Nature
Hawai'i’s most active volcano is at it again with a session of activity dating back to December 2024. Now on episode 23 of volcanic activity in the latest stretch, the volcano is up to something not seen since the middle of the 1980s.
Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and was formed roughly 280,000 years ago. The crater at the top, called Halemaʻumaʻu, is said to be home to the volcanic god Pelehonuamea. Hawai'i is a hotbed of volcanic activity and includes the world’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa.
At the moment, Kilauea is shooting large amounts of volcanic rock and lava into the sky, with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reporting that the spray reached 300 meters (1,000 feet) into the air on May 25. This is pretty unusual for Kilauea; the last time fountain spray was recorded was the mid-1980s.
"The current eruption has been characterized by episodic fountaining not seen in any eruptions since the 1983-86 episodic fountains at the beginning of the Pu'u'ō'ō eruption," USGS representatives wrote.
Justin Hirako filmed the fountain and wrote on social media: “Holy moly. The fountain almost couldn’t fit in my frame. Look at the south vent go too! This is the most vigorous and highest fountaining episode yet, in my opinion!”
These sustained lava fountaining episodes have produced something called tephra or fragmental material, as well as Pele’s hair, which are fibres of volcanic glass. There are two vents that have been vying for the most attention, the north and south vents of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater along the western wall.
Along with the volcanic debris, the volcano is said to have emitted up to 83,000 tons of sulfur dioxide gas a day. Currently, it seems that episode 23 has ended, with episode 24 expected to start in the next few days.
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