Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022

    The Trojan roster is comprised of talent from Kaʻū High and Volcano School of the Arts & Scieces: Adahdiyah Ellis Reyes, Jaestin Karasuda, Keaka McDonnell, Loea Kaupu, Gabriel Sesson Paaluhi-Young, Lois Emmanuele Badua, Jance Kajiwara-Ke, Josiah Manila-Louis, Eddie Wirtz, Roger Miguel, Jr., Kainalu Jr. Wanzer, Stephen Adler, Hezekiah Keohuloa-Aldaya, Toby Kekoa Burgos, Desmond Camba, Zayden Gallano, Vladimir V Fedoruk, Collin Hanshew, Chaz KajiwaraKe, Dylan Davis, Kaimana Kaupu-Manini, Joe Buyuan, Tyson Junior Kuahuia-Faafia, Ocean Nihipali-Sesson, Rylan Peralta, Edd Zackary Badua, Dakota Seaver, Kani Lee Konman, Raedyn Louis, CyZeiah SilvaKamei, Triton Blanco, Jovan Javar, Dominic Nurial-Dacalio, Blake Self-Ah Yee, Kamaehu Guerpo-Craft, Hunter Pascubillo, Isaiah Manila-Louis, and Treyton Calantoc. 

    Head Coach is Greg Rush, Assistant Coaches are Garrett Greedy, Ted Blanco and Mark Peters. Athletic Trainer is Moses Whitcomb. Athletic Director is Tim Gould. 

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WITH TWO MORE DAYS IN THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND, HAWAI'I ISLAND POLICE REMIND MOTORISTS "to safely celebrate the achievements of all workers in Hawai‘i County. There is absolutely no excuse when it comes to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
    HPD notes that "Every year, far too many people are senselessly injured or killed on our island roadways. To date in 2022, 663 DUI arrests have been made. In addition, 25 people have been killed in traffic related crashes so far this year, compared to 15 for the same time period last year, an increase of 66.7 percent.
    "If you plan on drinking alcohol or consuming anything that could impair your abilities this holiday weekend, please do not drive. Have a plan to get home with a sober driver, call a cab, a ride share, and a friend, or family member. There are many options to keep you and your loved ones safe."
    Police remind Big Island motorists to "slow down, wear your seatbelt, stay focused on the road."
    Officers are conducting additional patrols focusing on impaired driving, speeding, and any dangerous driving behavior on Hawai‘i Island. 

    HPD emphasizes: "When officers see a driver they believe to be under the influence, they will stop them. If an officer determines a driver is under the influence of an intoxicating substance they will be arrested and taken to jail. This is fair warning, there are No Excuses Hawaii. Drive sober or get pulled over."
    As part of this year’s No Excuses Campaign, the Hawai'i Department of Transportation is partnering with the four county police departments to remind drivers that there are no excuses for driving while impaired or speeding. "More importantly, drivers should make plans to have a safe alternative to drinking and driving," says the DOT statement.
    According to preliminary state data for 2021, out of 94 fatal crashes in Hawai'i, 47.9 percent were related to speeding, and 61.7 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for having alcohol and/or drugs in their systems.

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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY TURNS TO ICELAND'S NEW ERUPTION in this week's column by U.S.G.S affiliates and scientists. Volcano Watch notes:
    Footage of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021 showed glowing lava flows and bubbling cones that were evocative of Hawaiian eruptions. Visitors and reporters flocked to the Iceland eruption site, while scientists and local authorities monitored the eruption closely to keep everyone safe.

    The Fagradalsfjall eruption gained such fame that it kept attracting people even after the eruption stopped on Sept. 18, 2021. Last month, on Aug. 3, after almost a year of repose, a new eruption began!

    Prior to the recent activity, the last eruptive period in the area was over 800 years ago. Two fissure eruptions from the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system produced extensive lava flows that entered the ocean on the peninsulas north and south coasts. According to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection, the Reykjanes Peninsula could be entering into a period of extended unrest that could include alternating seismic, deformation, and eruptive activity.

    This region is one of the few places where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible on land, with eruptions characterized by effusive lava flows and limited tephra deposits. Iceland’s international airport is located on the western end of Reykjanes Peninsula and the capital, Reykjavík, lies on the northeastern end. Therefore, eruptions on the peninsula have the potential to be highly disruptive.

People gathered around a lava flow in Iceland last year at Fagradalsfjall. Photo from My Modern Met by Brian Emfinger

    The current unrest along the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system started in January 2020 around Mount Thorbjorn with seismic activity and uplift that was beyond the typical background levels. Scientists concluded that a magmatic intrusion had occurred at several kilometers depth based on seismic and deformation data. Throughout the year, several more seismic swarms and intrusive episodes occurred in the area, along with a few stronger earthquakes.
    In February 2021, increased seismicity and a deformation signal suggested an intrusion occurred near Fagradalsfjall. By early-March, seismic activity ramped up with increased earthquake counts, larger events, and seismic tremor—which was attributed to shallow magma movements at around 1–1.5 km (0.6–1 mi.) depth. The Icelandic Meteorological Office noted that an eruption was possible without any strong precursory signals because the magma was already close to the surface.
Around 8:45 p.m. on March 19, 2021, an eruption began near Fagradalsfjall, in Meradalir valley. Low lava fountains erupted from an approximately 200 m (650 ft.) long fissure. After several weeks eruptive activity focused at a single vent where the fountains built a horseshoe-shaped spatter cone feeding a channelized lava flow through its opening. 

    The eruption site was approximately 10 km (6 mi.) from the nearest populated region and about 2.6 km (1.6 mi.) from the peninsula’s south coast road—so not in the immediate vicinity of critical infrastructure.  The threat level was considered to be relatively low because of its location, size, and effusive nature.

    The eruptive activity lasted for six months, and after it ended, inflation suggested that magma was flowing into the area at depth. In late-December 2021, another intrusion and earthquake swarm followed, which appeared similar to the one in March 2020.

    On July 30, 2022, increased seismic activity reappeared on Reykjanes. Deformation around Fagradalsfjall suggested that magma from a shallow intrusion was approximately 1 km (0.6 mi.) below the ground surface and on Aug. 2 the IMO released a statement saying that an eruption near Fagradalsfjall in the coming days was likely. The following day an eruption began. Around 1:18 p.m. on Aug. 3, a new fissure opened in Meradalir Valley, located on the northern ridge of the March 2021 lava field. After the eruption onset, seismicity and deformation rates quickly slowed.  Unlike the 2021 eruption, activity decreased significantly after less than three weeks. By the night of Aug. 21, there was no indication of volcanic activity at the eruption site, and the volcanic tremor had ceased.

South of the active lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u, there is a much smaller lava pond. Lava flows that appear darker grey and shiny around this feature attest to recent overflows. Telephoto image from south rim of Halema‘uma‘u Sept. 2.  USGS image by K. Mulliken

    The IMO continues to monitor the situation closely for any signs of change, along with dozens of other volcanoes in Iceland. Time will tell if the Iceland eruption is over or if it has just entered into a pause. Meanwhile, here in Hawai’i, the eruption of Kīlauea within Halema‘uma‘u continues and will soon reach its one-year anniversary.

Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea volcano is erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is at WATCH (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). Kīlauea updates are issued daily.    

    Over the past week, lava has continued to erupt from the western vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. All lava is confined within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain elevated and were last measured at approximately 1,400 tonnes per day (t/d) on August 26. Seismicity is elevated but stable, with few earthquakes and ongoing volcanic tremor. Over the past week, summit tiltmeters recorded variable tilt, with less than two microradians of fluctuation. For more information on the current eruption of Kīlauea, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/recent-eruption.

    Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption from the current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.     

    This past week, about 108 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded below the summit and upper elevation flanks of Mauna Loa—the majority of these occurred at shallow depths less than 15 kilometers (9 miles) below sea level. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show low rates of ground deformation over the past week. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures at both the summit and at Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone have remained stable over the past week. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa, see: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.  

    Three earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.7 earthquake 24 km (14 mi) NE of Honaunau-Napoopoo at -3 km (-2 mi) depth on August 31 at 11:02 p.m. HST, a M3.2 earthquake 11 km (6 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on August 27 at 4:34 p.m. HST, and a M3.3 earthquake 3 km (1 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 33 km (20 mi) depth on August 26 at 6:59 p.m. HST.

    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea's ongoing eruption and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.