The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported that the eruption within Kilauea’s Kaluapele summit caldera, characterized by episodic fountaining, incandescence, and intermittent spatter from craters along the SW margin of Halema’uma’u Crater, continued at variable levels during 19-24 November. Incandescence at both the N and S vents was visible overnight during 19-21 November. Intermittent spattering at the N vent was visible from 2130 on 20 November to 0030 on 21 November. Overflows of lava at the S vent began just after 0930 on 21 November and was followed by alternating overflows at both vents through the next morning. About 30 instances of vent overflows occurred in total, with about two-thirds originating at the S vent and one-third originating at the N vent. At 0130 on 22 November one of the overflows at the S vent produced a dome fountain 5-20 m tall that lasted about 25 minutes. Overflows at the S vent became frequent throughout the day, occurring about every 15-45 minutes, with each lasting 5-15 minutes. Activity changed by 1800 to less frequent, longer duration (50-70 minutes) overflows that each produced dome fountains of 5-10 m high. During the day on 23 November periodic dome fountain overflows continued at a rate of approximately once per hour, with each overflow lasting about 30-40 minutes. The overflows stopped at 0010 on 24 November, though strong glow and occasional spatter continued. In total there were 73 overflows from 0930 on 21 November to about 1200 on 24 November. 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)