Increasing volcanic activity has been observed at one of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Island, after a new vent sent lava shooting 65 feet in the air.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) stated that rapid deflation at one of the volcanic crater floor, Pu'u 'O'o, on Saturday led to the eruption of fissure.
One of five shield volcanoes that collectively form the Island of Hawaii, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on the surface of Earth.
The Pu?u ???? cone, in particular, has been continuously erupting in the eastern rift-zone since 1983, making it the longest rift-zone eruption in the last 200 years.
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Increasing volcanic activity has been observed at one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea Volcano, in Hawaii Island after a new vent sent lava shooting 65 feet in the air.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) stated that rapid deflation at one of the volcanic crater floor, Pu'u 'O'o, on Saturday led to the eruption of fissure.
"This event is remarkably similar to a 1997 eruption in and near Napau Crater, which lasted less than 24 hours,” said Jim Kauahikaua, HVO’s Scientist-in-Charge.
Reuters.One of five shield volcanoes that collectively form the Island of Hawaii, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on the surface of the earth.
The Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone, in particular, has been continuously erupting in the eastern rift-zone since 1983, making it the longest rift-zone eruption in the last 200 years. A total of thirty-four eruptions have taken place since 1952 excluding the current episode.
Although mostly known for non-explosive eruptions, Kilauea has had large explosive eruptions in the past as well. One such major episode occurred in 1959 during the Kīlauea Iki eruption when lava sprayed nearly 580 meters high.
Reuters.It was in March, 2008 that, Halemaʻumaʻu crater located within the large summit caldera of Kīlauea, experienced its first explosive event since 1924. The explosion, however, did not release any lava initially and in its place, there was an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 scattering rocks over a 75-acre area.
On November 2010, lava flows in the region led to the evacuation of a house although there were no reports of injury or damage.
Reuters.The current volcanic activity monitored in the region started when rapid deflation of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater led to increased tremor along Kīlauea Volcano’s middle-east rift zone.
As the floor of the crater gradually began to collapse, incandescent ring fractures were observed a few meters from the crater wall. This eventually led to the eruption of lava in the center of the crater floor.
The collapse of the crater floor was also accompanied by an earthquake swarm which began along Kīlauea’s middle-east rift zone in the area of Maka`opuhi and Napau Craters.
Reuters.A popular tourist spot in Hawaii, local authorities and the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has closed the Chain of Craters Road and all east rift zone and coastal trails, along with the Kulanaokuaiki campground until further notice.
Reuters.
