Kilauea Water Update: 3 Steaming Ponds Grow at the Bottom of Halema’uma’u Crater (VIDEO) – Formation of a Lake?

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Observations conducted Sunday at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano revealed the presence of a third “pond” of water in Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

Halema‘uma‘u has not had a pond of water since written observations began, although scientists acknowledge certain Native Hawaiian chants mention the presence of water ponds on the caldera floor.

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n unusual pool of water has appeared in the Halema’uma’u crater of Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano, scientists have announced. And volcanologists don’t know why. The pond grew slightly in size and depth between the two dates; an “x” marks the same rock in both photos for comparison. Picture by USGS

For the first time in recorded history, a pond of water has been discovered inside the Halema’uma’u crater of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. This unprecedented discovery raises concerns from scientists for more explosive eruptions in the future.

The following video by USGS and recorded on August 4, 2019, shows steaming from the main pond of water at the bottom of the crater.

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”IHgnPWXo” upload-date=”2019-08-06T19:57:22.000Z” name=”Steaming pond of water at bottom of Kilauea crater” description=”For the first time in recorded history, 3 ponds of water have been discovered inside the Halemaumau crater of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. New video by USGS shows the steaming pond.”]

New thermal images indicate that the water surface is roughly 70°C (158°F) and kept hot by geothermal magmatic heat.

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Normal photograph (left) with a thermal image (right) collected on Sunday, August 4 by USGS

Moreover, they show the presence of two smaller areas of ponded water. So three in overall.

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Now there are 3 steaming ponds at the bottom of the Kilauea volcano crater. Thermal imagery by USGS

As of Saturday, the main pond was about 36 feet in diameter, and the smaller pond was about 20-23 feet in diameter. But they grow as shown in the images below and new ponds appear…

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Is a lake forming in the Kilauea volcano crater? Picture via USGS

Do you think we will soon have a lake in Halemaʻumaʻu crater?

Do you think those mysterious ponds of water at the bottom of the crater of Kilauea volcano mean that the next eruption is near? Today, Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting and the alert level is at NORMAL / GREEN.

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