Kilauea what type of eruption

Large fountains at fissure 17 ejected bits of spatter m high. Lava flows from fissure 18 traveled almost 1 km SE, and a flow from fissure 15 crossed Pohoiki Road. A fast-moving lava flow m per hour emerged from fissure 20 and traveled SE, across Pohoiki Road. Gas emissions remained elevated in areas downwind of the fissure system; air quality was poor from gas emissions as well as smoke from burning vegetation.

Earthquake locations had not moved farther downrift in the previous few days. Small ash emissions from Overlook Crater occurred intermittently on 19 May. The eruption of lava and ground cracking in the area of Leilani Estates subdivision continued.

Fissure 17 was weakly active after fountaining earlier in the day. Two of the flows joined less than a 1. During May there were two explosive eruptions from Overlook Crater, and several smaller ash emissions.

Lava flows reached the ocean overnight late on 19 May along the SE Puna coast. On 20 May spatter was ejected from fissures 6 and 17, and fissure 20 produced significant lava flows.

A ground crack opened under the E lava channel diverting lava into underground voids. Gas emissions tripled as a result of the voluminous eruptions from fissure Photos take in the afternoon showed two ocean entries along approximately 1 km of coastline.

A small explosion at Overlook Crater at on 21 May produced an ash plume that rose around 2. Several smaller emissions throughout the day ejected abundant ash. Robust steam-and-gas plumes also rose from the crater.

Lava fountains from fissure 22 fed a channelized lava flow that entered the ocean N of MacKenzie State Park. Spattering occurred at fissures 6, 17, and Small ash emissions from Overlook Crater continued on 22 May. Lava continued to enter the ocean, though by the afternoon only one entry was active.

Most of the LERZ activity shifted to the middle part of the fissure system. In the northeast part of the area, fissure 15 extended across Poihiki Road, generating a pahoehoe flow about 20 m 66 ft long. On 10 and 11 May, little new extrusive activity was noted from the ERZ fissures, though there were continued earthquakes, ground deformation, and considerable gas discharge.

Tiltmeters recorded ongoing deflation and the Overlook crater lava level continued to drop. Fissure 16 opened at on 12 May near the end of Hinalo Road. It produced a lava flow that traveled about m before stalling around An area that had been actively steaming developed into fissure 17, reported at just east of fissure 16, and was actively spattering and degassing.

At the summit, rockfalls from the steep walls into Overlook crater generated intermittent small steam-and-ash clouds throughout the day. Lava eruptions continued on 13 May along the lower ERZ.

Aerial observations showed that a new outbreak in the early morning about m NE of the end of Hinalo Street and m S of Highway was several hundred yards long and ejected spatter along with a slow-moving lava flow. By late in the day this activity from fissure 17 was dominated by lava fountaining, explosions that sent spatter bombs to m into the air, and several advancing lava flow lobes moving generally NE; as of one lobe was 2 m thick and advancing roughly parallel to Highway Steady, vigorous plumes of steam and occasionally minor amounts of ash rose from the Overlook vent and drifted downwind to the SW.

Later in the day, ash clouds rose up to m 2, ft above the vent. Several strong earthquakes shook the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the surrounding area overnight. Activity on the morning of 14 May in the lower ERZ was dominated by lava fountaining, explosions of spatter more than 30 m ft into the air, and an advancing flow from fissure 17 at the NE end of the fissure system. As of , the fissure 17 flow had traveled about 1. Fissure 18 was weakly active. Volcanic gas emissions remained elevated throughout the area downwind of the vents.

Deflationary tilt at the summit continued and seismicity remained elevated. On the morning of 15 May activity remained concentrated at fissure The lava flow had advanced about m since on 14 May. At the flow was nearly 2. However, the advance of the flow had slowed significantly since that afternoon. Also in the morning a new fissure 20 located near fissure 18 produced two small pads of lava. Ash emission from the Overlook crater increased compared to previous days.

Although varying in intensity, at times the plume contained enough ash to be gray in color. Variable pulses sent the cloud to an estimated Small cracks formed on some of the roads in and adjacent to Leilani Estates. Seismicity at Pu'u 'O'o Crater remained elevated after floor collapses which began on 30 April. Short-lived ash plumes periodically rose from the crater. The lava flows on the pali near the Royal Gardens subdivision were sluggish. Deflation at the summit accelerated around midday, accompanied by a drop in the level of the lava lake.

On 3 May the intensity of the ERZ seismicity decreased slightly, and the eastward migration of hypocenters slowed or ceased; deformation continued. The lava level in Overlook crater dropped over 30 m, though spattering in the lake continued. At ground shaking from a M 5 earthquake S of Pu'u 'O'o caused rockfalls and possibly a collapse in the crater; an ash plume rose from the crater and drifted SW.

More ground cracks in the E part of Leilani Estates formed that afternoon; hot white and blue fumes rose from the cracks.

Lava spatter and gas bursts began erupting from m-long fissures just after and ended around Lava flows spread less than 10 m, and strong sulfur dioxide odors were noted. The lava lake in the Overlook Crater dropped an additional 37 m.

By the morning of 4 May three fissures were active; fissure 2 opened at and fissure 3 opened around Spatter was ejected as high as 30 m and lava flows were traveling short distances.

Large, loud bubble bursts occurred at fissure 3. Ash plumes from intermittent collapses at Pu'u 'O'o continued to rise above the crater, and the 61 G lava flow was no longer being fed. Fissures 4 and 5 opened at and , respectively, and by there were six, each several hundred meters long. The sixth fissure was on the E edge of the subdivision.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency stated that multiple agencies were assisting with the mandatory evacuation of residents about 1, in the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions. A temporary flight restriction was declared for most of lower Puna.

The report noted dangerously high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. Corresponding to this deflationary trend, the summit lava lake in Overlook crater had dropped to about m below the crater rim since 30 April. Summit seismicity increased during May coincident with the M 6.

Rockfalls from the inner crater walls produced ash plumes that rose above the Halema'uma'u crater rim on 5 May. New ground cracks on Highway opened on 5 May, and at dawn fissure 7 formed. By mid-afternoon fissure 7 stopped erupting, and the 8th fissure opened at near fissures 2 and 7. Lava fountains from fissure 8 rose as high as 70 m, and in other areas were as high as m.

A lava flow from fissure 7 traveled m NE. The lava lake in Overlook Crater continued to drop. HVO warned that poor air quality from sulfur dioxide gas emissions, and smoke plumes from burning asphalt and houses was a health concern.

Strong gas emissions rose from the fissures during May, though lava effusion was minimal overnight. New cracks crossed Highway west of the eruption site, and some others widened. The level of the summit lava lake continued to drop, and by 7 May was m below the crater rim. Two new fissures emerged on 7 May. The first fissure 11 opened at about in a forested area SW of Leilani Estates, and was active for about three hours.

The second fissure 12 opened at about between fissures 10 and By both new fissures were active, and the W end of fissure 10 was robustly steaming. According to a news article, lava had covered an area about 36, square meters. Lava effusion at night during May was minimal, and by around on 8 May the ERZ eruption had paused.

The fissure system was about 4 km long and continued to strongly emit gas. Ash plumes generated by falling rocks in Overlook crater continued to produced ash plumes. On 8 May the Office of the Mayor stated that 35 structures had been destroyed, and lava covered. HVO maps show the locations and numbers of the fissures. The lake level was high enough to produce lava flows onto the Halema'uma'u crater floor through 27 April, but afterwards fell to about m below the new elevated rim.

The lake level rose again, to just below the rim of the Overlook crater vent. Episode 61g lava flows were active above Pulama pali, within 2 km of the active vent. A marked increase in seismicity and ground deformation at Pu'u 'O'o Crater was detected just after on 30 April, following weeks of uplift and increasing lava levels within the cone.

Within a few minutes a webcam on the crater rim recorded the first of two crater floor collapses; the second collapse began at and lasted about an hour. Thought poor weather conditions inhibited views at times, a webcam recorded what were likely small explosions from the W side of the crater as the floor collapsed. At seismicity remained elevated, though ground deformation had significantly slowed. A large amount of red ash was produced from the collapses, and deposited around the crater as well as in areas up-rift as far as Mauna Ulu.

By on 1 May activity had significantly decreased. During an overflight that day a new, nearly continuous, 1-km-long crack was found on the W up-rift side of Pu'u 'O'o. The crack was steaming, and aligned in a segment with small pads of newly-erupted lava and spatter. Thermal images of Pu'u 'O'o Crater suggested that smaller drops of the crater floor likely continued on 1 May. The lake level was high, and by late on 21 April had overflowed the S crater rim.

Overflows of the crater rim continued through 24 April, flowing as far as m onto the N, SW, and S parts of the crater floor. HVO noted that the overflows were the first significant ones since May Surface lava flows were active above Pulama pali.

On 18 April geologists observed the pit crater on the W side of Pu'u 'O'o Crater, noting that overflows had built up the crater rim to several meters above the crater floor and 7 m higher compared to late March. The lake level was high, with spattering visible from HVO and Jaggar Museum; by 16 April the lake level was 10 m below the rim of the Overlook crater.

On 11 April a moderate swarm of over earthquakes occurred at depths of km below the summit. The largest event was a M 2. Seismicity returned to background levels at Three minor ledge collapses were detected on 12 April, one at and two just after Surface lava flows were active above Pulama pali; on 13 April most scattered breakouts were within 2.

Webcams recorded spattering from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of Pu'u 'O'o Crater. The lava flow from a vent on the SE part of the crater floor continued to expand through 6 April. A rockfall at on 6 April triggered an explosion in the lava lake, damaging the webcam power system on the crater rim. The lava flow from a vent on the SE part of the crater floor continued to expand. Surface lava flows were active above and on Pulama pali. Webcams recorded incandescence from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of Pu'u 'O'o Crater, and increased spattering which began on 22 March.

Lava flowed out of a vent on the SE part of the crater onto the crater floor on 25 March, and expanded over the next few days. Webcams recorded incandescence from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of Pu'u 'O'o Crater. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain.

A small portion of material from the inner veneer of the crater wall collapsed into the lava lake just after on 23 February.

Debris fell as far as the Halema? Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater.

On 17 November a field crew visited the Kamokuna ocean entry and observed only very sluggish, pasty flows in a few random spots and minor to no degassing in the usual places. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, ceased entering the ocean at Kamokuna on 8 November but then began reentering the ocean during November. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain, and new breakouts were observed.

Surface lava flows were active above the pali and on the coastal plain. Surface cracks on the delta that had been covered up by new flows had begun to reemerge and become visible. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna although the plume at the entry was weaker.

The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna, although during October the plume at the entry waxed and waned. During September a short-lived breakout above the ocean entry disrupted the ramp and produced a brief "firehose" of lava. On 13 September geologists noted that several prominent cracks running parallel to the coastline had widened in the past two weeks, underscoring the potential for bench collapse into the sea.

Several rockfalls and collapses of the inner crater wall veneer were noted during September; frequent rockfalls were not uncommon during periods of lake level lowering. HVO noted that cracks running parallel to the coastline underscored the potential for bench collapse into the sea.

Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater. Slumping of seaward portions of the delta continued, and cracks running parallel to the coastline continued to widen.

HVO warned of the potential for larger-scale delta collapses. A breakout m up-slope of the ocean entry began at on 19 August and lasted about 9. At a large littoral explosion occurred near the front of the delta, producing spatter that was ejected higher than the sea cliff about 28 m high.

Another smaller explosion was observed five minutes later. HVO scientists documented ongoing littoral explosions on 21 August, as well as continued widening of the cracks running parallel to the coastline. HVO noted that as recently as 28 July a small slice of the delta fell into the ocean, and warned that there was potential for larger-scale delta collapses.

Several large cracks running parallel to the coastline spanned the width of the delta. Surface lava flows were active above the pali and on the coastal plain about 2 km upslope from the gravel emergency route.

Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater, from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone, and from a small lava pond which had many small spattering sites along the margin in a pit on the W side of the crater. Several large cracks running parallel to the coastline spanned the width of the delta; several small collapses at the leading edge of the delta were noted on 11 July. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain within 1 km of the base of the pali.

A solidified lava ramp extended from the tube exit high on the sea cliff down to the growing delta, whose leading edge was about m from the tube exit on the sea cliff. Field observations on 31 May revealed that the lava delta had grown to an area of approximately 0. A solidified lava ramp extended from the tube exit high on the sea cliff down to the delta, whose leading edge was about m from the tube exit on the sea cliff. Lava flows from the upper portion of the flow field continued to advance downslope, producing surface flows above the pali.

Lava flows from the upper portion of the flow field continued to advance downslope, producing surface flows above and on the pali. A portion of the N Overlook crater wall collapsed into the lake, causing lake agitation and depositing tephra at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Jaggar Museum.

Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater, from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone, and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna adding to a growing delta.

Narrow cracks on the delta parallel to the coast were noted. Surface lava flows were active above and on the upper slopes of the pali. HVO reported that the lava delta at Kamokuna the ocean entry area at Kilauea , which had been growing since late March, collapsed on 3 May.

Two large cracks parallel to the coast were visible on 27 April, suggesting instability. Between and on 3 May a large steam plume appeared in the middle of the lava delta in the area of large cracks. Weak fountaining or spattering likely occurred initially, because new tephra deposits were visible in the steaming area; that activity ended by Images acquired over the next 25 minutes showed a progressively weaker steam plume, and a subsiding delta.

Photos of the ocean entry taken on 7 May showed multiple streams of lava flowing into the ocean. Surface lava flows were active above and near the pali. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna adding to the growing delta.

Surface lava flows were active above the pali. A growing lava delta is building where the lava enters the water; a small collapse of the delta on 27 April was indicated by the presence of a large dark plume. A growing lava delta is building where the lava enters the water. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna from the end of the lava tube, about 20 m above the water.

A growing lava delta was an estimated 25 m out from the base of the sea cliff by 10 April. National Park Service officials estimated that the lava delta was about 40 m wide and m long. Surface lava flows were active above the pali, and small, short-lived breakouts occurred on the coastal plain.

A small collapse of the S part of the crater wall at on 23 March was followed by a short time of increased spatter. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna from the end of the lava tube, about 20 m above the water; the ocean entry was not consistently visible during the week. Surface lava flows were active above the pali, with most of the activity located 1.

During March HVO noted that a delta had begun to form at the ocean entry, for the first time since the previous one had collapsed on 31 December The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna; the lava stream was m wide on 16 March, and plunged into the ocean from the end of the lava tube, about 20 m above the water.

Surface lava flows were active on the coastal plain, and on and above the pali. Surface lava flows were active on the coastal plain, along the E side of 61G, about m upslope of the FEMA emergency road.

Other surface flows above the pali appeared during March. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone. A pit on the W side of the crater contains a small lava pond. Surface lava flows were active on the coastal plain, along the E side of 61G, less than 1 km upslope of the FEMA emergency road. Other surface flows streamed down the pali farther inland. All surface flows were active within 2. A portion of the sea cliff just W of the ocean entry collapsed on 11 February.

HVO geologists noted an extensive crack running parallel to the sea cliff about m behind the stream of lava entering the ocean at Kamokuna. The crack was 30 cm wide on 28 January and 70 cm wide four days later, on 1 February. In addition, the seaward block bounded by this crack was visibly moving up to 1 cm, and ground shaking could be felt up to several hundred meters away.

On 2 February the crack was wider and steaming, and the stream of lava that had been pouring into the ocean from an opening in a lava tube about 20 m above the water was no longer visible though lava continued to enter the ocean. At about almost the entire section of the sea cliff that was seaward of the hot crack collapsed. The collapsed block generated a wave that propagated outward from the coast.

After the collapse, no lava was visible entering the ocean though a steam plume and spatter from explosions indicated that the entry remained active. HVO noted that thermal images showed a high-temperature area about m from the edge of the sea cliff, with hot cracks running parallel to the cliff around the entry point, suggesting sea cliff instability.

HVO scientists did not observe significant delta development from ground vantage points on 29 January. A stream of lava continued to pour into the ocean from an opening in a lava tube about 20 m above the water. An active branch of 61G remained active E of Pu'u 'O'o and advanced slowly E at a rate of only a few tens of meters per day. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean near Kamokuna at the easternmost lava delta.

On 31 December almost all of the Kamokuna lava delta had collapsed, along with a large section m long and 70 m wide of the older sea cliff E of the lava delta. Breakouts at the upper part of the lava-tube system sent lava E. Other breakouts occurred at the base of the Pulama pali and on the coastal plain about 1 km inland from ocean.

A section of the wall of the Overlook Vent collapsed into the lava lake on 28 November. Breakouts at the upper part of the lava-tube system began on 21 November, sending lava as far as m S and E. These breakouts, and others inland from the ocean entry, continued to be active through 29 November. Aerial observations on 3 November revealed that the E delta was relatively large with prominent cracks on the surface, suggesting instability.

Aerial observations on 27 October revealed prominent surface cracks on the E delta suggesting growing instability; small collapses of the delta occurred earlier in the week. A small explosion from the lake on 19 October was triggered by a rockslide, and a slightly larger explosion on 20 October was caused by a collapse of a slice of the crater rim. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean near Kamokuna; only the E side of the entry was active.

Scattered breakouts were active 2 km inland from the coast. National Park Service staff reported that a collapse of the E part of the lava delta occurred sometime between October. The lake level rose as high as 10 m below the Halema'uma'u floor on 1 October , and was sometimes visible from the Jaggar Museum NW rim of Kilauea Caldera. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at multiple locations near Kamokuna.

The lake level rose as high as 10 m below the Halema? The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at multiple areas near Kamokuna. The lake level fluctuated between 11 and 28 m below the Halema?

A drop in the lake level during September caused several collapses of solidified lava that had adhered to the crater walls. A large section of the W part of the delta had collapsed on 5 September, causing a small explosion.

Scattered breakouts were active 1. Incandescence was evident in webcam images from several long-established vents on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's floor. A collapse at the W vent increased the size of the vent and a m-diameter lava pond that was 23 m below the vent's rim.

The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at multiple areas near Kamokuna and spanning about 1 km of coastline and increasing the size of the lava delta at the base of the sea cliff. Scattered breakouts were active on the coastal plain and the pali. Several incandescent vents on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's floor were evident in webcam images. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at multiple areas near Kamokuna and spanning about 1 km of coastline.

A small delta collapse during the afternoon of 9 August temporarily darkened the ocean-entry plume. A small delta had formed at the entry. An active lobe of lava advanced along the W side of the flow field, crossed the Emergency Access road m W of the main flow, and entered the ocean overnight during August.

Nighttime webcam views of the flow field showed incandescent areas mostly on the coastal plain. HVO reported that during July the lava lake continued to rise and fall, circulate, and spatter in Kilauea's Overlook vent. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to advance across the coastal plain.

The most distal part of the flow had stalled on 18 July but was again active by 22 July. Based on National Park personnel observations, the flow front was about m from the ocean by 24 July. At on 26 July lava reached the ocean. Nighttime webcam views of the flow field showed incandescent areas from skylights, and advancing lava on the pali and coastal plain. By midday on 15 July the lava flow was about m from the ocean, advancing only 60 m since 12 July.

A satellite image acquired on 17 July showed that the flow front was m from the ocean. By the evening of 18 July the flow tip had stalled but breakouts were active a few hundred meters upslope. Episode 61g, a lava flow originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to advance across the coastal plain, burning vegetation in the adjacent kipuka at the base of the pali.

By 10 July the lava flow was about 1 km from the ocean. HVO reported that during 29 June-5 July the lava lake continued to rise and fall, circulate, and spatter in Kilauea's Overlook vent.

Webcams recorded bright incandescence from several skylights along the upper part of the tube system supplying lava to the front part of the flow, and also from the flow field. By 29 June the toe of the lava flow had reached the base of the pali burning vegetation in the adjacent kipuka , and by 3 July it had advanced m onto the coastal plain, 2.

HVO reported that during June the lava lake continued to rise and fall, circulate, and spatter in Kilauea's Overlook vent. Webcams recorded bright incandescence from several skylights along the upper part of the tube system supplying lava to the front part of the flow. An active lava pond in Pu'u 'O'o's W pit was confirmed by observers on 16 June. A new lava flow that began on 24 May on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's N flank had stalled; a new flow on the E flank had advanced 3.

Vents on the crater floor and upper NE flank remained incandescent, and a pit just W of the crater contained a small lava pond. The June 27th NE-trending lava flow appeared to be inactive by 10 June. The June 27th NE-trending lava flow continued to be active within 5. The first flow originated about m from the rim of the cone's NE flank and traveled NW, and the second flow came from an area on the E flank, about m from the cone's rim, and traveled SE. By the first flow was about 1 km long and the second one was about m long.

By the same time on 25 May the first flow had become channelized and a new m-long lobe had descended NW. The other flow was active but had not significantly advanced.

The lava lake continued to circulate and eject spatter in the Overlook vent during May; a rockfall into the lake on 26 May and briefly triggered sloshing and agitation of the lake. Webcams recorded glow from multiple spatter cones on the Pu'u 'O'o Crater floor. The new lava flows extended about 1. Webcams recorded glow from multiple spatter cones on the Pu'u 'O'o Crater floor and from skylights in the lava tube on the NE flank of the cone.

During May four small rockfalls from the crater wall resulted in disturbance to the lake surface or increased spattering. The lava lake continued to circulate and eject spatter in the Overlook vent. Vents in the SW and E parts of the crater periodically produced small lava flows within the crater.

Webcams recorded outgassing from multiple spatter cones on the Pu'u 'O'o Crater floor. A small lava flow from a NE vent intermittently flowed onto the crater floor during and 7 May. A small lava flow from the E vent flowed onto the crater floor during 28 April-1 May.

The June 27th lava flow, trending NE, continued to be active within 7. The lava lake continued to circulate and spatter in the Overlook vent. The lava lake dropped during a deflationary event that began on 4 April and, by 7 April, was 52 m below the crater floor, the deepest it has been since 30 December On 7 April at a large part of the inner crater wall fell into the lake.

The deflationary event lasted for about four days. The June 27th NE-trending lava flow continued to be active within 7. A very small lava flow briefly erupted onto the crater floor during 31 March-1 April, and on 3 and 4 April. A small lava flow broke out from a spatter cone on the NE side of the crater floor on 24 March and again the next evening. At about on 22 March a small lava flow was visible on the crater floor.

Webcams recorded multiple incandescent outgassing vents within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and high on the northeast rim. At on 2 March a small cone on the E side of the crater briefly produced spatter, and then at a vigorous lava flow erupted from a W vent.

During and March minor amounts of lava intermittently flowed from S vents. During and 29 February lava from at most two vents flowed onto the crater floor.

A moderate-size collapse of part of the crater wall into the summit lava lake on 21 February ejected some ash onto the caldera rim. Webcams recorded multiple incandescent outgassing vents within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and high on the NE rim. On 8 February a small lava flow erupted from the E vent. Several small and brief lava flows erupted onto the crater floor on 14 January. At on 8 January a rockfall triggered a small explosion that ejected lava fragments onto the crater rim.

A short lava flow erupted onto the crater floor on 6 January. On 2 January part of the E rim of the Overlook vent collapsed into the lava lake, triggering an explosion that ejected tephra onto the rim of the vent. At on 4 January another explosion occurred from the collapse of part of the N wall. During 30 December-1 January a few small lava flows erupted from the vents, and on 4 January a small lava flow erupted from a vent on the NE side of the crater floor.

Webcams recorded multiple incandescent outgassing vents within Pu'u 'O'o Crater. Scientists conducting fieldwork on 17 December observed an active lava pond on the E rim of Pu'u 'O'o. Webcams recorded multiple incandescent outgassing vents within Pu'u 'O'o.

A new incandescent and fuming vent, reported on 10 December, appeared to be from a small collapse into an older, but still hot lava tube. Webcams recorded multiple incandescent outgassing vents within Pu'u 'O'o; lava flowed from two of the vents on 25 November. A very long-period earthquake detected at on 24 November corresponded with the collapse of a very large section of the N rim and wall of the summit vent which caused increased lake spattering and turbulence.

Webcams recorded multiple incandescent outgassing vents within Pu'u 'O'o; a lava flow erupted from a vent on the crater floor on 24 November.

Eruptions like this can be quite long-lived, but the filling and draining of the lava lake at the top of the volcano shows how variable the process can be.

Key here is that the HVO saw this coming and their monitoring is pretty reliable. But there is no way to accurately predict exactly how long the eruption could continue — it could be days, weeks or even years.

The Ring of Fire is a string of volcanoes and areas of seismic activity that sit around the edges of the Pacific Ocean. During this recycling process, the oceanic crust carries hydrated minerals down with it. The water, and other volatile gases, are driven off at relatively high temperatures and pressure — this, in turn, causes what are known as subduction volcanoes on the upper-plate. These occur in either the continental crust up above or, as is the case in places like Indonesia, Tonga, the Aleutian Islands, and all the little islands in the Izu-Bonin-Mariana chain - on the oceanic crust where volcanoes rise up out of the water.

The melted rock, known as magma, often pushes through cracks in the crust to form volcanoes. Now, Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific Plate which is the biggest plate in the Pacific Ocean the biggest of all , in fact, measuring around million square kilometres.

Some archaeologists think people first arrived on the island in the beginning half of the 13th century, to years after the Observatory shield started to form. Construction of the shield ended around the year CE. The caldera floor dropped to a depth of about m ft , with diameters of 3. This oral tradition describes the caldera's formation by a dramatic collapse of the volcano's summit area. So, how did the caldera form? To trigger a collapse, the material must be removed from the magma reservoir within the volcano, creating a void into which the overlying rocks fall.

Perhaps incremental collapse occurred as the magma storage region gradually emptied, then eventually led to a final large collapse as described in Hawaiian chants. During that time, at least four strong explosive eruptions sent tephra high into the jet stream, with ash falling over a broad area east and offshore of the volcano. Near the end of this explosive period in , a series of explosive eruptions sent searing pyroclastic surges at least 3.

This was the deadliest eruption known from a U. Several hundred and perhaps more than a few thousand people were killed within a few hundred meters of where the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the National Park's Jaggar Museum are located today. The unfortunate victims died as a result of the hot, ash-rich surge that both suffocated and burned them. Only a few lava flows have erupted during the years of explosive activity, but that changed in when the volcano reverted to an effusive interval that continues to this day.

In addition to summit eruptions, numerous lava fountains and lava flows have issued from vents along the volcano's southwest and east rift zones. The eruption occurred days after the active lava lake drained away, with the magma probably intruding into the volcano's East Rift Zone. For 17 days, rocks, ash, and dust erupted in dramatic clouds rising from the crater.

Rocks weighing many tons were hurled as far as a kilometer 0.