Latest news with #HawaiʻiVolcanoesNationalPark
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch: 1,000-Foot Lava Jets Erupt From Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano
Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, is at it again. The infamous crater has been spurting fountains of lava on and off since the end of last year, and on May 25, it shot a fiery jet of molten rock over 300 meters (1,000 feet) into the sky. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) livestreamed a video of the uncontrolled outburst – the volcano's 23rd tantrum since December 2024, and the biggest of the bunch. All in all, Kīlauea's latest blowup lasted for just over six hours. Beginning at 4:15 pm Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, thin jets of lava began erupting from the north vent, turning from sporadic bursts to sustained fountains of lava. Within half an hour, the situation at the north vent had escalated quickly, and a lava fountain reached its pinnacle of 300 meters. Soon after, in a south vent, other fountains of lava reached 250 meters in height. "Large lava flows erupted from both vents and covered about half of Halema'uma'u crater floor," reads a USGS update. By 10:25 pm that night, both vents had calmed down. Luckily, for now, all of the eruptions have been contained within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawai'i. But that doesn't mean surrounding populations won't face fallout. The eruptive plume of ash, volcanic glass, and rock produced by Kīlauea on May 25 reached at least 1,500 meters into the sky. Scientists at the USGS say their primary concern is the volcanic gas, which could travel downwind and impact human health, possibly causing respiratory issues if concentrations in the air are high enough. Eruptions like these, however, can also produce strands of volcanic glass, called Pele's hair, which can also travel on the wind and cause skin and eye irritation. The volcano has quietened down for now, but in its current phase it seems to be kicking up a fuss every week or so. There's no signs a larger eruption is growing, but another outburst of lava is likely on the horizon. Giant Megalodon's Prey Finally Revealed, And It's Not What We Thought Earth's Core Holds a Vast Reservoir of Gold, And It's Leaking Toward The Surface Scientists Peered Inside The Echidna's Mysterious 'Pseudo-Pouch'
Fox News
26-05-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupts with 1,000-foot 'lava fountaining'
Kīlauea Volcano – located along the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island – experienced "lava fountaining" that reached at least 1,000 feet high over the weekend. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) describes Kīlauea as one of the world's most active volcanoes. It has been erupting intermittently since Dec. 23, 2024, within the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The 23rd episode of precursory activity began late last week with "low-level spattering and flames." According to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, small lava fountains and lava overflows from the north vent started around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. "Sustained fountaining expected any time through the weekend," Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Service wrote. The USGS reports that Kīlauea "is in a unique phase of activity in Halemaʻumaʻu, with numerous episodes of dual lava fountains since the eruption began." "Two eruptive vents are located in the southwest part of the caldera, referred to as the north and south vent, and they have been intermittently active, producing new lava flows over parts of Halemaʻumaʻu crater surface," according to the USGS. As of 5:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, the south vent had lava fountains 230 feet high, while the north vent had lava fountains 1,000 feet high, according to Hawaii News Now. USGS livestreams of the eruption site showed the lava fountains dropping in height and later stopping. The vents were still glowing and lava was still visibile on the crater floor. The volcano's last "fountaining phase" extended for about 10 hours on May 16, according to the USGS. Kīlauea experienced other recent fountaining phases this month on May 11, May 6 and May 2, lasting eight hours, 4.5 hours and eight hours, respectively. During the ongoing eruption, the USGS reported that pressure building beneath the surface caused an inflationary tilt prior to a lava fountaining episode. As pressure within the magma is released when lava fountaining begins, a switch to a deflationary tilt occurs. That pattern of inflation and deflation with every recent lava fountain episode "creates a saw-tooth pattern in ground tilt records over the past several months," according to the USGS, though the government agency reports that the summit has shown little net change in pressurization since the eruption began on Dec. 23, 2024.
