Hawai’i Volcano Blog – Big Island Now https://bigislandnow.com Big Island News, Weather, Entertainment & More Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:07:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 UPDATE: Episode 29 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption abruptly ends after 13 hours https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/20/precursory-low-level-activity-is-ongoing-for-episode-29-of-the-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-eruption/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/20/precursory-low-level-activity-is-ongoing-for-episode-29-of-the-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-eruption/#comments Sun, 20 Jul 2025 22:07:09 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=404864 Update at 10 p.m. Sunday, July 20: Episode 29 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly around 6:35 p.m. on Sunday after over 13 hours of continuous lava fountaining.

The north vent stopped erupting around 6:35 p.m., marking the end of the episode; the weakly-active south vent had stopped erupting several hours earlier.

Lava fountains did not exceed 330 feet during this episode, as most lava was sprayed laterally within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. An estimated 1.8 billion gallons of lava erupted during the episode, covering approximately 80% of the crater floor.

Visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park can expect the spatter deposits and lava flows from this episode to exhibit slow movement and incandescence within the southern part of Kaluapele as they cool and solidify over the coming days.

Volcanic gas emissions have greatly decreased since fountaining stopped, and the sulfur dioxide emission rate will likely range from 1,200–1,500 tons per day during the new eruptive pause.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter recorded approximately 18.5 microradians of deflationary tilt during this episode. The end of the episode was coincident with a rapid change from deflation to inflation at the summit and a decrease in seismic tremor intensity.  

Original story at 12 p.m. on Sunday, July 20: Dome fountains and lava overflows can be observed as Episode 29 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption continues from early Sunday morning.

A screenshot of the live view of the eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu, from the northwest rim of the caldera. (Courtesy of the USGS Youtube)

Precursory low-level activity for Episode 29 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 3:55 a.m. Sunday, July 20, with spattering at the north vent, followed shortly after by dome fountains and lava overflows starting around 4:11 a.m.

According to the National Weather Service, winds are forecast to blow from the north to northeast today, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the south and southwest.

In previous episodes, low-level precursory activity—eruptive vent spattering, small dome fountains, and lava overflow—has lasted from a few hours to a few days. Due to the heightened level of pressurization reached during the most recent eruptive pause, precursory activity for Episode 29 may be brief, and sustained high lava fountaining may begin soon.

At the start of previous episodes, precursory activity has rapidly escalated into sustained high fountaining over minutes to tens of minutes. During previous episodes, fountains reached heights of more than 1,000 feet and the eruptive plume reached heights of up to 20,000 feet above ground level soon after sustained high fountaining began.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter at the summit has recorded approximately 17.8 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of the last episode, during which it recorded 15 microradians of deflationary tilt. Low-level seismic tremor continues beneath the Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

All eruptive activity is confined to the Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and airports in Hawaiʻi County will not be affected by the activity.

Three Kīlauea livestream videos can be watched on the U.S. Geological Survey Youtube account.

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting at least several days. A timeline of eruptive episodes is available online.

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. Another notification will be issued when sustained high lava fountaining begins, marking the start of Episode 29, or earlier if an update is needed.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/20/precursory-low-level-activity-is-ongoing-for-episode-29-of-the-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-eruption/feed/ 2
Volcano Watch: Remembering a destructive Mauna Loa eruption 75 years ago https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/18/volcano-watch-remembering-a-destructive-mauna-loa-eruption-75-years-ago/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/18/volcano-watch-remembering-a-destructive-mauna-loa-eruption-75-years-ago/#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=404577 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea have been shining a spotlight on Hawai’i’s most active volcano, but let’s not forget the larger one looming in Kīlauea’s background.

Mauna Loa is now quiet, so it’s a good opportunity to remember the 1950 Southwest Rift Zone eruption — the volcano’s most recent eruption to cause significant damage — 75 years ago.

This photo was taken by a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring webcam just before 6 a.m. July 9, 2025, during Episode 28 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Mauna Loa looms in the background, illuminated by the morning sun. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

Mauna Loa erupted frequently prior to 1950. Consistent written records of Mauna Loa eruptions begin in 1843. Between then and 1950, there were 30, meaning that before 1950, Mauna Loa erupted on average every 3 to 4 years.

Fast forward to 2025 and there have been only three eruptions during the past 75 years since: 1975, 1984 and 2022.

While the frequency of eruptions has decreased since 1950 compared to the century before, Mauna Loa remains an active volcano that will erupt again someday.

Eruptions of Mauna Loa generally start high in the summit region, above 12,000 feet in elevation. From there, eruptions can migrate into one of the two rift zones — the Northeast Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone — or, less commonly, radial vents on the volcano’s northwest flank.

Mauna Loa inflation because of magma accumulating beneath the surface was evident on monitoring stations during the spring of 1950 at the summit of Kīlauea.

Seismic activity under Mauna Loa increased in May of that year, with the largest earthquake — a magnitude-6.4 temblor — happening May 29.

A swarm of earthquakes shook the volcano June 1, and the night sky was illuminated at 9:25 p.m. with red glow as a fissure system 2.5 miles long opened high on the southwest flank of Mauna Loa’s summit region.

Activity at the initial fissure system lasted just a few hours, and lava flows stalled at about 9,000 feet in elevation. Soon after, two other sets of fissure vents opened lower on the Southwest Rift Zone, between 10,500 and 8,500 feet and 8,200 and 7,810 feet in elevation.

Lava fountains nearly 200 feet high fed a system of complex braided lava flows moving nearly 5 miles per hour down Mauna Loa’s steep west flanks.

About 3 hours after those lower fissures opened, the first lava flow crossed Highway 11 and entered the ocean, destroying a gas station, post office and several homes along the way.

Fourteen and a half hours after the eruption began, another lava flow crossed Highway 11. This second flow destroyed several homes and entered the ocean about 1.2 miles south of the first flow.

Activity at both lava flows and their ocean entries ceased within about a day.

Yet another set of fissure vents opened even lower on the volcano later the night of June 1, between 8,200 and 7,810 feet in elevation. A lava flow from this fissure entered the ocean by the afternoon of June 2, farther south than the two earlier flows.

Lava would drain from Mauna Loa for the next 3 weeks via this channelized lava flow into the ocean.

Before the eruption ended June 23, Hoʻokena village was destroyed, including a post office, church, gas station, cemetery and at least 5 homes.

Structures of the Magoon Ranch, ʻŌhiʻa Lodge and several other vacation/fishing cottages were also destroyed. Lava flows crossed Highway 11 in three locations.

One man — who was looking after cattle on a ranch — was trapped between two lava flows for 28 hours before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Thirty-five homestead lots were later opened in Kona for people whose property had been covered by lava in 1950.

The 1950 eruption was the largest-volume eruption of Mauna Loa’s Southwest Rift Zone since written records began; lava flows moved quickly down steep slopes in the region to enter the ocean within hours of the eruption onset.

Mauna Loa has been quiet since the 2022 Northeast Rift Zone eruption, but monitoring data indicates magma is slowly accumulating within the volcano.

As communities on the flanks of Mauna Loa continue to grow, Hawaiʻi Island residents should not forget these past eruptions.

While 75 years is a long time to humans, it goes by in the blink of an eye for an active volcano.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within its summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level Remains at Watch.

Episode 28 of the ongoing eruption happened July 9, with about 9 hours of fountaining from the north vent. Summit region inflation since the end of Episode 28, along with persistent tremor, suggests another episode is possible.

Current inflation data indicate Episode 29 is likely to start between July 17 and 18.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Normal.

One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week:

  • MAGNITUDE-3 located 3 miles south-southwest of Pāhala at a depth of 19 miles at 6:14 p.m. July 15.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the volcano observatory website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/18/volcano-watch-remembering-a-destructive-mauna-loa-eruption-75-years-ago/feed/ 134
Volcano Watch: Snowshoeing on Kīlauea? High fountain episodes pose new challenges to volcano monitoring https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/11/volcano-watch-snowshoeing-on-kilauea-high-fountain-episodes-pose-new-challenges-to-volcano-monitoring/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/11/volcano-watch-snowshoeing-on-kilauea-high-fountain-episodes-pose-new-challenges-to-volcano-monitoring/#comments Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=403938 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and volcano activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory maintains a network of nearly 150 monitoring instruments — that track activity above and below the surface — on Hawaiʻi Island’s Kīlauea volcano.

The high lava fountain episodes of the ongoing episodic eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within Kaluapele, the volcano’s summit caldera, that started Dec. 23, 2024, present new challenges to maintaining parts of the Kīlauea summit monitoring network near and immediately downwind of the two eruptive vents.

Episode 28 — the most recent in the sequence so far — fired off geysers of molten rock rock for about 9 continuous hours July 9, with 8 of them being high fountaining, reaching a maximum height of about 1,200 feet.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers on July 10, 2025, visited monitoring stations downwind of the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents. They wore snowshoes, as the large footprint keeps the field engineers walking on top of the frothy pumice everywhere instead of sinking through it. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/M.Warren)

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers the next day, on July 10, strapped on snowshoes as they prepared to work in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, southwest of the eruptive vents.

With each step, the ground crunched and their feet sunk a little.

Large footprints of snowshoes kept the field engineers on top of the frothy pumice everywhere rather than stepping through. A soft sound of clinking could be heard as tiny pieces of volcanic glass floated through air, shimmering in the sunlight.

Engineers wore full-face respirators for protection from these particles — known as tephra.

Tephra is any volcanic material erupted that travels through the air before landing on the ground. It includes very small particles such as volcanic ash, light and frothy rocks full of holes called reticulite, more robust rocks such as scoria, larger pieces called bombs and ever-present Pele’s hair.

Lava fountains of the ongoing episodic eruption have created a growing tephra blanket downwind of the eruptive vents.

On the crater rim closest to the vents, the tephra is as thick as 80 feet deep.

Lava flows fed by the 28 fountaining episodes of the ongoing eruption have covered nearly 850 acres of the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater floor — up to 236 feet thick in some areas.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff have moved several monitoring stations that were too close to lava flows or buried by falling tephra.

The instruments themselves remained functional, and most — including the F1 thermal camera, KWcam, B1cam and continuous laser rangefinder — have been redeployed near the V1 streaming camera in an area less likely to be impacted by the eruption.

Solar panels that power U.S. Geological Survey volcano monitoring equipment at the Kīlauea summit can be covered with tephra during eruptive episodes of the ongoing eruption. These tephra particles can range in size from fine ash to the size of tennis balls and larger. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers visit these stations after eruptive episodes to clean them off and restore power to the stations. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/M.Warren)

The B2cam on the crater floor underwent a full melt down, but its solar power supply survived and was airlifted to the south rim to power the new V3 livestream camera.

Several other monitoring stations are located farther away from the vents but still impacted by the eruption.

The instruments at these stations — many of which measure volcanic gas — are positioned southwest of the summit because that direction is usually downwind of summit eruptions during common trade wind conditions.

Being downwind of the ongoing eruption means, in addition to the gas they are designed to measure, the stations are subjected to tephra fall.

Infrastructure at monitoring stations in this area can be covered by tephra depending on wind direction during an eruptive episode. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff have visited these sites following eruptive episodes to dig them out and remove tephra from solar panels, restoring power to the station.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates, which the observatory measures to help track eruptive activity, are not possible when this part of the network is down.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists are exploring other methods for obtaining sulfur dioxide emission rates. In the meantime, numerous measurements during past pauses and eruptive episodes allow us to generally estimate emission rates during different types of activity.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates during past pauses between fountaining episodes were measured at about 1,200 to 1,500 tonnes per day. Those during eruptive episodes were measured up to 75,000 tonnes per day.

It’s likely sulfur dioxide emission rates have been even higher during recent eruptive episodes; although, measurements have not been possible.

High lava fountains can also temporarily block radio telemetry, preventing data flow from monitoring stations.

Following Episode 27 on June 29, 2025, of Kīlauea’s ongoing episodic summit eruption, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers visited several sites July 1, 2025, southwest of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater to remove tephra that accumulated on solar panels and station infrastructure. (Photos Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/M.Warren)

Most telemetry paths have been re-routed to avoid this issue, but several instruments — including the Sandhill tiltmeter, Cone Peak global positioning system and several seismic stations — might continue to be affected during high fountaining episodes.

The area southwest of eruptive vents can be difficult to access.

Depending on wind direction during fountaining episodes, more tephra can blanket the landscape — and access road — to the southwest.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff assess the feasibility of visiting monitoring sites after each eruptive episode, with staff safety being the primary priority.

A small portion of the Kīlauea monitoring network is being impacted by the ongoing summit eruption, but the observatory is still able to adequately monitor the volcano.

Maintaining the instrument network during eruptions is one of the challenges that comes with monitoring one of the most active volcanoes on Earth.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within its summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch.

Episode 28 of the summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater happened July 9, with about 9 hours of fountaining from the north vent. The south vent did not activate and was completely covered by new volcanic deposits.

Summit region inflation since the end of Episode 28, along with persistent tremor, suggests another eruptive episode is possible, though more time — and data — are needed before a forecast can be made.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes.

No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

A fan-shaped lava fountain erupts at about 6:30 a.m. July 9, 2025, during Episode 28 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island. The high fountaining was visible from near Kīlauea Overlook within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/K.Mulliken)

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Normal.

One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week:

  • MAGNITUDE-2.9 located 6 miles south of Volcano at a depth of 3 miles at 5:04 a.m. July 6.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the observatory website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/11/volcano-watch-snowshoeing-on-kilauea-high-fountain-episodes-pose-new-challenges-to-volcano-monitoring/feed/ 12
UPDATE: Episode 28 was great, showing off with 1,200-foot molten rock geysers https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/09/kilauea-starts-up-early-this-morning-displaying-fountaining-lava/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/09/kilauea-starts-up-early-this-morning-displaying-fountaining-lava/#comments Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:37:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=403735 Update at 3:37 p.m. July 9, 2025: Episode 28 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano showed off a little, pumping molten rock geysers up to heights of about 1,200 feet from the north vent inside its Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

But as has been the case for the past several eruptive episodes, it didn’t last too long.

Episode 28 was great, firing off high lava fountains for 8 of the continous 9 hours of fountaining from 4:10 a.m. until ending abruptly at 1:20 p.m. today.

View from the V2 webcam at 3:09 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2025, looking at the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater in Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island. The view is from the caldera’s northeast rim. High lava fountaining from the vent of the ongoing episodic summit eruption lasted about 8 of the 9 continuous hours of fountaining, from 4:10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., during Episode 28 on July 9, 2025. (Courtesy Photo: U.S. Geological Survey)

There did not appear to be any activity from the south vent at all during this episode, and it was completely covered by new deposits. The growing cone around the north vent also started to connect with the top of the surrounding cliff in some places.

Lava flows from this episode onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu within the southern part of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, might continue to exhibit slow movement or incandescence as they cool and solidify during the coming days.

Slumping of molten cone material around the north vent could also continue for the next 24 hours and can produce small, localized lava flows.

Volcanic gas emissions greatly decreased since the end of fountaining.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter at the summit recorded about 15 microradians of deflation during Episode 28.

The end of the eruptive activity coincided with a rapid change from deflation to inflation at the summit and decrease in seismic tremor intensity, as has been the case with each previous episode during this ongoing summit eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024, .

Most episodes of have continued for about a day or less and have been separated by pauses in activity of at least several days.

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea.

Hazards still exist, including Pele’s hair and tephra, which could affect areas downwind of the eruptive vents, as well as vog, or volcanic smog. Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for additional information.

Kīlauea’s U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code at Orange.

All current and recent eruptive activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Visit the park website for up-to-date visitor information.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea. A new Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued at the start of the next eruptive episode.

Regularly scheduled daily Kīlauea updates are posted on the observatory website

You also can keep a keen eye on the eruptive vents inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater yourself by checking out the three Kīlauea summit livestreams available on YouTube.

Original story posted at 7:43 a.m. July 9, 2025: Kīlauea is putting on a show once again.

Episode 28 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 4:10 a.m., and is currently exhibiting a vent overflow and fountains reaching roughly 150 feet, according to U.S. Geological Survey this morning.

All eruptive activity is confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s watch status for Kīlauea volcano remains in effect. According to Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, tephra from the eruption is falling on Highway 11 between the 36 and 40 mile markers. Motorists are advised to drive with caution.

The National Weather Service also issued an alert warning of periods of ashfall from the eruption.

Web cams and satellite data indicate that occasional small bursts of volcanic ash continue to emanate from Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Low-level trade winds will push ash toward the west to west-southwest, and any ash fallout will likely occur over the Ka‘ū District and Highway 11 southwest of the town of Volcano.

The county agency also advises motorists to expect slow-moving traffic and traffic congestion in and around the national park.

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days.

Past eruptive episodes have produced incandescent lava fountains over 1,000 feet high that result in eruptive plumes up to 20,000 feet above ground level, according to USGS.

High fountaining associated with this episode has not yet begun but is expected to start soon, as tremor, deflation, and fountain height are all increasing.

Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos that show eruptive lava fountains are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams

Episode 28 was preceded by gas pistoning cycles, some of which produced small lava overflows at the north vent yesterday. Fountains from the north vent are currently 150 feet high and feeding multiple lava streams at 5 a.m.

Click here for the timeline of eruptive episodes since December. 23, 2024.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/09/kilauea-starts-up-early-this-morning-displaying-fountaining-lava/feed/ 11
Volcano Watch: So what on Earth (or at least on Kīlauea) is a ‘gas piston’? https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/04/volcano-watch-so-what-on-earth-or-at-least-on-kilauea-is-a-gas-piston/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/04/volcano-watch-so-what-on-earth-or-at-least-on-kilauea-is-a-gas-piston/#comments Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=403158 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

If you’ve been following the ongoing episodic summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island, you might have seen the terms “gas piston” or “gas pistoning” show up in some of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory updates, photo captions and other places.

If you’ve followed Kīlauea’s activity for even longer than the current eruption, you might have seen the term pop up before as well — the phenomenon was observed in the 2008-18 lava lake as well as vents at Puʻuʻōʻō between 1983 and 2018.

It’s been seen during even earlier eruptions, such as sat Maunaulu in the 1960s and in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater in the early part of the 1900s at the summit caldera — during Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar’s tenure at Kīlauea.

In the top panel, lava rises March 19, 2025, in the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater prior to Episode 14 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano. Note that only a faint, hazy gas plume is visible near the right edge of the lava surface. In the middle panel, the lava surface has risen to the point of lava spilling out of the vent and the molten rock has begun to spatter and more violently release trapped gas, with a more obvious plume. In the bottom panel, the lava is more clearly draining down in the center of the vent, with the lava surface dropping and even more of a plume visible as more gas escapes. (Photos Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

But what exactly is “gas pistoning” to which we’re referring?

Essentially, gas pistoning is a shallow, degassing-driven rise and fall of a lava surface.

These pistons often occur in narrow conduits, although they can happen in larger lava lakes and even in lava channels — and in bunches, as part of a series.

To start a piston, or one cycle of pistoning, lava at the surface becomes more viscous, or thick, usually by cooling. It’s more difficult than usual for gases to escape from that cooler, more viscous lava.

So gases that would otherwise escape easily into the atmosphere instead begin to accumulate and build up a foamy, bubbly layer beneath that surface of cooler lava.

Eventually, the foamy layer becomes buoyant enough to push the whole layer of viscous lava above it up to higher levels in the volcanic conduit — akin to a piston moving up inside an engine.

If the lava reaches the top of the conduit, such that it can spill out, the top lava layer thins out to the point that the gas layer beneath can be released, which is often accompanied by lava spattering and bubble bursts.

Any lava that did not spill out of the conduit can then drain back deeper, where it might or might not become part of another gas piston cycle.

If the lava remains within a conduit, but still at a higher level than normal because of the buoyant foam layer, the piston could destabilize on its own, or it might require an external force to destabilize it.

Many gas pistons at Maunaulu and Halemaʻumaʻu have been observed to end, or drain, when rocks from a rockfall punctured the top layer of viscous lava, which then allowed the gas from the accumulated foam layer to escape.

When the lava is rising or at a static high level, with most of the gas trapped in the foam layer, volcanic tremor and sulfur dioxide emission rates drop to low levels because much volcanic tremor is caused by degassing itself.

If the gas can’t escape normally — whether during a gas piston or some other circumstance — not as much tremor is generated. When a gas piston ends, with the lava draining back down accompanied by violent spattering and release of the accumulated gas, tremor spikes.

We have observed a range of gas piston types during this ongoing episodic summit eruption at Kīlauea.

They began to become obvious in March as part of precursory activity ahead of sustained lava fountaining Episodes 14 and 15. Since then, some episodes have had obvious precursory gas pistons and others have not.

Some gas pistons during the current eruption involve lava rising high enough that overflows spilled out of both vents in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, which can help initiate gas release and lava drainback.

Others don’t quite reach the top of the magma conduit in the vents and instead drain without having lava overflows.

Still more aren’t visible to our cameras or even observers in the field, but based on variations in recorded tremor and sulfur dioxide emission rate, we can surmise that pistoning is still happening, just deeper in the conduit and out of view.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory does not yet have a full understanding of why the gas pistons are often a precursor to the high fountaining episodes or why they might behave differently from episode to episode.

But we continue to collect geophysical and gas chemistry data, and make other geological observations, in order to better understand the gas pistoning phenomenon and the role it plays in the ongoing summit eruption.

Gas pistoning has been observed at Kīlauea for more than 100 years, and we expect it to continue during the ongoing eruption and as part of future eruptions, too.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within its summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch.

Episode 27 of the ongoing episodic eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater happened June 29, with about 11 hours of fountaining from the north and south vents.

Summit region inflation since the end of Episode 27 along with persistent tremor suggest another eruptive episode is possible and could start between July 7 and 12.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Normal.

No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the observatory website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/07/04/volcano-watch-so-what-on-earth-or-at-least-on-kilauea-is-a-gas-piston/feed/ 2
UPDATE: Lava geysers reach heights up to about 1,100 feet before Episode 27 of Kīlauea summit eruption ends https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/29/update-lava-geysers-reach-heights-up-to-about-1100-feet-before-episode-27-of-kilauea-summit-eruption-ends/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/29/update-lava-geysers-reach-heights-up-to-about-1100-feet-before-episode-27-of-kilauea-summit-eruption-ends/#respond Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:09:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=402682 Update at 10:09 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2025: Episode 27 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater ended abruptly just before 8 p.m. Sunday (June 29) after nearly 11 hours of continuous, sustained and vigorous lava fountaining.

Screenshot from the U.S. Geological Survey V3 livestream camera at 9:01 p.m. Sunday, June 29, looking at the eruption site within the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported at 8:20 p.m. in a Volcanic Activity Notice that waning lava geysers from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater stopped completely at 7:54 p.m., several hours after reaching maximum heights up to about 1,116 feet.

Flames were visible at the south vent for a few minutes afterwad.

High fountains produced about 1.6 billion gallons of lava, covering 80% of the crater floor.

Since fountaining ended, volcanic gas emissions greatly decreased.

Lava flows from this episode within the southern part of Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera, could continue to exhibit slow movement or incandescence as they cool and solidify throughout the coming days.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter recorded about 16.4 microradians of deflation during this episode, which was also coincident with a rapid change from deflation to inflation at the summit and decrease in seismic tremor intensity.

Most episodes of the ongoing episodic summit eruption have continued for about a day or less and were separated by pauses in activity lasting generally at least several days.

No changes have been detected in the volcano’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue a new Volcanic Activity Notice at the start of the next eruptive episode.

If possible, HVO will also issue a Volcanic Activity Notice upon the onset of low-level precursory activity.

Daily Kilauea updates will be published each morning as regularly scheduled, which are posted on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

You can also keep an eye on the summit through three U.S. Geological Survey livestream cameras.

Screenshot from the U.S. Geological Survey V1 livestream camera at 9:01 p.m. Sunday, June 29, looking at the eruption site within the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island.

Kīlauea’s U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code at Orange.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website as well for information about Kīlauea hazards.

All current and recent eruptive activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Visit the park’s website for visitor information.

Original post from 11:09 a.m. Sunday, June 29, 2025: Sustained lava geysers began pumping from the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island just after 9 a.m. today (June 29), marking the beginning of the volcano’s 27th eruptive episode since the ongoing eruption began Dec. 23, 2024.

A view from the V1 livestream camera at 10:19 a.m. Sunday, June 29, 2025, as lava fountains from the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island. (Screenshot from U.S. Geological Survey livestream)

Fountains from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater became more vigorous, reaching up to about 500 feet at the time and feeding multiple lava streams flowing onto the Halemaʻumaʻu floor.

By about 10:30 a.m., however, a view of any of the three livestreams provided by U.S. Geological Survey watching the volcano’s summit showed fountains skyrocketing to likely close to or even well more than 1,000 feet.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported in is Volcanic Activity Notice at about 9:30 announcing Episode 27 had commenced that fountain heights were expected to increase during the next hour or so.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu say winds are blowing from the northeast to east, though field observations indicate actual wind conditions are more variable.

Consequently, at this time it is uncertain what direction volcanic gas emissions and tephra from the fountain could be distributed around Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for discussion about Kīlauea hazards, which include volcanic “smog” calleed vog, Pele’s hair and tephra that could impact Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park — where the eruption is confied — and areas downwind of the summit.

Episode 27 was preceded by small, sporadic dome fountains in the north vent that began at about 7:30 a.m. today, which continued to increase in vigor during the next hour and a half before becoming taller by about 9 a.m.

Summit inflation reached just more than 16.5 microradians since June 20 when Episode 26 ended, which recorded 18.5 microradians of deflation.

Lava skyrockets from within the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island on Sunday, June 29, 2025, about an hour and a half after Episode 27 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption began just after 9 a.m. This image is from the U.S. Geological Survey V3 livestream camera. watching the volcano’s summit. (Screenshot from U.S. Geological Survey livestream)

Seismic tremor began increasing and tilt switched from inflation to deflation at about 7:30 a.m., about the same time lava flows began erupting onto the crater floor.

Most eruptive episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater lava fountaining since the summit eruption began have continued for about a day or less and have been separated by pauses in activity lasting generally at least several days.

No changes have been detected in Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Kīlauea’s U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code at Orange.

Another Volcanic Activity Notice will be issued when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused or earlier if the situation warrants.

Recent observations as of 9:31 a.m.

  • Volcanic cloud height: About 11,500 feet.
  • Other volcanic cloud information: Sulfur dioxide emission rate is typically 50,000 tonnes/day during sustained lava fountaining episodes.
  • Lava flow: Confined to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera.
  • General hazards: Pele’s hair, tephra and volcanic gas could impact the national park and downwind areas.
  • Ash cloud: Plume in past episodes has reached up to 20,000 feet above ground level.
  • Ashfall: Small volcanic particles could impact the national park and downwind areas.

Visit the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and is in contact with the national park and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense about eruptive hazards.

A view of lava fountaining at about 10:19 a.m. Sunday, June 29, 2025, from the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island. The image is from the U.S. Geological Survey V2 livestream camera watching the volcano’s summit. (Screenshot from U.S. Geological Survey livestream)
]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/29/update-lava-geysers-reach-heights-up-to-about-1100-feet-before-episode-27-of-kilauea-summit-eruption-ends/feed/ 0
Be patient and show aloha if plans include trip to see latest episode of Kīlauea lava fountaining https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/29/be-patient-and-show-aloha-if-plans-include-trip-to-see-latest-episode-of-kilauea-lava-fountaining/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/29/be-patient-and-show-aloha-if-plans-include-trip-to-see-latest-episode-of-kilauea-lava-fountaining/#comments Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:29:57 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=402700 The public is urged to be patient and aware of the situation if plans include a trip to see the latest episode of spectacular lava fountaining within the summit of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano.

Screenshot from U.S. Geological Survey livestream V3 camera at 2:47 p.m. Sunday, June 29, of the lava fountain erupting from the north vent within Halema’uma’u Crater at Kīlauea volcano inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Geysers of molten rock continued to skyrocket above the north vent in Halema’uma’u Crater as of about 3:15 p.m. Sunday (June 30). Episode 27 of the ongoing summit eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024, started just after 9 a.m. this morning.

Height and vigor of lava fountains began to increase dramatically after, from about 500 feet to what looks like easily more than 1,000 feet now by taking a quick look at one of the three U.S. Geological Survey livestream webcams available on YouTube.

Needless to say, the eruption’s availability — being right there at the volcanoes summit — and during the day is leading to an influx of visitors to the national park.

“When erupting, Halema’uma’u Crater is truly a site to see,” said Hawai’i County Civil Defense in an 11:29 a.m. message Sunday.

But if your travels take you to the volcano today to see the pumping geysers of molten rock in person, remember:

  • Be aware of traffic congestion in and around Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Reports on social media said to expect delays just getting into the park and traveling through the Volcano area.
  • Drive with caution as pedestrians and parked vehicles might be near or on the roadway.
  • Be patient, as your kōkua will allow everyone to enjoy this event.
  • Be aware of tephra on Highway 11 south and east of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
  • Avoid areas downwind if you have a sensitive respiratory system. Winds are variable, so remain alert.

“Expect the park to be extremely busy,” the national park said in a Facebook post Sunday morning. “You are likely to encounter stop-and-go traffic through the construction detour near the entrance.”

Screenshot from U.S. Geological Survey livestream V1 camera at 1:22 p.m. Sunday, June 29, of the lava fountain erupting from the north vent within Halema’uma’u Crater at Kīlauea volcano inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Here are tips park rangers wanted members of the public to know if they plan to to visit:

  • Speed limit is 5 mph through the construction detours.
  • Park in designated areas only. Do not block emergency access or traffic lanes.
  • Stay away from cliff edges and to keep your keiki nearby.
  • Pedestrians: Pay attention to traffic and use sidewalks and crosswalks.
  • Stay out of closed areas. There are great views of Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera, that are open all along Crater Rim Trail and old Crater Rim Drive.
  • Be prepared. Bring water. Because of ongoing construction, bottle filling stations are temporarily unavailable.

The park reiterated in its post to be patient and bring your aloha.

Check the park website for alerts, viewing areas and U.S. Geological Survey webcams.

You can also find additional information about this episode at the U.S. Geological Survey website Kīlauea page and on the Hawai‘i County Hazard Impact Map.

If you can make it, don’t wait. The view is still spectacular now nearly 6 hours after vigorous lava fountains began.

Don’t take our word for it.

There are plenty of others across social media saying the same.

“That north vent is FIRING!” wrote Kelli Veras when sharing a Facebook reel Sunday. “If can. Get here now!”

Replies to her post included: “Gosh that’s massive,” “Wow! And it goes again!” and “This one is setting a new record for height I bet.”

Lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u Crater at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 29, 2025, in the summit of Kīlauea volcano in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Facebook page)

The fountaining lava was roaring so much that Ralph LeVitt commented on Big Island Now’s post announcing the beginning of Episode 27: “We’re hearing it 6 miles down the hill in Fern Forest.”

The national park might have summed it up the best — in all caps.

“WOW!! WHAT A SHOW THIS MORNING!!” a park Facebook post shouted at about 10:12 a.m., accompanying a video of the lava geyser.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/29/be-patient-and-show-aloha-if-plans-include-trip-to-see-latest-episode-of-kilauea-lava-fountaining/feed/ 3
Precursory activity begins for Episode 27 of ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/28/precursory-activity-begins-for-episode-27-of-ongoing-kilauea-summit-eruption/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/28/precursory-activity-begins-for-episode-27-of-ongoing-kilauea-summit-eruption/#comments Sat, 28 Jun 2025 22:16:13 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=402603 Many people across social media ask if lava is still fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island when they see pictures of previous eruptive episodes or comment about how they just missed an episode.

Others ask when the next fountaining episode will be so they can try to make it to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and witness it in person.

Lava is seen about 33 to 66 feet below the rim of the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island during a Friday, June 27, 2025, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory summit monitoring helicopter overflight. The north vent glowed during the past several nights and some minor spatter was visible overnight June 26-27. Precursory activity for Episode 27 began at the north vent the morning of Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/R. Gale)

Here’s some advice if you keep missing the geysers of molten rock this ongoing eruption has become so well-known for and want to see the next: Get all the latest information from the experts at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Tip No. 2: You can also keep an eagle eye on the three Kīlauea summit livestreams available on the U.S. Geological Survey YouTube channel.

All of them, by the way, are in agreement today that it won’t be long now until the next episode of sustained fountaining begins.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported just before 9 a.m. today (June 28) in a Volcanic Activity Notice that low-level precursory activity for Episode 27 of the ongoing episodic eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater began about 7:30 a.m.

That activity consists of intermittent lava overflows from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater, one of two vents where the eruption has been focused since beginning Dec. 23, 2024.

“Sustained lava fountaining is likely to begin on June 29 or 30 [Sunday or Monday] based on the current rate of summmit inflation, but could begin sooner if precursory activity escalates,” the observatory said in its notice.

The tiltmeter at Uēkahuna had recorded 15.5 microradians of inflation by the time the notice was issued this morning since June 20 and the end of Episode 26, during which it recorded 18.5 microradians of deflation.

Low-level seismic tremor also continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

During recent eruptive episodes, low-level precursory activity lasted from a few hours to a few days and can include lava spatter from the north and/or south vents, small dome fountains and lava overflowing from one or both vents.

Lava fountains have consistently reached heights of more than 1,000 feet and the eruptive plume soared to up to 20,000 feet after sustained fountaining began during several of the most recent episodes.

Precursor activity didn’t take long to escalate during the past few episodes either, rapidly transitioning into sustained high lava fountaining within a matter of minutes or tens of minutes.

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since the summit eruption began have continued for about a day or less and then been separated by pauses in activity that have lasted generally at least several days.

No changes have been detected in Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Kīlauea’s U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code at Orange.

All eruptive activity is confined within the summit inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

A view from the U.S. Geological Survey’s livestream V3 camera as of 11:32 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2025, of the north and south vents in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island. Precursory activity for Episode 27 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption began about 7:30 a.m. Satruday at the north vent.

Click here for information about hazards associated with Kīlauea.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Kīlauea closely and will issue another Volcanic Activity Notice when when sustained lava fountaining begins, marking the start of Episode 27, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.

Visit the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website for visitor information.

Get Kīlauea updates sent directly to your inbox by subscribing to the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Notification Service. You can also find daily Kīlauea updates online.

A Kīlauea activity summary is even available by phone by calling 808-967-8862.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/28/precursory-activity-begins-for-episode-27-of-ongoing-kilauea-summit-eruption/feed/ 1
Volcano Watch: Where does Kīlauea tephra go? The answer is blowin’ in the wind https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/27/volcano-watch-where-does-kilauea-tephra-go-the-answer-is-blowin-in-the-wind/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/27/volcano-watch-where-does-kilauea-tephra-go-the-answer-is-blowin-in-the-wind/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=402397 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

The spectacular series of Kīlauea eruptive episodes during the past 6 months has been remarkably safe for public viewing, but a simple change in wind or brief vent collapse could cause dramatic shift in the hazards produced by the volcano.

Recent “Volcano Watch” articles described the episodic nature of this eruption, with episodes of lava fountains separated by pauses. Other “Volcano Watch” articles described hazards associated with the lava fountaining.

This animated GIF shows a time-lapse sequence consisting of one image every several days between Dec. 25, 2024, and June 20. The photos were taken from the northern rim of the Kīlauea caldera, near Uēkahuna Overlook, and the view is south toward the ongoing eruption site in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. The sequence shows the dramatic development of a tephra cone on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u during the 26 episodes of lava fountaining that have happened since the summit eruption started Dec. 23, 2024. (Images Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

The extent and severity of hazards associated with lava fountaining depend on three factors:

  1. Lava fountain height.
  2. Wind conditions.
  3. Lava fountain angle.

Overall, lava fountains during this eruption have been getting higher.

This pattern is not guaranteed to continue, but the four most recent episodes have erupted the highest lava fountains — all taller than 1,000 feet. Incredibly, these spectacular fountains are still shorter than the record 1,900-foot fountains of the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption.

Taller fountains mean more tephra — pieces of the lava fountain, which includes Pele’s hair — can be deposited further away, as the starting point from which tephra begins to fall to the ground is higher up.

The ongoing eruption has created a hill of tephra southwest of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, similar to how tephra fallout from the 1959 Kīlauea Iki fountains formed Puʻupuaʻi.

During the last four episodes, the hill has grown by as much as 30 feet in a single episode!

The growing hill hasn’t posed a hazard to the public as it is within a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but this brings us to wind.

Dominant trade wind conditions generally send tephra and volcanic gas southwest over the remote Kaʻū Desert.

Eruption viewing areas within the national park are unaffected, but there can be decreased air quality in communities downwind of Kīlauea because of volcanic gas and vog — or volcanic smog — plus small amounts of Pele’s hair might fall.

Future episodes could occur during less favorable conditions or during wind patterns affected by hurricanes.

This already happened: Episodes 15 and 16 occurred during low and variable winds, and Pele’s hair fell on nearby communities — from Volcano Golf Course to ʻŌhiʻa Estates and beyond.

During Episode 15, tephra also fell at Uēkahuna and Kīlauea overlooks resulting in the temporary closure of these popular viewing areas, while during Episode 16 tephra fell on Highway 11.

What if an episode occurs during kona winds — the opposite direction from trade winds?

Recent episodes provide a guide.

Episode 23 fountains reached 1,150 feet during strong persistent trade winds with speeds of 9 to 14 mph. Episode 24 fountains reached 1,200 feet during trades with speeds of 5 to 10 mph.

Both times, tephra deposits were up to 2 feet thick a mile directly downwind — about the same distance as from the vents to Kīlauea Overlook.

The tephra deposit was visible for both in satellite imagery up to 2.5 miles away, slightly less than the distance from the vents to Volcano House. This corresponds to an inch or less of tephra.

What about lava fountain angle?

Imagine a garden hose blasting water. If the nozzle is pointed straight toward the sky, water falls back down on the ground nearby; although, wind can send the water downwind. This is the default behavior of lava fountains.

An “inclined fountain” happens when the nozzle is angled away from the sky — a change in vent geometry — or if there is a partial blockage.

Inclined fountains happened briefly and suddenly in 1959 at Kīlauea Iki and 1969 at Maunaulu after the cone partially collapsed into the vent during lava fountaining, causing a partial blockage. It took up to 20 minutes for the blockages to clear and the fountain to straighten itself.

As the nearest viewing areas of the current eruption are more than a mile away from the vents, they are not likely to be directly affected in the unlikely event of an inclined fountain.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Kīlauea’s summit eruption and its hazards, working closely with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense.

The combination of an episodic lava fountain and hurricane season is rare, and its good to maintain an awareness of which way the wind is blowing.

These maps show lava flow and tephra accumulation at Kīlauea volcano associated with Episodes 23 (left) and 24 (right) of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater that started Dec. 23, 2024, using data recorded by the Italian Space Agency’s COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite constellation. These maps combine cross-polarized radar amplitude images taken on two different dates along with interferometric coherence from the time between those dates. In the maps, unchanged barren areas are represented in blue/purple, vegetated areas appear in yellow/light green and new deposits over barren land in either dark or bright green. Large yellow dots show measured tephra deposit thickness and the dotted circle encompasses distances within 1.3 miles of the eruptive vents. Public viewing areas within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park are indicated with white squares. (Maps Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch.

Episode 26 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater occurred June 20, with about 9 hours of sustained lava fountaining from the north and south vents. Summit region inflation since the end of Episode 26, along with persistent tremor, suggests another eruptive episode is possible and could start between June 29 and July 3.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Normal.

No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the observatory’s website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/27/volcano-watch-where-does-kilauea-tephra-go-the-answer-is-blowin-in-the-wind/feed/ 1
UPDATE: Episode 26 showcases dizzying peak lava fountain heights during early morning at Kīlauea summit https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/20/update-episode-26-showcases-dizzying-peak-lava-fountain-heights-during-early-morning-at-kilauea-summit/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/20/update-episode-26-showcases-dizzying-peak-lava-fountain-heights-during-early-morning-at-kilauea-summit/#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:47:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401894 Update at 2:47 p.m. June 20, 2025: Lava fountains peaked at dizzying heights of well more than 1,000 feet during the early morning today (June 20) after the onset at 2 a.m. of the latest eruptive episode of the ongoing summit eruption inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano.

Lava fountains from the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater during Episode 26 of the ongoing episodic eruption at the summit of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano. This view is from the U.S. Geological Survey V2 summit livestream camera and is from 3:02 a.m. June 20, 2025.

But just about 8 hours after sustained fountaining and lava flows onto the crater floor within Kaluapele, the volcano’s summit caldera, started Friday from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater, Episode 26 came to an abrupt end at 10:25 a.m., when continuous activity stopped at the south vent.

The north vent stopped erupting nearly 20 minutes earlier at 10:07 a.m.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported at 10:58 a.m. today in its Volcanic Activity Notice that volcanic gas emissions have greatly decreased.

Lava flows from Episode 26 on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu within the southern part of Kaluapele will continue to exhibit slow movement and incandescence as they cool and solidify during the coming days.

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. All eruptive activity is confined within the summit area and inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code remain at Watch and Orange, respetively.

This reference map depicts statistics from the ongoing episodic Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u Crater that began Dec. 23, 2024, through its 24th eruptive episode. Most of the map data included here were collected during a June 10 Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight, between Episodes 24 and 25. (Courtesy Map: U.S. Geological Survey)

Hazard analysis as of 10:58 a.m. June 20

  • General hazards: Pele’s hair and tephra may affect areas downwind of eruptive vents.
  • Volcanic gas: Usually 1,200-1,500 tonnes/day Sulfur dioxide between eruptive episodes. Sulfur dioxide and vog can cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations.
  • Lava flow within the summit caldera: Might continue to exhibit slow movement or incandescence as flows cool and solidify during the coming days.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for additional discussion about Kīlauea hazards.

The observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue a Volcanic Activity Notice/Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation at the start of the next eruptive episode and, if possible, also at the onset of low-level precursory activity.

Regular daily Kīlauea updates also are published each morning on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

View of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater from 11:53 a.m. June 202, 2025, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The camera is positioned on the south rim and the view is to the west. (Courtesy Image: U.S. Geological Survey S2cam)

Original post at 4:09 a.m. June 20, 2025: Episode 26 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano began at about 1:40 a.m. today (June 20), with lava fountains and flows erupting from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater within Kaluapele, the summit caldera.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that fountains were observed already reaching heights of more than 1,000 feet by 2:10 a.m., just 30 minutes after sustained fountaining began.

“Happening now. I can’t believe I caught this on video! I got the eruption changing!” exclaimed Kelli Veras in a Facebook reel posted at 2:03 a.m. today, in which you not only can see the massive lava fountain at the volcano’s summit but hear the roaring of the molten rock as it is ejected from the earth. “Look at the surge 12 seconds in. This thing is huge. OMG.”

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said winds are blowing from the north, which suggests volcanic gas emissions and tephra could be distributed south of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

Forecasters issued a special weather statement as a result of ashfall likely from the massive lava ejections.

Local doppler radar data indicated at about 1:30 a.m. today that bursts of volcanic ash were erupting up to 20,000 feet at Halemaʻumaʻu. Low level trade winds are expected to push the ash toward the west-southwest, and any ash fallout will likely occur over portions of Kaʻū and Highway 11, southwest to west of Volcano.

That might include the communities of Pāhala and Wood Valley.

Trade winds are spreading this ash in the same direction, and repeated eruptions could lead to a heavier buildup of ash in the area. Additionally, any ash deposited will be picked up off the ground by the wind, contributing to dusty conditions.

The National Weather Service advises the public to avoid excessive exposure to volcanic ash, which is an eye and respiratory irritant. Those with respiratory sensitivities should take extra precaution to minimize exposure.

Visit the Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard for health and safety recommendations.

A close-up view from the U.S. Geological Survey livestream V1 camera at 3:07 a.m. June 20, 2025, of lava erupting from the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater during Episode 26 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano. Episode 26 started at about 1:40 a.m. June 20.

Episode 26 was preceded by small, sporadic spattering and lava overflows from the north vent that began at about 11:26 p.m. Thursday (June 19) and continued to increase in intensity until 1:40 a.m. today, when sustained fountaining began.

Fountains from north vent are also feeding a lava flow onto the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater floor.

Inflationary tilt reached just more than 15.3 microradians since the end of Episode 25 the evening of June 11.

Seismic tremor began increasing and tilt at the summit switched from inflation to deflation at about the same time lava fountaining increased in intensity.

Most episodes of sustained lava fountaining since the ongoing episodic eruption started Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for about a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days.

No changes have been detected in Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will notify the public when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code remain at Watch and Orange, respectively.

All current and recent activity is confined within the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Additional observations as of 2:10 a.m. June 20:

  • Volcanic cloud height: About 14,800 feet.
  • Other volcanic cloud information: Sulfur dioxide emission rate is typically 50,000 tonnes/day during eruptive episode.

Hazard analysis as of 2:10 a.m. June 20:

  • General hazards: Pele’s hair, tephra and volcanic gas may impact downwind areas.
  • Ash cloud: Plume in past episodes has reached up to 20,000 feet above ground level.
  • Ashfall: Small volcanic particles could impact downwind areas.
  • Volcanic gas: Typically 50,000 tonnes/day during sustained lava fountaining episodes.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for additional information about Kīlauea hazards.

Regular Kīlauea daily updates also are posted on the observatory’s website.

View from the U.S. Geological Survey livestream V3 camera at 3:07 a.m. June 20, 2025, of lava fountaining during Episode 26 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater of Kīlauea volcano. Episode 26 started at about 1:40 a.m. June 20.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/20/update-episode-26-showcases-dizzying-peak-lava-fountain-heights-during-early-morning-at-kilauea-summit/feed/ 3
Volcano Watch: School’s out for summer — introducing new Hawaiian Volcano Observatory interns https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/19/volcano-watch-schools-out-for-summer-introducing-new-hawaiian-volcano-observatory-interns/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/19/volcano-watch-schools-out-for-summer-introducing-new-hawaiian-volcano-observatory-interns/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401756 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week’s article is being issued a day early because of the Juneteenth federal holiday (June 19).

As another school year ends, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory welcomes two new summer interns: Kamalani Poepoe and Ruth Gale.

With an ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea, now is the perfect time for these interns to contribute to ongoing work to better understand eruptions in Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory summer 2025 interns Kamalani Poepoe and Ruth Gale. Poepoe is pictured earlier this year on the rim of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park during one of the fountaining phases of the summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu. Gale is pictured standing on the rim of one of two volcanic pit craters in Idaho, known as Crater Rings, which formed within the past 2 million years. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

Poepoe is an undergraduate at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo majoring in geology, with a minor in astronomy. She is participating in geoscience research at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory through the Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Sciences.

This is Poepoe’s second year as a Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Sciences intern at the volcano observatory, and her knowledge in the world of geoscience continues to grow.

In her first summer with the observatory, she explored the field of petrology, analyzing lava samples erupted during the June 2023 eruption at Kīlauea volcano to gain a better understanding of how and why Kīlauea continues to erupt.

This summer, Poepoe is using her petrology analysis techniques to study eruptions at Kīlauea’s summit between 2020 and 2023.

She continues to grow her geoscience toolbox, working with a seismologist at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to integrate recorded earthquake data from these eruptions to more uniquely constrain how and where magma was sourced during those events.

Poepoe is being mentored by observatory scientists Kendra Lynn (petrology) and Ninfa Bennington (seismology), along with Lis Gallant (physical volcanology) in the Geology Department at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Her summer experience will include work in the geochemistry lab, learning basic computer programming skills and aiding in eruption response at Kīlauea’s summit.

Ruth Gale recently completed her undergraduate degree at Pomona College in California, with majors in math and geology as well as a minor in physics.

Gale will head to the Stanford University this fall to work on a doctorate degree that integrates the fields of fluid mechanics, petrology and geodesy to understand the mechanisms that lead to lava fountaining at active volcanoes.

Geodesy uses surveying tools such as global positioning system and/or satellite radar to measure subtle changes in the shape of the Earth’s surface. These data are used to model underground processes such as magma migration and storage.

During her summer at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Gale will expand her skills in the field of geodesy by studying the ongoing and dramatic lava fountaining episodes at Kīlauea’s summit.

Specifically, she will analyze global positioning system data from the observatory’s permanent stations at Kīlauea summit to look for subtle changes in deformation associated with lava fountaining.

Gale is interested in understanding what portions of the magma storage reservoir at Kīlauea are providing the material being erupted during these lava fountaining events. She aims to answer the question: What can we learn about the structure of magma storage at Kīlauea from these fountaining episodes?

Her summer will include computer programming and analysis focused on this topic as well as assisting the deformation team with field activities such as maintaining the observatorys’s permanent global positioning system network.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff look forward to working with Poepoe (again!) and Gale as they pursue their research questions. Between their research and the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea, these interns will be busy.

We wish them an insightful summer of science as they enter this period learning and growth at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory!

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since Dec. 23, 2024, within the summit caldera. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch.

Episode 25 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater — which is confined to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park — occurred June 11, with about 8 hours of high lava fountaining from the north and south vents.

Summit inflation since the end of Episode 25, along with persistent tremor, suggests another eruptive episode is possible and could start anytime through June 20. (The actual window is from June 18-20.)

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes.

No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Normal.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week:

  • Magnitude-2.9 located 8 miles south-southeast of Volcano at a depth of 4 miles at 2:56 p.m. June 13.
  • Magnitude-3.4 located 7 miles south-southwest of Volcano at a depth of 19 miles at 1:58 p.m. June 12.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the observatory’s website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/19/volcano-watch-schools-out-for-summer-introducing-new-hawaiian-volcano-observatory-interns/feed/ 1
Volcano Watch: Six Months of Halemaʻumaʻu Lava Fountains https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/15/volcano-watch-six-months-of-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-lava-fountains/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/15/volcano-watch-six-months-of-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-lava-fountains/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401629 Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. 

Late in the afternoon on Wednesday, June 11, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater for a closer look at the active Kīlauea summit eruptive vents. Even several hours into eruptive episode 25, lava fountains were still reaching higher than the crater rim, over 500 feet tall. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

There is much to appreciate about the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption as it approaches its 6-month anniversary on June 23. The stunning episodic lava fountains and lava flows erupting within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have provided island residents and visitors with safe and accessible viewing opportunities. However, volcanic hazards are always present. 

A cropped comparison of two USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcam images showing changes to the landscape of Kīlauea summit region over the past six months. Twenty-five episodes of lava fountaining within Halemaʻumaʻu have contributed to a growing deposit of tephra material in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, southwest of the vents. PC: USGS

Respiratory irritants from the eruption, including volcanic gases and vog (volcanic smog), are affecting communities far downwind. Additionally, Pele’s hair (thin strands of volcanic glass) and tephra (volcanic rock fragments) ejected from the lava fountains are also carried downwind.

During trade wind conditions, tephra and Pele’s hair are blown to the southwest of Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera, in an area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that has been closed to the public since shortly before the 2008–2018 summit eruption began. Tephra erupted during these typical wind conditions have formed a deposit that extends approximately 2 miles downwind of the vents, with smaller fragments and fine Pele’s hair traveling much further. The tephra has partially covered several volcano monitoring sites operated by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, requiring field crews to remove tephra from solar panels and other infrastructure between episodes.

Episodes 23, 24, and 25 provided some of the most impressive fountaining seen to date, reaching heights of up to 1200 feet. These remarkable fountain heights deposited hills of tephra along the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater that are estimated to be well over 50 feet thick. 

Aerial images comparing the tephra deposit southwest of Halemaʻumaʻu crater (left) from the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea summit. The top image, taken on Dec. 27, 2024, during episode 3, shows a thin layer of tephra (brown) has already accumulated on the left side of the image. The bottom image from June 10, 2025, was taken the day before episode 25 high fountaining started, and a continuous tephra blanket is covering a wide section to the southwest of the caldera rim, and continuing out of view. The orange star marks the location of the north and south vents. The blue circle in the upper photo highlights a kīpuka of green trees, and in the lower photo shows the same location where the kīpuka has been covered by a thick layer of tephra. USGS photos.

During slack or Kona wind conditions, volcanic gases, tephra, and Pele’s hair are typically dispersed to the north and east of the crater, toward areas open to the public.  Even during episodes with lower fountain heights of 330 feet or less, like episodes 4 and 5, Pele’s hair was falling at visitor areas within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as well as Volcano Village and other nearby communities. 

Episodes 15 and 16 had fountain heights over 1000 feet tall, and episode 18 had fountain heights over 820 feet tall. During these episodes tephra and Pele’s hair fell on Volcano House and the visitor center area, and as far away as Volcano Village and Maunaloa Estates. The national park temporarily closed the area from Uēkahuna bluff to Kīlauea Overlook during episodes 15 and 18 due to the falling and wafting Pele’s hair and tephra. Tephra from episode 16 fell along a 2 mile stretch of Highway 11 in the Kaʻū District of the national park. 

In addition to public viewing area closures within the national park during episode 15, tephra fallout also impacted a HVO volcano monitoring site on the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The former site of the KWcam, F1cam thermal camera, and the laser rangefinder was mostly buried by tephra during that episode. This monitoring station was deployed in 2019, and recorded data through five previous Kīlauea summit eruptions since late 2020. This site’s infrastructure was removed after it received minor damage. The cameras and laser rangefinder are still functional and HVO is currently working to redeploy these monitoring instruments.

The B2cam on the down-dropped block was also moved due to impacts from the ongoing eruption. This site was relocated to the southern rim of Halemaʻumaʻu cater on April 29, after a channelized lava flow came within about 10–20 feet of it. The camera housing melted from radiant heat from the lava, but the camera and the rest of the infrastructure remained intact and is now being used for HVO’s newest livestream camera: the V3cam.

In addition to impacting physical equipment, some of the highest lava fountains have even blocked the transmission of radio signals carrying HVO data streams.  These temporary outages resulted from the high fountains blocking the line of sight for data telemetry between relay towers and monitoring stations located south and southwest of the summit. HVO staff are currently working to resolve this issue by redirecting signal paths.

The ongoing eruption may continue to produce lava fountain episodes that provide us with awe-inspiring views. Along with the spectacular activity, comes hazards as well as challenges to monitoring infrastructure and telemetry, which HVO staff are finding creative solutions to maintain. 

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

Episode 25 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on June 11, with approximately 8 hours of fountaining from the north and south vents. Lava fountains reached above 1000 feet and the eruption plume reached more than 20,500 feet above ground level. Summit region inflation since the end of episode 25, along with persistent tremor, suggests that another episode is possible. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

Maunaloa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.6 earthquake 15 miles WNW of Kalaoa at a 25 mile depth on June 10 at 1:01 p.m. HST and a M3.9 earthquake 11 miles ESE of Nāʻālehu at a 23 mile depth on June 6 at 1:12 p.m. HST.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Maunaloa.

Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Maunaloa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/15/volcano-watch-six-months-of-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-lava-fountains/feed/ 1
Visitor from Boston rescued after falling off steep cliff to get better view of erupting Kīlauea https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/13/visitor-from-boston-rescued-after-falling-off-steep-cliff-to-get-better-view-of-erupting-kilauea/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/13/visitor-from-boston-rescued-after-falling-off-steep-cliff-to-get-better-view-of-erupting-kilauea/#respond Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:11:58 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401532 The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park search and rescue team performed a high-angle recovery that involved rappelling down the steep, heavily vegetated cliff face in the dark to hoist the man to safety. (Photo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park)
The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park search and rescue team performed a high-angle recovery that involved rappelling down the steep, heavily vegetated cliff face in the dark to hoist the man to safety. (Photo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park)

First responders rescued a male visitor Wednesday night after he fell 30 feet off a steep cliff after venturing off Byron Ledge Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to get a closer look at erupting Kīlauea, according to park officials.

The 30-year-old man from Boston suffered minor facial injuries.

He told search and rescue rangers that he wanted a closer look at the Kīlauea volcano eruption and got too close to the sheer cliff edge. He did not have a flashlight or headlamp.

Park dispatch was notified of the incident around 9 p.m.  

The park’s search and rescue team, who were managing eruption traffic, responded quickly and performed a high-angle recovery that involved rappelling down the steep, heavily vegetated cliff face to hoist the man to safety.

A tree had broken the man’s fall and prevented him from plunging another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death.  

A 30-year-old man from Boston fell 30 feet off a steep cliff after venturing off Byron Ledge Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. (Photo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park)
A 30-year-old man from Boston fell 30 feet off a steep cliff after venturing off Byron Ledge Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. (Photo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park)

Park rangers, trail signs, the brochure, website and social media consistently educate people about volcanic hazards:  

  • Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not approach earth cracks or cliff edges, the edge is often unstable, undercut, or hidden by vegetation or loose rocks. 
  • Do not climb over rock walls, railings or safety barriers. 
  • Keep a close eye on everyone in your group, especially children. 
  • Carry a flashlight or headlamp at night and always wear sturdy footwear with good traction when hiking. 

The park has experienced a surge in visitors since Kīlauea began its series of eruptions that began Dec. 23. The eruptions are in a closed area of the park due to its serious hazards, but is visible from many overlooks along the caldera rim.  

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/13/visitor-from-boston-rescued-after-falling-off-steep-cliff-to-get-better-view-of-erupting-kilauea/feed/ 0
Kīlauea is erupting again, with 330-feet high lava fountains for episode No. 25 https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/11/kilauea-is-erupting-again-with-330-feet-high-lava-fountains-for-episode-no-25/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/11/kilauea-is-erupting-again-with-330-feet-high-lava-fountains-for-episode-no-25/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:48:30 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401383

At 11:57 a.m. on Wednesday, as scientists expected, Kīlauea began erupting again.

By 12:30 p.m., the volume and vigor of lava fountains has increased for Episode 25 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of the volcano on the Big Island. This series began in late December.

Lava is currently fountaining from the north vent, reaching heights of approximately 330 feet, more than a football field high, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Episode 25 was preceded by intermittent gas-pistoning in the north vent, with associated small spatter fountains and lava flows which began before dawn on Tuesday. This activity, which occurred at a rate of about 5 to 10 gas piston events per hour, continued to increase in intensity until 11:57 a.m. Wednesday.

KIlauea lava fountains have been reaching more than 300 feet high during the latest eruption that began at 11:57 a.m. on June 11, 2025. (Screenshot: USGS live cam)
KIlauea lava fountains have been reaching more than 300 feet high during the latest eruption that began at 11:57 a.m. on June 11, 2025. (Screenshot: USGS live cam)

That’s when a small sustained dome fountain began to feed lava flows onto the crater floor. As of 12:30 p.m., fountains from the north vent are reaching about 165 feet high and feeding multiple lava streams. Fountains heights are likely to increase in the coming hours. 

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since the first of this series on Dec. 23, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days. 

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining ceases and the eruption is paused, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.

Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at WATCH/ORANGE.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/11/kilauea-is-erupting-again-with-330-feet-high-lava-fountains-for-episode-no-25/feed/ 1
Lava flowing into crater of Kīlauea; episode No. 25 of ongoing eruption about to begin soon https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/10/lava-flowing-into-crater-of-kilauea-episode-no-25-of-ongoing-eruption-about-to-begin-soon/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/10/lava-flowing-into-crater-of-kilauea-episode-no-25-of-ongoing-eruption-about-to-begin-soon/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:37:56 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401288

Glow and scattered spattering at the north vent of Kīlauea changed to more continuous spattering early this morning. At about 5:54 a.m., lava overflowed the north vent cone and is currently flowing onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

Episode No. 25 of the ongoing eruption of the Big Island volcano that began in late December is forecast to begin Wednesday or Thursday. But there is a chance that high fountaining could begin later today, according to personnel at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

In recent episodes of the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu, low-level precursory activity has lasted from a few hours to a few days. This activity can include spatter from north and/or south vents, small dome fountains, and lava overflowing from one or both vents.

At the start of previous episodes, precursory activity has rapidly escalated into sustained high fountaining over minutes to tens of minutes.

Lava overflowed the north vent cone of Kīlauea and is currently flowing onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. (Screenshot: USGS live camera)
Lava overflowed the north vent cone of Kīlauea and is currently flowing onto the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. (Screenshot: USGS live camera)

The tiltmeter at Uēkahuna has recorded 13 microradians of inflation since the end of the last episode. Low level seismic tremor continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater. 

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since December 23, 2024, have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days. 

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining begins, marking the start of episode 25, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.

Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at WATCH/ORANGE. All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/10/lava-flowing-into-crater-of-kilauea-episode-no-25-of-ongoing-eruption-about-to-begin-soon/feed/ 8
Volcano Watch: What fans the flames observed at volcanic vents? https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/07/volcano-watch-what-fans-the-flames-observed-at-volcanic-vents/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/07/volcano-watch-what-fans-the-flames-observed-at-volcanic-vents/#comments Sat, 07 Jun 2025 21:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=401119 Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week’s article is by Mike Cappos, a gas field engineer with HVO.

Recently, something has been observed “dancing” above the active eruptive vents inside Halemaʻumaʻu…Hydrogen flames! Let’s take a look into what causes this and other flame phenomenon on volcanoes.

Image of burning hydrogen above the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu taken during the evening of May 21, 2025. USGS photo.

During pauses between the high-fountaining episodes of the ongoing Kīlauea volcano summit eruption, which began on Dec. 23, 2024, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists—and astute watchers of the HVO livestream cameras—have periodically observed yellow to orange-colored flames emanating from the two vents inside of Halemaʻumaʻu. These flames, which look most impressive at night, are the result of burning hydrogen gas.

Flames of this nature have been observed in and near eruptive vents during past eruptions of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, and at other volcanoes around the world—often basaltic ones like ours in Hawaii. Flames were observed at Kīlauea in the early 1900s by Thomas Jaggar, the original founder of HVO, while he was observing eruptions inside Halemaʻumaʻu.

Other occurrences of flames have been observed during the 1969–1974 Maunaulu eruption, the 1986–2018 Puʻuʻōʻō eruptive era on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone, the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, the 2021–2022 Kīlauea summit eruption, and others.

Hydrogen gas is a minor constituent of volcanic gases. Water—which is made of hydrogen and oxygen—is a major component of volcanic gases, but in oxygen-poor magmas, some hydrogen that might otherwise be part of water remains as hydrogen itself in very small amounts.

Image of burning methane (blue flames in foreground) from ground cracks taken during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea in Leilani Estates subdivision. USGS photo.

How do we get flames from that hydrogen though? The temperature at which hydrogen ignites in air depends on its concentration. Generally, the higher the concentration of hydrogen present, the lower the temperature required for ignition.

One example of this was the Hindenburg airship disaster of 1937. The gas envelope of the Hindenburg was filled with pure hydrogen gas, which caught fire and exploded from only a stray spark when the airship was beginning to land, all at normal ambient temperatures in the atmosphere near the ground surface.

The low concentrations (less than 2%) of hydrogen gas present in and near volcanic vents require significantly higher temperatures for ignition to be achieved. Hydrogen gas such low concentrations needs temperatures above about 1380°F (around 750°C). Eruptive vents at Kīlauea have temperatures in excess of 1,830°F (1,000°C), which is more than sufficient to ignite the hydrogen.

However, we believe another key player for hydrogen to be efficiently ignited at the vent is the vent geometry. In most cases, flames are observed emanating from a hornito or small spatter cone within the vent.

In this sort of geometry, water-rich magmatic gas can accumulate inside the orifice and stay in an oxygen-poor state because it has not yet mixed with the oxygen-rich ambient atmosphere. The hornito or small spatter cone effectively acts as a super-hot nozzle to help induce the combustion of hydrogen, which creates the flames we have seen recently and during earlier eruptions.

But what about blue flames? The yellow/orange hydrogen flames in volcanic vents are somewhat elusive compared to the blue flames that are commonly observed around active lava flows.

Lava flows themselves typically don’t emit flames. Their broad surfaces disperse any remaining volcanic gases quickly and temperatures are too low to ignite any further diluted levels of hydrogen gas at the surface of the flow.

Blue flames that are sometimes seen around lava flows are more likely to be caused by the burning of methane gas, which is produced by the “cooking” of vegetation beneath the lava flow. This was a common observation during Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption in the Leilani Estates subdivision. Although those dancing blue methane flames may seem beautiful… they are dangerous themselves and can even create a secondary danger. As methane gets trapped beneath the lava flow, the methane may not just burn, it may explode in and around lava flows in vegetated areas. This is a constant danger to those in close proximity to a lava flow and extreme caution must be maintained.

Volcanic flames are an interesting offshoot of volcanic degassing; their intriguing presence is an informative clue about vent or lava flow conditions. Still, they are dangerous. So, we’re happy to have our current flames mesmerizing us from a safe distance away but easy to see in HVO livestreams.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

Episode 24 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred from June 4-5, with approximately 7.5 hours of fountaining from the north and south vents. Lava fountains likely reached above 1,000 feet and the eruption plume reached 16,500 feet above ground level. Summit region inflation since the end of episode 24, along with persistent tremor, suggests that another episode is possible. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.8 earthquake 12 miles south of Pa‘auilo at 15 miles depth on June 1 at 8:22 a.m.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/07/volcano-watch-what-fans-the-flames-observed-at-volcanic-vents/feed/ 1
Get ready for another lava show: Kīlauea Episode 24 expected to begin today or tomorrow https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/03/get-ready-for-another-lava-show-kilauea-episode-24-expected-to-begin-today-or-tomorrow/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/03/get-ready-for-another-lava-show-kilauea-episode-24-expected-to-begin-today-or-tomorrow/#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:02:29 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=400877

Vigorous degassing of sulfur dioxide, nighttime glow and intermittent lava spattering in the north vent indicate that magma is close to the surface of Kīlauea, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Episode 24 of the ongoing eruption within the Big Island volcanoʻs Halemaʻumaʻu crater is likely to begin today or tomorrow.

In recent episodes of the ongoing eruption, which began Dec. 23, low-level precursory activity has lasted from a few hours to a few days.

This activity can include spatter from north and/or south vents, small dome fountains, and lava overflowing from one or both vents. At the start of previous episodes, precursory activity has rapidly escalated into sustained high fountaining over minutes to tens of minutes.

The tiltmeter at Uēkahuna has recorded just over 12 microradians of inflationary tilt since the end of the last episode, with low level seismic tremor continuing beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater. 

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining during the ongoing eruption have continued for around a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting generally at least several days. 

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. A VAN/VONA will be issued when sustained lava fountaining begins, marking the start of episode 24, or earlier if the situation warrants a further update.

Kīlauea Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code remain at Watch/Orange. All current and recent activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

More Information:

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/03/get-ready-for-another-lava-show-kilauea-episode-24-expected-to-begin-today-or-tomorrow/feed/ 1
Chemical substance detected in sample at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park water system https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/02/chemical-substance-detected-in-sample-at-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-water-system/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/02/chemical-substance-detected-in-sample-at-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-water-system/#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:23:35 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=400802 Low levels of a chemical substance have been detected in a water sample collected from the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park water system.

The chemical detected is 1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzene (PCBTF) within the Volcano Catchment Chlorinator, which is owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior. PCBTF is an industrial solvent that is currently not regulated in drinking water, meaning there is no established federal or state maximum contaminant level or state environmental action level.

Courtesy of the Hawai‘i State Department of Health

PCBTF was detected at a concentration of 2.57 micrograms per liter (μg/L) in a sample collected on April 8, according to a press release from Hawai‘i State Department of Health. The water system formally notified the Hawaiʻi Department of Health of the PCBTF detection in an email dated May 23, 2025.

While toxicity data for drinking water exposure is limited, current information does not suggest an acute health risk at the level detected. The water system continues to meet all federal and state standards for safe drinking water.

Impacted users may contact the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park water system for more information.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/06/02/chemical-substance-detected-in-sample-at-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-water-system/feed/ 2
Volcano Watch: Halemaʻumaʻu eruption reaches new heights as HVO updates Volcano Alert Notifications https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/30/volcano-watch-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-eruption-reaches-new-heights-as-hvo-updates-volcano-alert-notifications/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/30/volcano-watch-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-eruption-reaches-new-heights-as-hvo-updates-volcano-alert-notifications/#comments Fri, 30 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=400586 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Episode 23 of Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu occurred May 25, 2025.

Record-setting lava fountain and plume heights were reached quickly during this eruptive phase, less than 1 hour after the start of the most recent episode of the summit caldera eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024.

Given the increasing airborne volcanic hazards associated with each new eruptive episode, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is changing its episode notification types moving forward.

Episode 23 lava fountains erupted continuously for 6 hours and reached heights of about 1,150 feet. These were the highest lava fountains observed so far during the current eruption.

An impressive blanket of tephra — volcanic rock fragments carried into the air — was deposited beneath and downwind of these fountains, primarily in the upper part of Kīlauea’s Southwest Rift Zone in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

High lava fountains erupted from the north and south vents during Episode 23 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption in Halema’uma’u Crater. Fountains reached heights of about 1,150 feet above the vent about an hour after the episode began. These were the highest lava fountains observed so far during the current eruption. The tall narrow finger of lava shown here, as well as the lower fountain to the right, are both sourced from the south vent, while the wider fountain in the foreground originates from the north vent. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/M. Patrick)

This episode also had the highest gas plume seen thus far in this eruption sequence.

The plume reached heights of more than 20,000 feet — and likely more than 25,000 feet — above Kīlauea’s summit, which is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet above sea level. The plume contained high levels of water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

These record-setting fountain and plume heights were reached quickly, less than 1 hour after Episode 23 started.

Following an extended period of gradual inflation and precursory low-level activity, Episode 23 began at 4:15 p.m., with thin jets of lava erupting from the north vent. Fountaining became more vigorous about 4:25 p.m. and then escalated quickly and dramatically about 4:36 p.m. as tremor intensified and gradual inflation switched to rapid deflation.

North vent fountains approached 1,000 feet in height by 5 p.m. and peaked just after 5:30 p.m. South vent fountaining began at 5:20 p.m. and reached heights of 600 to 800 feet by 6:30 p.m. that were sustained until the final hour of the episode.

Episode 24 will likely begin within the coming week.

Kīlauea’s summit is currently reinflating and magma remains close to the surface within the north and south vent conduits.

During a helicopter overflight May 28, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists could see lava churning away at a depth of a few tens of yards within the north vent. Strong orange glow from the vents is visible at night on observatory webcams and from public viewing areas in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

As the eruption transitions from Episode 23 to 24, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is also transitioning to a different type of volcano alert notification to announce significant changes in activity such as lava fountaining episodes.

Starting with Episode 24, a paired Volcano Activity Notice, or VAN, and Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation, or VONA, will be issued to announce the beginning and end of fountaining episodes, replacing the status report notifications we have been issuing to announce the beginning and end of eruptive episodes.

When possible, the paired notifications will also be issued to announce the onset of confirmed precursory activity.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is making this transition because of the increased fountain and plume heights during recent episodes and their rapid onset.

The Kīlauea plume from Episode 23 reached heights of more than 20,000 feet — likely more than 25,000 feet — above Kīlauea’s summit, which is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet above sea level. This photo, taken from Mauna Kea and looking south, shows Mauna Loa in the right side of the photo and the Kīlauea plume rising above the clouds in the left side of the photo. (U.S. Geological Survey webcam photo)

The goal is to more effectively communicate the presence or anticipated presence of airborne hazards such as volcanic gas emissions and tephra that, depending on wind conditions, can impact Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, nearby communities and aviation sector.

If you signed up to receive volcano updates using the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Notification Service, then the terms VAN and VONA probably look familiar to you. That’s because the observatory always issues VAN/VONA notifications when we change Volcano Alert Level and/or Aviation Color Code.

For example, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued a VAN/VONA at 2:41 a.m. Dec. 23, 2024, to announce the start of the current eruption and raised Kilauea’s Volcano Alert Level/Aviation Color Code from Advisory/Yellow to Warning/Red.

Another VAN/VONA was issued at 6:43 a.m. Dec. 23, 2024, to go from Warning/Red to Watch/Orange, the level at which Kīlauea has remained since.

If future activity remains similar to the past 23 episodes, there will be no change in Volcano Alert Level or Aviation Color Code at Kīlauea even though new paired notifications are issued.

Visit the Volcano Notification Service website to check your volcano notification subscriptions.

High lava fountains and eruptive plumes are significant airborne hazards.

Recent fountaining episodes in Halemaʻumaʻu escalated quickly and literally reached new heights. VAN/VONA notifications will more clearly inform island residents, visitors and aviators when these hazards are occurring or expected to occur.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within Kaluapele, its summit caldera, since Dec. 23, 2024. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert level remains at Watch.

Episode 23 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater occurred May 25, with approximately 6 hours of sustained high lava fountaining from the north and south vents. Fountains reached a record height for this eruption — an estimated 1,150 feet — at about 5:30 p.m. May 25.

Strong glow visible in the north and south vents and summit region inflation since the end of Episode 23 suggests another episode is possible.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level is at Normal.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week:

  • MAGNITUDE 3.9 located 34 miles west-southwest from Captain Cook at a depth of 23 miles at 9:36 p.m. May 26.
  • MAGNITUDE 3.1 located 9 miles west-southwest from Kailua-Kona at a depth of 2 miles at 4:19 p.m. May 25.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the volcano observatory’s website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/30/volcano-watch-halema%ca%bbuma%ca%bbu-eruption-reaches-new-heights-as-hvo-updates-volcano-alert-notifications/feed/ 9
Return to Uēkahuna’s stunningly powerful panoramic views of Kīlauea volcano caldera https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/29/return-to-uekahunas-stunningly-powerful-panoramic-views-of-kilauea-volcano-caldera/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/29/return-to-uekahunas-stunningly-powerful-panoramic-views-of-kilauea-volcano-caldera/#comments Thu, 29 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=400479 An observation deck that provides stunningly powerful panoramic views of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island, is once again open to visitors of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park 7 years after the legendary location was closed.

Ranger Dean provides visitors with the “LIfe on the Edge” talk at the Uēkahuna observation deck on May 23, 2025, at the edge of Kīlauea caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/J.Wei)

Called Uēkahuna, the highest point on Kīlauea is a wahi pana — a celebrated, sacred or legendary place in Native Hawaiian culture with historical significance — and steeped in centuries of Hawaiian tradition.

Standing atop the summit, looking across the caldera, you can gaze into the ever-changing Halemaʻumaʻu Crater — the site of an ongoing episodic eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024, and has produced 23 eruptive phases so far as of May 26.

Park visitors and people watching on U.S. Geological Survey livestream around the world have been awed by lava fountains reaching to heights of more than 1,000 feet at times, even higher than the crater walls.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says Episode 24 of sustained fountaining is likely to begin within the next 3 to 9 days, and Uēkahuna is definitely more than a good viewing spot if you make it to see the spectacle in person.

Visitors at the Uēkahuna observation deck watch lava fountain from Kīlauea volcano during Episode 23 of the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater on May 26, 2025, in the summit caldera inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/J.Wei)

The observation deck also offers impressive sites upslope to Mokuʻāweoweo, the summit of Earth’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa. It covers just more than half of Hawaiʻi Island and erupted most recently from Nov. 27-Dec. 10, 2022, after being quiet for nearly 40 years.

You can also watch koaʻe kea — the indigenous white-tailed tropicbirds — soar high above Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, flying circles around the giant geysers of molten rock of each new eruptive episode and riding thermal updrafts from the lava lake that continues to rise from the lava flows they feed.

Uēkahuna has been closed since May 2018 following two large earthquakes, a catastrophic eruption and summit collapse that triggered thousands of smaller earthquakes throughout a 4-month period.

Jaggar Museum and two buildings used by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory were badly damaged and had to be removed. Deconstruction began in April 2024 and was completed 3 months later.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s iconic observation tower and the historic museum named after geologist and renowned volcanologist Thomas A. Jaggar — who introduced the notion of having a permanent geologic observatory and laboratory on the the Big Island — were once steadfast fixtures on the bluff.

Three new stone benches that look like the original historic bench were built at Uēkahuna. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/J.Wei)

Jaggar Museum stood watch over the volcano’s summit nearly a century and the observation tower its neighbor for about three-quarters of that time. While they’re gone, they’re not forgotten.

An outline of the former museum footprint includes stones from the original columns to commemorate the historic building.

A new Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field station is under construction near the historic ball field by Kīlauea Military Camp, just a little more than a mile away from the caldera rim but still inside the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

The observation deck and historic stone walls, once crumbling and riddled with fractures from the 2018 earthquakes, also are repaired — ready for the return of Hawaiian cultural practitioners and visitors alike.

“We are delighted to welcome everyone back to Uēkahuna,” said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh. “We deeply appreciate how understanding the community and park visitors have been during the construction process, and mahalo those who provided feedback on the options.”

A new path now connects Uēkahuna to Crater Rim Trail along the caldera rim, and the area is replanted with native shrubs, grasses and trees near the observation deck. A historic stone bench was restored, and several new benches replicating the historic look were added.

A new path with a post-and-cable barrier connects Uēkahuna with Crater Rim Trail. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/J.Wei)

Restrooms and the comfort station will reopen once a new water tank is complete and passes inspection, which is projected for later this summer.

Uēkahuna is deeply revered by generations of Native Hawaiians who were the first to observe and interpret the volcanic processes within Kaluapele. It also has become an important site for Western science since 1912 when Jaggar founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Jaggar Museum will not be rebuilt. Instead, the renovated Kīlauea Visitor Center — slated to reopen in summer 2026 — will accommodate the lost visitor services.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and its staff welcome people back to Uēkahuna and encourage visitors to check out the newly reopened observation deck area.

They remind and urge those who do to stay safe while enjoying the breathtaking majesty of Kīlauea and nothing else.

Steep and unstable cliff edges along Kaluapele drop about 500 feet to the crater floor. Remain behind the stone walls and post-and-cable barriers at Uēkahuna and elsewhere along the caldera rim.

  • Visitors at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park look across Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano, from the Uēkahuna observation desk on May 23, 2025. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/J.Wei)
  • Visitors observe Kīlauea caldera, or Kaluapele, from as Uēkahuna observation deck in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as volcanic gas rises from Halemaʻumaʻu Crater waft into the sky on May 23, 2025. (Photo Courtesy: National Park Service/J.Wei)
]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/29/return-to-uekahunas-stunningly-powerful-panoramic-views-of-kilauea-volcano-caldera/feed/ 3
Update: Episode 23 of ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption ‘one for the history books’ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/26/update-episode-23-of-ongoing-kilauea-summit-eruption-one-for-the-history-books/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/26/update-episode-23-of-ongoing-kilauea-summit-eruption-one-for-the-history-books/#comments Mon, 26 May 2025 13:15:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=400247
Image from a U.S. Geological Survey livestream cam at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island captured at 5:19 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025, and shared on Facebook by Jerry Sewell.

Update at 3:15 a.m. May 26: “This is one for the history books!” exclaimed Kelli Veras in her post with a Facebook reel featuring a video of lava fountaining Sunday evening during Episode 23 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano.

Veras said she was “blown away by the power [and] the beauty of the earth,” and said anyone and everyone — if they were on the Big Island — better not have missed this episode: “Wow. WOW.”

She was one of the many people posting across social media about the latest phase of sustained lava fountaining of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024, within Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

But for as long as the volcano teased the spectacular geysers of molten rock it ejected to more than 1,000 feet high at times, if you waited to go — or unfortunately got stuck in traffic on your way — you lost your window of opportunity to catch what many described as the best phase of the eruption yet.

Episode 23 ended abruptly at 10:25 p.m. Sunday, just 6 hours and 10 minutes after sustained lava fountaining began at 4:15 p.m., with high geysers starting in the north vent, quickly escalating to more than 1,000 feet high by 5:20 p.m.

The south vent followed lava fountains of about 230 feet by the same time, but geysers increased to more than 800 feet in height at one point.

The north vent stopped erupting at 9:48 p.m. Its sister to the south ceased activity at about 10:25 p.m.

Lava flows covered about half of the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater floor during Episode 23.

The volcanic plume from this eruptive phase was heavily laden with tephra — which is ash, scoria and Pele’s hair — and reached an impressive height of at least 5,000 feet.

Screenshot of a photo posted Sunday, May 25, 2025, by Judi Luthy on Facebook showing lava fountaining and the plume of volcanic gas and other volcanic material rising above from Episode 23 of the ongoing summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter located at the volcano’s summit recorded about 13 microradians of deflation during this episode.

A rapid change from deflation to inflation at the summit and decrease in seismic tremor intensity coincided with the end of Episode 23.

This behavior has typically marked the beginning of a pause in eruptive activity while the magma chamber underneath the summit recharges and repressurizes.

The East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone of the volcano remain quiet. All eruptive activity is contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code at Orange.

All eruptive activity is contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption update tomorrow morning unless there are significant changes before then.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and Hawaiʻi Police Department notified the public Sunday night that Episode 23 lava fountaining was apparently an extremely popular Memorial Day Weekend attraction.

High visitation to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park — mixed with several major construction projects ongoing inside the park — led to not just traffic delays for people trying to make their way to see Episode 23, but traffic congestion on Highway 11 within the park and as far away as Volcano Village.

Police advised the public to avoid portions of Highway 11 for several hours because of the congestion. Civil Defense told people to expect long delays.

The national park reported in a Facebook post just after midnight today (May 26) that traffic was still “extremely” backed up into the park and on the highway.

However, despite the traffic hassle, if you were one of the lucky ones to make it into the park and see the fountains while they reached to the sky during the most recent eruptive episode before it ended, from what people are saying on social media and the many videos and pictures they are posting, the experience must have been like none other.

“Episode 23 is unquestionably the best episode yet,” says a post accompanying a Facebook reel posted by 808hiker of a video captured Sunday evening of the erupting lava geysers in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. “Holy moly.”

Original post at 7:49 p.m. May 25: After several days of teasing with precursory activity — which had increased since the morning of May 24 at both vents in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island — sustained lava fountains finally returned Sunday afternoon.

Image from a U.S. Geological Survey livestream cam at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island captured at 7:07 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Episode 23 of the ongoing summit eruption of the volcano inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park started at 4:15 p.m.

Lava flows are covering the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

Fountains from the south vent were about 230 feet tall by 5:20 p.m., while its sister vent to the north was once again pumping out geysers of molten rock exceeding 1,000 feet.

You can check the status of the fountains via three livestream cams provided by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Activity began in the north vent, escalating to high fountains by 4:50 p.m. The south vent followed with smaller fountains by 5:15 p.m.

Inflation at the summit reached just more than 12 microradians since the end of Episode 22 on May 16 and changed quickly to deflation when sustained fountaining began.

Seismic tremor began increasing at 4:36 p.m. Sunday, when lava fountaining increased in height and volume.

Image from another U.S. Geological Survey livestream cam at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island captured at 7:08 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are estimated to be about 50,000 tonnes per day during fountaining events.

As the gas is continuously released during an eruptive episode, it will react in the atmosphere to create vog, or volcanic smog, downwind from Kīlauea, which can cause cause respiratory and other problems at high concentrations.

Additional hazards include Pele’s hair and other volcanic fragments from lava fountains, including tephra.

Pele’s hair — strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity that sometimes cluster and tangle together, giving it the appearance of a tumbleweed — can fall on the ground within a few hundred yards of the eruptive vents or downwind of the vents. Strong winds can even waft light particles, including Pele’s hair, to greater distances downwind.

Most episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since the ongoing summit eruption began Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for about a day or less and have been separated by pauses in activity lasting generally at least several days.

No changes have been detected in the volcano’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code remains at Orange. All activity is confined within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption update tomorrow morning unless there are significant changes before then.

Image from a third U.S. Geological Survey livestream cam at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island captured at 7:07 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/26/update-episode-23-of-ongoing-kilauea-summit-eruption-one-for-the-history-books/feed/ 5
Volcano Watch: Inter-episode rumblings at Kīlauea https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/24/volcano-watch-inter-episode-rumblings-at-kilauea/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/24/volcano-watch-inter-episode-rumblings-at-kilauea/#comments Sat, 24 May 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=400151 Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today’s article is by RCUH geophysicist Maddie Hawk.

Witnessing a volcanic eruption is, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park welcomes well over a million visitors from around the world every year, and many of these visitors hope to see lava erupting in person. As enthralling as each eruptive episode is, experts at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory watch just as closely at what’s happening between episodes.

For Island of Hawaiʻi residents, the recent eruptive episodes at Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) generously offer many chances to view the mesmerizing lava fountains. Opposed to other recent eruption locations like Kīlauea’s East or Southwest Rift Zone, the summit caldera eruptions are accessible to the public. A ride down Crater Rim Drive and a one-mile walk offers one of the best viewing areas near Keanakākoʻi Crater, though other areas along the caldera rim also offer stunning views from farther away.

This spectrogram shows four hours of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory data streams across six seismic stations at Kīlauea’s summit on May 6, 2025. Each panel is 10 minutes of data. Over the four-hour period, an earthquake, pulsing, and eruptive tremor are visible.

Prior to the onset of this eruption in December 2024, Island of Hawaiʻi earthquake counts had reached some of the highest levels in recorded history here. Just last summer, some weekly tallies exceeded 2,000 earthquakes across the island. Some of these earthquakes are magma creating new pathways in the volcano, breaking rocks along the way. When magma erupts, this process of rock breaking stops, and earthquake counts dwindle as a result. In the last five months, Island of Hawaiʻi weekly earthquake counts have rarely exceeded 500.

Though there aren’t as many earthquakes around Kīlauea summit during the ongoing eruption, the ground below Kaluapele is not exactly quiet. During an eruptive episode, the roar of lava fountains shows up on seismic data channels as eruptive tremor. It is a constant, loud, unmistakable signal shared across eruptions and it is associated with large volume fluid movement. Though tremor increases with the onset of each fountaining episode, it has not completely disappeared with each pause. The signal is persistent between episodes.
Between fountaining episodes, the persistent tremor can vary in intensity due to the vent geometry, gas emissions, magma depth, and other factors. Recent pauses have exhibited periods of cyclical low frequency pulsing within the tremor often correlated with the rise and fall of lava in the vent. This process of lava filling the vents and then draining, repeatedly, prior to a new eruptive episode has been visible USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory livestream cameras.

Pulsing tremor can indicate magma movement and/or gas transfer within the volcanic system, and it has varied in rhythm, duration, and intensity. One example is the cycle leading up to eruptive episode 20. Pulsing began in earnest about nine hours before lava fountaining appeared on May 6, just before 5:30 p.m. HST. Each pulse lasted around 3 minutes, at a rate of about 8 pulses per hour.

However, the pause between episodes 17 and 18 displayed pulses that were closer to 10 minutes long, with only 2-3 occurring every hour. Though pulsing is common immediately before or after an eruptive episode, it is not consistent. Unlike the onset of episode 20, episode 19 began without being immediately preceded by tremor pulsing. Also, we cannot assume that the pulsing ceases during eruptive episodes, as the loud tremor would cover up any weaker signals.

Recognizing seismic patterns, or lack thereof, can contribute to our understanding of what is happening below the surface. Studying these patterns alongside geodetic data (how the Earth contracts and expands with volcanic activity), changes in gas emissions, and changes in magma compositions gives us the best chance to understand the complex volcanic system beneath our feet.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

Episode 22 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on May 16, with approximately 8 hours of fountaining primarily from the north vent. Strong glow visible in both the north and south vents and summit region inflation since the end of episode 22 suggests that another episode is possible. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.2 earthquake 13 miles WSW of Hāwī at 13 miles depth on May 21 at 2:18 a.m. and a M4.2 earthquake 11 miles SE of Pāhala at 20 miles depth on May 20 at 9:37 a.m.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/24/volcano-watch-inter-episode-rumblings-at-kilauea/feed/ 26
Update: Kīlauea turns in bit of overtime before abruptly clocking out to end Episode 22 https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/16/update-kilauea-turns-in-bit-of-overtime-before-abruptly-clocking-out-to-end-episode-22/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/16/update-kilauea-turns-in-bit-of-overtime-before-abruptly-clocking-out-to-end-episode-22/#comments Sat, 17 May 2025 03:03:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=399699 Update at 5:03 p.m. May 16: Kīlauea put in a little bit of overtime Friday during Episode 22 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at 3:29 p.m., turning in 10 hours and 16 minutes of another awesome display of high lava fountains from the north vent in the southwest portion fo the crater before abruptly clocking out for at least the weekend.

Volcanic gases billow from the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater inside Kaluapele, the summit caldera, of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This is a screenshot taken at 4:47 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2025, from the U.S. Geological Survey livestream of the summit.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that lava flows from this episode covered about 40% of the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater floor within Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

The observatory estimates the volume of erupted lava is 5 million cubic yards.

Deflationary tilt at the summit recorded about 10 microradians during Episode 22. The end of this eruptive episode — as with all those that preceded it — coincided with a rapid change from deflation to inflation at the summit and decrease in seismic tremor intensity.

Episode 22 lasted 10 hours and 49 minutes in total after beginning at 4:40 a.m. Friday with low dome fountains and continuous overflows from the north vent.  

No changes have been detected in the volcano’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. All current and recent eruptive activity is contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code remain at Watch and Orange, respectively.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption update Saturday morning unless there are significant changes before then.

Original post from 7:50 a.m. May 16: After a spectacular show just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day, Kīlauea turned up the dial again this morning to end the work week with a new display of eruptive action.

Lava fountains from the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater inside Kaluapele, the summit caldera, of Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This is a screenshot taken at 7:40 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2025, from the U.S. Geological Survey livestream of the summit.

Episode 22 high fountains began at 5:13 a.m. today, just 4 days, 8 hours and 37 minutes after Episode 21 ended the night of May 11.

Fountains from the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater have reached maximum heights of up to 1,000 feet.

You can check out the progress of the new eruptive activity — even if you can’t make it to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in-person — with the Kīlauea summit livestream.

Episode 22 was preceded by small, sporadic gas-piston events that produced spatter fountains and short lava flows that began at 10:45 p.m. Thursday. Five more gas piston overflows occurred during the early morning hours Friday — at 12:30, 1, 1:25, 1:54 and 2:43 a.m. — until 4:40 a.m., when dome fountains overflowed the vent.

Sustained fountains from the north vent peaked at 800 to 1,000 feet high at about 6 a.m. and began oscillating in height at about 328 to 492 feet by about 6:17 a.m.

Fountains were feeding multiple lava streams at 6:10 a.m., with about 30% to 40% of Halema‘uma‘u Crater covered by lava flows.

Inflationary tilt reached just more than 7 microradians between the time Episode 21 ended and Episode 22 began.

Seismic tremor started increasing and tilt at the summit switched from inflation to deflation at about the same time Episode 22 high sustained lava fountains started today.

Eruptive episodes of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since the ongoing Halemau’ma’u eruption started Dec. 23, 2024, have lasted from 4.5 hours to as many as 8.5 days and have been separated by pauses in activity of just less than a day to as many as 12 days.

A timeline of episodes can be found here.

No changes have been detected in the volcano’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

High levels of volcanic gas, specifically sulfur dioxide that will react in the atmosphere to create the volcanic haze called vog, remains one of the primary hazards associated with this eruption as it can have far reaching effects downwind from the summit.

Other hazards including volcanic fragments such as Pele’s hair, strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity, and tephra, which can fall within a few hundred yards of the eruptive vents — or even greater distances downwind if winds are strong.

Click here for additional information about Kīlauea hazards.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code remain at Watch and Orange, respectively.

All current and recent activity is contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiin Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption updates as warranted if additional changes happen.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/16/update-kilauea-turns-in-bit-of-overtime-before-abruptly-clocking-out-to-end-episode-22/feed/ 10
Volcano Watch: What lurks beneath; learning from lava ooze outs https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/16/volcano-watch-what-lurks-beneath-learning-from-lava-ooze-outs/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/16/volcano-watch-what-lurks-beneath-learning-from-lava-ooze-outs/#comments Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=399677 “Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today’s article is by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Kendra Lynn.

Halemaʻumaʻu has progressively filled since 2020 by lava from several Kīlauea summit eruptions, and it continues to accumulate new lava with each successive fountaining episode of the ongoing eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024.

Let’s dive beneath the solidified crust on the crater floor to explore the complicated mix of molten material below.

Kīlauea has had six summit eruptions inside Kaluapele, the summit caldera, during the past 4 years:

  • 2020–21 (5 months).
  • 2021–22 (1.25 years).
  • January to March 2023 (3 months).
  • June 2023 (1.5 weeks).
  • September 2023 (1 week).
  • Ongoing 2024–25 eruption (5 months so far).

Each of these eruptions filled the area that collapsed in 2018, and lava now reaches more than 1,394 feet deep — for comparison, the Empire State Building in New York City is 1,250 feet tall.

Thermal map of Halema‘uma‘u surface on April 2, 2025 (Episode 16). Primary lava fountain fed flows reached to the east (annotations 1-4), next to the region where patchy distal ooze outs were being squeezed from below the crust (annotation 5). During Episode 16, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews sampled the fountain-fed flows and a nearby ooze out for analysis in the lab. (Graphical Map Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

During many of these eruptions, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews documented “ooze outs” — where lava squeezes out from underneath the solidified surface crust onto the floor of the crater, usually in places far away from where eruptive vents are located.

These ooze outs tell us that despite the solid crust at the surface, some portions of the interior have remained molten, even in the periods between eruptions.

During the earlier eruptions, field crews had limited access to sample the lava in Halemaʻumaʻu because of vents being located deep inside the collapsed area of Kaluapele.

As the surface of the crater, and thus the elevation of the vents, rose and expanded laterally through time with every eruption since 2020, safe opportunities to sample lava flows became possible.

With permission and coordination from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews recently were able to directly sample the lava ooze outs for the first time since 2020.

As part of observatory’s agreement with the national park, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff are typically available at the Volcano House and Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) overlooks during overflight missions when conditions are safe for sampling to answer questions about our work and field operations.

The location of ooze outs are documented with photographs and thermal images.

Thermal images are used to create a thermal map, which often show the ooze outs occurring on the eastern side of Halema‘uma‘u, far from active surface flows being fed by lava fountains.

These different types of lava flows can be seen from public overlooks at many points around Kaluapele in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park — sometimes even during periods between the eruptive episodes.

Ooze out lavas are spiny pāhoehoe: they have a rough surface texture compared to fresher pāhoehoe fed by hot lava fountains.

These spiny flows are more viscous, meaning they flow more slowly, because they had time to cool. They also have lower gas contents, meaning they are denser, and analysis in the laboratory shows they also are rich in crystal.

The most common mineral in Hawaiian eruptions is olivine, which is green, but other minerals are found in lavas that had more time to cool, such as white plagioclase and dark green/brown pyroxene.

The ooze out lavas collected from Halemaʻumaʻu are dominated by clots of plagioclase and pyroxene with minor amounts of small — less than 0.02 of an inch — olivine crystals.

Ooze outs also contain larger — 0.04 to 0.08 of an inch — olivine crystals that were recycled from previous eruptions or episodes.

Originally, these larger crystals were formed in the magma reservoirs underneath Kaluapele. They were erupted in one of the previous lava lakes and then re-erupted in a recent ooze out.

We know these crystals had this complex history because of careful laboratory work by two University of Hawai‘i at Hilo undergraduate students examining samples from the January to March 2023 and June 2023 Halemaʻumaʻu eruptions.

Photograph of a polished Kīlauea lava sample collected March 4, 2025, from an ooze out in Halemaʻumaʻu before the onset of Episode 12. Each light-colored blotch (example in red circle) on the black background is a cluster of minerals that has an approximate diameter of less than 0.03 of an inch (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey)

Their work documented minerals found in those eruptions, and they identified lake-recycled minerals through chemical and textural analysis, similar to what we see in the recent ooze outs.

Additional clues will come from comparing the recent ooze out samples to rock core drilled from the Kīlauea Iki lava lake in the 1960s and 1970s.

Studies on these found that the lava lake interior, fed by 17 episodes during the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption, took decades to cool, resulting in crystallization of a variety of minerals.

Each eruptive episode of the ongoing summit eruption, and successful sampling mission, provides further insights into how Halemaʻumaʻu is evolving and helps us understand eruptive behavior of Kīlauea.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the volcano’s summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch.

Episode 21 of the Kīlauea summit eruption inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater occurred May 11, with about 8 hours of fountaining primarily from the north vent. Strong glow visible in both the north and south vents and summit region inflation since the end of Episode 21 suggests another episode is possible.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes.

No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Alert Volcano Alert Level is at Normal.

Three earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week:

  • MAGNITUDE 2.8 located 14 miles south-southeast of Waimea at a depth of 8 miles at 11:08 p.m. May 14.
  • MAGNITUDE 3.3 located 9 miles west-southwest of Kailua-Kona at a depth of 3 miles at 12:16 a.m. May 14.
  • MAGNITUDE 3.6 located 14 miles east-southeast of Leilani Estates at a depth of 26 miles at 8:01 a.m. May 13.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the volcano observatory website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/16/volcano-watch-what-lurks-beneath-learning-from-lava-ooze-outs/feed/ 12
Update: Lava fountains make a short, special appearance for Mother’s Day https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/11/lava-fountains-for-mom-kilauea-says-yes/ https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/11/lava-fountains-for-mom-kilauea-says-yes/#comments Mon, 12 May 2025 00:36:08 +0000 https://bigislandnow.com/?p=399381 Update at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 11: The Halema’uma’u eruption has paused less than 8 hours after it began on Sunday.

According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, episode 21 of the eruption began at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday with sustained fountaining by the north and south vents ending at 8:34 p.m.

There have now been 21 episodes separated by pauses in activity. All eruptive activity remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. No significant activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

The end of episode 21 fountaining activity was accompanied by a rapid change in summit tilt from deflation to inflation, along with a rapid decrease in tremor.

According to Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory, high levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, is the the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind. More information on vog is available online.

No changes have been detected in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption update tomorrow morning unless there are significant changes before then. 

Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory has a timeline of the eruption episodes since December 23, 2024 and a Kīlauea summit livestream available online.

Original: Is there any better gift to give Mom on Mother’s Day than the beauty, the power, the awesomeness, the shear amazement of watching creation happen in front of her eyes again — you know, because she did, after all, help create you?

Screenshot from about 1:45 p.m. Sunday, May 11, 2025, of the Kīlauea livestream, about an hour after Episode 21 of the ongoing episodic eruption at the volcano’s summit began. (Image Screenshot: Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey livestream)

Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island doesn’t think so either, and it’s providing the perfect opportunity: lava fountains for Mom!

Episode 21 of sustained lava fountaining of the ongoing episodic Halemaʻumaʻu Crater eruption in Kaluapele, the volcano’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park erupted at 12:45 p.m. today (May 11) from the north vent in the southwest portion of the crater.

Dome fountains started a new gas-piston cycle just less than 5 hours earlier, marking precursory activity to the main event, before evolving into to continuous lava fountains.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that fountains rapidly grew into vigorous 500-foot molten rock geisers that ejected from the vent as they fed lava flows that had covered about 10% to 20% of the crater’s floor by about an hour later.

The south vent was not yet active, but by just after 2 p.m., a look at the livestream showed what seemed to be smaller fountains erupting from the north vent’s twin.

Sustained fountaining was accompanied by a rapid change from inflation to deflation at the summit along with a rapid increase in tremor.

The Uēkahuna tiltmeter recorded about 7 microradians of inflation between the end of Episode 20 at about 10 p.m. May 6 and beginning of Episode 21 persistent fountaining.

Precursory low-level activity to this eruptive phase was marked by gas-pistoning events in the north vent cycling from dome fountaining and ponding of lava to vigorous drainbacks.

Each episode of Halemaʻumaʻu lava fountaining since the eruption started Dec. 23, 2024, has continued for as few as 4.5 hours to up to 8 days. They have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity of less than a day to up to 12 days.

Strong degassing — estimated at 50,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide per day about an hour after sustained fountain started Sunday, which will react in the atmosphere to become the volcanic haze known as vog — as well as tephra and strands of volcanic gas called Pele’s hair accompany the fountaining.

Fortunately, winds are blowing from the northeast, pushing the gas plume and volcanic particulates southwest and away from main viewing areas inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and surrounding communities.

Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level remains at Watch and its Aviation Color Code at Orange.

This map was created using a thermal image taken during the 7 a.m. April 9, 2025, overflight of Kīlauea summit. It shows the expansive lava flow covering the floor of Halema‘uma‘u, supplied by lava fountains at the vent. As in earlier episodes, the lava exited the vent into a short channel that fed a broad perched lava pond. Lava channels then drained the pond and carried lava farther to the east. A small ooze-out, fed by lava supplied beneath the solidified crater floor, was present in the south portion of the crater.

All current and recent eruptive activity is confined within the national park.

No changes have been detected in the volcano’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and will issue an eruption update the morning of May 12 unless there are significant changes before.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.

]]>
https://bigislandnow.com/2025/05/11/lava-fountains-for-mom-kilauea-says-yes/feed/ 2