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 25 November-2 December. Following several days of precursory overflows (76 total since 0930 on 21 November) and low dome fountaining, a sustained lava overflow at the N vent began at 1415 on 25 November and as followed by lava fountaining at 1430. Two sustained lava fountains rose as high as 180 m for 9.2 hours, erupting lava at a combined rate of 190 cubic meters per second. An estimated 6.3 million cubic meters of lava flows covered about 75 percent of the crater floor. The eruptive plume rose higher than 4.2 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l. Lava did not erupt from the S vent, though weak spattering and persistent flaming was visible. The N vent abruptly ceased erupting at 2339. During 26 November-2 December peaks in tremor were indicative of gas pistoning at depth within the vents. Incandescence at the S vent was visible during dark hours and incandescence at the N vent was visible during dark hours starting on 29 November. White gas emissions rose from the craters. Weak spattering at the N vent was visible overnight during 1-2 December. 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)