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, continued at variable levels during 11-18 February. A period of lava fountaining and effusion of lava onto the crater floor began at 1016 on 11 February and lasted more than 22 hours. Lava fountains rose as high as 100 m at the N vent and were bifurcated at the S vent, rising as high as 30 m. Both effusion rates and lava-fountain heights decreased by the morning of 12 February. Lava fountaining stopped at the N vent at 0830 and within a few minutes fountaining at the S vent was less vigorous. A small amount of lava continued to effuse from the S vent then completely ceased at 0843. Lava flows had traveled about 1 km across the crater floor, covering 50-60% of the surface. Overnight during 12-13 February several lava flows slowly moved on the crater floor. During 12-18 February areas of incandescence and gas emissions at the N vent and incandescence from cooling lava flows on the crater floor were visible. Incandescence and gas emissions were also visible at the S vent during 15-18 February. 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)