The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported that the eruption within Kilauea’s Kaluapele summit caldera from vents along the SW margin of Halema’uma’u Crater paused on 4 February. Lava flows and fountaining at the N vent ceased at 1907 on 4 February and activity at the S vent ceased at 1923. Small areas of incandescence from the cooling lava on the crater floor and at the N vent were visible during 4-10 February. Gas emissions rose from the N vent. Incandescence at the N vent intensified overnight during 9-10 February and bursts of spatter were occasionally seen in webcam images on 10 February. The spattering intensified overnight during 10-11 February. Lava fountaining at the N vent began at 1016 on 11 February and by 1045 the fountains were 100 m high. Lava flowed onto the crater floor covering about a quarter of the surface. Slow lava effusion began at the S vent at around 1050. 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)