Volcano Watch: Kīlauea summit erupts again

“Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Kīlauea volcano on Hawai‘i Island began erupting again Dec. 23.

This is the 8th eruption of Kīlauea and 6th within Kaluapele, the summit caldera of the volcano, since 2020.

Previous eruptions within the caldera lasted from less than a week to more than a year. This history, along with continued summit inflation, suggests eruptive activity might continue to pause and resume in the coming days or weeks.

The new eruption began at about 2:20 a.m. Dec. 23. Lava fountains reached heights of nearly 300 feet and lava flows covered more than 650 acres during two distinct eruptive episodes between Dec. 23 and Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Both episodes ended abruptly and were followed by the draining of molten lava back into eruptive vents, along with changes in summit tilt from deflation to inflation. The eruption resumed again during the early evening of Dec. 26.

This is the third eruption of Kīlauea in 2024.

It’s noteworthy that these three eruptions occurred in different parts of the volcano.

The June 3 eruption occurred southwest of Kaluapele. The Sept. 15-20 eruption occurred on the East Rift Zone. Now this eruption is occurring within Kaluapele.

The last time eruptions occurred in all three of these areas in the same year was 50 years ago!

This diversity of eruptions within a single year is fascinating not only for its historical context but especially for what it can tell us about magma migration and storage within and between different parts of Kīlauea.

All Kīlauea eruptions from 2020 to 2023 occurred within Kaluapele. Things changed in 2024 as magma migrated away from the summit.

Intense sequences of earthquakes, surface deformation and ground cracking occurred in early 2024 as magma migrated toward the Southwest Rift Zone and approached the surface in the Kaʻū Desert.

Activity culminated with the June 3 eruption, located 2.5 miles southwest of the summit caldera. This emplacement of fresh magma increased the potential for future activity along the Southwest Rift Zone.

Earthquakes, deformation and ground cracking intensified throughout the summer as magma approached the surface along the upper and middle East Rift Zone, damaging Chain of Craters Road.

Activity culminated with the Sept. 15-20 eruption at Nāpau Crater. This emplacement of fresh magma increased the potential for future activity along the East Rift Zone.

Magma continued to accumulate beneath the summit from September through December. Rates of seismicity and ground deformation increased suddenly at about 2 a.m. Dec. 23. The current eruption began 20 minutes later.

Even though fresh pathways and magma bodies were emplaced along both rift zones in 2024, magma made its way to the surface at Halema‘uma‘u for this eruption.

Spectacular lava fountains and fast-moving lava flows began to diminish at about 3 p.m. Dec. 23. The eruption paused.

Not only did lava stop erupting, some of it drained back into the vents from which it recently erupted.

“Drainback” events have been observed before and were especially dramatic during the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption.

Lava becomes denser as it degasses during eruption. Denser, degassed lava can then sink back into inactive vents like water down a drain.

With the surface activity paused, summit deflation changed to inflation as magma re-accumulated beneath the surface.

Small lava fountains and flows resumed the morning of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Fountains increased in vigor at about 11 a.m., signaling the onset of a second episode.

Episode 2 lasted a little more than 24 hours, about twice as long as Episode 1.

Lava fountains rapidly died down again just before 11 a.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and lava began draining back into the vent at nearly the same time summit tiltmeters began recording a change from deflation to inflation.

The pattern was similar, but even more abrupt, to the onset of the pause Dec. 23. 

Summit inflation continued and the eruption resumed at about 5:45 p.m. Dec. 26.

The U.S. Geoological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense.

We at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory would also like to wish you and your ‘ohana a happy and safe holiday season.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea is erupting. Its U.S. Geoological Survey Volcano Alert Level is Watch.

A new Kīlauea summit eruption began Dec. 23. Since then, intermittent lava eruption has occurred from vents in the southwest part of the summit caldera, feeding lava flows on the floor of the caldera.

Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region.

Earthquake rates in the Southwest Rift Zone and upper to middle East Rift Zone remained comparable to the previous week. Ground deformation rates outside of the summit region remained steady.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at Normal.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week:

• A magnitude-3.7 at 8:44 p.m. Dec. 19 located 1 mile southeast of Hāna, Maui, at a depth of 6 miles.
• A magnitude-3 at 9:37 a.m. Dec. 19 located 1 mile south-southwest of Pāhala at a depth of 21 miles.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Visit the volcano observatory’s website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.