Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano resumes erupting, spewing lava – a phenomenon haven't been observed for several decades
After a brief respite, Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has resumed erupting, shooting lava fountains 100 feet into the air. This is the fourth time in 200 years that Kilauea has exhibited such activity in repeated episodes.
The eruption occurred at the summit crater of Kilauea, with the north vent at the summit crater beginning to spatter in the morning and lava overflowing a few hours later. Despite the spectacle, no homes were threatened as the eruption was contained within the crater.
Scientists are closely monitoring the eruption, but do not yet know how it will end or how it may change. They are, however, using sensors around the volcano to predict when lava is likely to emerge. These sensors detect earthquakes and minuscule changes in the angle of the ground, helping them to make accurate predictions.
The current eruption has been ongoing since December, with magma using the same pathway to rise to the surface. A lower magma chamber under Halemaumau Crater is receiving magma directly from Earth's interior at about 5 cubic yards per second.
Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have increased since the eruption began, with a 49% increase in April compared to the same month in 2024. It is recommended for visitors to sign up for U.S. Geological Survey alert notifications to stay informed about the eruption. For their safety, visitors should stay on marked trails and overlooks, and nighttime visitors should bring a flashlight.
Young children should be kept close while visiting the volcano, as volcanic gas, glass, and ash can be dangerous, especially during nighttime visits. Unstable cliff edges and cracks in the earth may not be immediately apparent, and falling could lead to serious injury or death.
Hundreds of thousands more will be watching popular livestreams of the eruption, with some lucky residents and visitors getting a front-row view at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. While the eruption could end at any time, making it important to stay informed through alert notifications, the duration of recent eruptions has been about 10 to 12 hours.
The search results do not provide the name of the US geologist involved in the current Kilauea volcano eruption. Regardless, scientists are working tirelessly to monitor and understand the activity of this fascinating and powerful natural phenomenon.
