The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported that the eruption within Kilauea’s Kaluapele summit caldera continued during 29 January-4 February from vents along the SW margin of Halema’uma’u Crater. Small areas of incandescence from the cooling lava on the crater floor and at the vents were visible during 29-31 January and infrequent spatter occurred at the vents during 31 January-2 February. A phase of small sporadic fountaining that began the evening of 2 February intensified during the afternoon of 3 February. Fountains at the N vent became sustained by 2250 and within an hour they grew from 15 m to over 80 m high. Multiple lava flows emerged from the N vent at 2152 and had covered about 15-20 percent of the crater floor by 2250. Fountains rose as high as 100 m during the most intense phase. Lava fountaining began at the S vent at 2350. Fountaining from both the N and S vents was visible overnight during 3-4 February. At 0920 on 4 February fountains rose 40-50 m at the N vent and 25-35 m at the S vent. Lava covered the entire crater floor. The Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch (the third level on a four-level scale) and the Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the third color on a four-color scale).

Geological Summary. Kilauea overlaps the E flank of the massive Mauna Loa shield volcano in the island of Hawaii. Eruptions are prominent in Polynesian legends; written documentation since 1820 records frequent summit and flank lava flow eruptions interspersed with periods of long-term lava lake activity at Halemaumau crater in the summit caldera until 1924. The 3 x 5 km caldera was formed in several stages about 1,500 years ago and during the 18th century; eruptions have also originated from the lengthy East and Southwest rift zones, which extend to the ocean in both directions. About 90% of the surface of the basaltic shield volcano is formed of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the surface is younger than 600 years. The long-term eruption from the East rift zone between 1983 and 2018 produced lava flows covering more than 100 km2, destroyed hundreds of houses, and added new coastline.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)