Kīlauea Eruption Resumes in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater: Latest Updates

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

The recent eruption of Kīlauea within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, which began on the morning of December 23, 2024, marks the return of an eruptive style not seen for many years.

The eruption has included multiple episodes of lava fountaining, separated by pauses in activity. As of January 10, 2025, the eruption remains paused, but there is persistent glow and strong degassing from the vents, indicating that magma may still be within reach of the surface.

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HVO are using patterns from past eruptions and current data to predict the potential for future eruptive episodes.

This type of episodic eruption has occurred in Kīlauea’s history, notably during the 1983 Puʻuʻōʻō eruption and the 1959 Kīlauea Iki summit eruption.

These eruptions are characterized by repeated episodes of lava fountaining, followed by pauses, during which the summit inflates before a new episode begins. The eruption’s progression can be forecasted by monitoring ground tilt and inflation patterns, which indicate the buildup of pressure necessary to push magma to the surface.

Scientists are also working with complex models that use GPS and earthquake data to track when Kīlauea is likely to reach pressurization levels for new eruptions. While these models do not offer precise forecasts, they provide windows of high probability for potential eruptions, allowing for better preparedness in the community.

The current eruption has been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, with no unusual activity reported in the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor the situation closely, with alerts raised to “Watch” as the eruption remains paused but could resume in the coming days or weeks. For ongoing updates, the public is encouraged to visit the observatory’s website.

 

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