#Big Island Volcano Blog
UPDATE: Episode 38 of ongoing Kīlauea eruption on Big Island ends after about 12 hours of impressive, notable events
The latest episode in the series that began nearly a year ago on Dec. 23, 2024, ended abruptly at 8:52 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 6), when the south vent — which exploded earlier during the day and featured sustained fountaining as high as 1,200 feet at one point — ceased activity.
Kīlauea shows off power, beauty on Earth Day with latest fountaining phase
Lava jettisoned to heights of more than 650 feet at times during the 10 hours of Episode 18 high fountaining before the most recent phase of the Big Island volcano’s summit eruption ended the afternoon of April 22.
Volcano Watch: Recent lava fountains highlight Pele’s hair hazards
Pele’s hair is the name for the strands of volcanic glass that are created when globs of liquid lava are stretched apart during an eruption.
Volcano Watch: Peering into a crystal ball — What tiny crystals can tell us about their trip through the magma chamber
When magma cools prior to eruption, crystals grow and develop chemical zones that record changes in the environment around them. Scientists study chemical differences in these zones, which can provide information about the magma, including its temperature, composition and more.
