The steep nature of the west flank combined with a low effusion rate means that the new lobe is not accumulating to form a lava flow. Instead the newly extruded material is collapsing under gravity in the forms of rockfalls, some of which have been observed to be quite large. These rockfalls are reaching no more than 2 km from the summit so present no hazard to the population. Incandescence has now been observed from rockfalls cascading down the N flank. Further field trips and flights will be producing new data to monitor the effusion and to enable the estimation of the effusion rate.
During February the first significant change in the dome was observed with a new lobe pushing out to the west. This side of the dome already had reached the crater rim last year and rockfalls had started cascading down this flank. The new lobe has increased the size and frequency of rockfalls.