We present here a report about current Kilauea situation, thanks to our friend Tom Pfeiffer, who is currently at Hawaii Volcano Observatory. Surface flows continue to descend the Pulama pali where they transform into pahoehoe spreading out into the coastal flat. Most of the arriving lava seems to inflate the older flows rather than advance the stagnating margins of the recently active flowfield. Still, no lava is entering the sea. Margin of active pahoehoe spreading on the coastal flat.
Surface flows above and on the pali continue to pile up and smoothen the slope break of the pali.
During one night out of to or three, the show of numerous lavaflows descending the slopes of the pali is spectacular. The formation of lavatubes to carry the lava down the steep slope seems to make little or no progress. The after-pause pahoehoe flowfield in the coastal is growing rapidly. It has become apparent that it consists of 2 different branches, probably fed by separate outbreaks. On January 21, a narrow tongue of the W branch reaches the sea cliff, after having advanced rapidly for about 700 m in just 2 days.