monitored by ground instruments. Nevertheless, observational gaps remain and thermal satellite imagery has proven useful in Hawai‘i for providing synoptic views of activity during intervals between field visits. Here we describe the beginning of a thermal remote sensing programme at the US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Whereas expensive receiving stations have been traditionally required to achieve rapid downloading of satellite data, we exploit free, low-latency data sources on the internet for timely access to GOES, MODIS, ASTER and EO-1 ALI imagery. Automated scripts at the observatory download these data and provide a basic display of the images. Satellite data have been extremely useful for monitoring the ongoing lava flow activity on Kīlaueas East Rift Zone at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō over the past few years. A recent lava flow, named Kahauale‘a 2, was upslope from residential subdivisions for over a year. Satellite data helped track the slow advance of the flow and contributed to hazard assessments. Ongoing improvement to thermal remote sensing at HVO incorporates automated hotspot detection, effusion rate estimation and lava flow forecasting, as has been done in Italy. These improvements should be useful for monitoring future activity on Mauna Loa.

Steepest-descent lines for Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai, and Mauna Kea Volcanoes, Hawaiʻi

This USGS data release includes two ESRI polyline shapefiles (file_names.shp) describing the describing the steepest-descent lines calculated at two levels of detail (See Process Step for explanation). To increase access to these data, KMZ (Compressed Keyhole Markup Language) versions of the polyline feature layers are included in this release (file_names.kmz). In addition to these data layers, two supplementary data layers from the Big Island Mapping Project (BIMP) showing lava flows originating on Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes, originally published in Trusdell, Wolfe, and Morris (2006), are included for context and reference. Both ESRI polygon shapefiles and KMZ versions of these files are included, naming conventions are identical as the files in this release. This metadata file provides information for the GIS data files unique to this data release. Below are the files that comprise this release, including the metadata files: Steepest-Descent_lines_3M_m2.shp Steepest-Descent_lines_750K_m2.shp Steepest-Descent_lines_3M_m2.KMZ Steepest-Descent_lines_750K_m2.KMZ Kilauea1983-1996_from_BIMP.shp ML1984_from_BIMP.shp Kilauea1983-1996_from_BIMP.kmz ML1984_from_BIMP.kmz mauna_loa_steepest_descent_lines_FGDC.xml mauna_loa_steepest_descent_lines_FGDC.txt