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Kilauea Volcano

Updated: 28 mar. 2024 23:54 GMT -
Shield volcano 1277 m (4,190 ft)
Hawai'i, 19.41°N / -155.29°W
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Last update: 7 feb 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Haleamaumau crater in the center of the Kilauea caldera - the heart of Kilauea volcano
Haleamaumau crater in the center of the Kilauea caldera - the heart of Kilauea volcano

Kilauea is the youngest and most active Hawaiian shield volcano, located on the southern part of the Island of Hawai'i, known as Big Island. Hawai'i is the southernmost and largest of the island chain, which owes its existence to the very active Hawaiian hot spot.
Kilauea volcano is near-constantly erupting from vents either on its summit (caldera) or on the rift zones. At present, Kilauea volcano is still having one of the most long-lived eruptions known on earth, which started in 1983 on the eastern rift zone and has mainly been concentrated at the Pu'u 'O'o vent.

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Typical eruption style: Dominantly effusive since 1790, but ~60% explosive over past ~2500 years.
Eruzioni del vulcano Kilauea: Near-continuous eruptions. Since 1960: 1961 (4x), 1962, 1963 (2x), 1965 (2x), 1967-68, 1968 (2x), 1969, 1969-74, 1971 (2x), 1973 (2x), 1974 (3x), 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982 (2x), 1983-2018 (incl. 1986, 1992, 1997, 2007, 2011 (3x)), 2018 (lower east rift zone in Leilani subdivision), 2020 (Dec) - 2022 (Nov), 2023 (Jan) - ongoing

Latest nearby earthquakes

Data / oraMag. / Prof.Distanza / Ubicazione
23 mar 21:06 (Honolulu)
24 mar 07:06 GMT
3.2

34 km
22 km a sud ovest 10 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii
I FELT IT - 3 reports
Info
mercoledì, 20 marzo 2024 GMT (1 sismo)
19 mar 21:38 (Honolulu)
20 mar 07:38 GMT
3.1

33 km
22 km a sud ovest 10 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii 2 reportsInfo
venerdì, 15 marzo 2024 GMT (2 sismi)
15 mar 07:01 (Honolulu)
15 mar 17:01 GMT
2.9

33 km
22 km a sud ovest 9 km NE of Pāhala, Hawaii Info
15 mar 04:32 (Honolulu)
15 mar 14:32 GMT
2.5

4.3 km
16 km a sud ovest 14 km NE of Pāhala, Hawaii Info
domenica, 24 marzo 2024 GMT (1 sismo)
23 mar 14:43 (Honolulu)
24 mar 00:43 GMT
2.4

5.6 km
22 km a nord 19 km NNW of Volcano, Hawaii Info
martedì, 19 marzo 2024 GMT (1 sismo)
19 mar 08:15 (Honolulu)
19 mar 18:15 GMT
2.4

31 km
22 km a sud ovest 10 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii Info

Background

Kilauea volcano, a youthful shield volcano, sitting on the south east flank of the massive Mauna Loa shield volcano, is the youngest volcano (on land) of the Hawaiian hot spot and not only the most active volcano of Hawaii but at the same time also the world's active volcano. It has been in near-constant activity since there is oral or written history and it is having an uninterrupted eruption since 1983 (at present at the Pu'u 'O'o vent on the East rift zone).

Its eruptions are prominent in Hawaiian Polynesian legends and written documentation about its activity go back to only 1820s when it started to attract interested visitor from all over the world and bacame one of volcanology's hot spots.

Kilauea has a large summit caldera with a central crater, Halemaumau, which is according to Hawaiian legends the home of the fire goddess Pele. Until 1924, it contained a lava lake. Kilauea has frequent summit and flank lava flow eruptions that are occurring along two elongated rift zones to the south-west and to the east, which extend to the sea on both sides of the volcano. The 3 x 5 km caldera was formed in several stages about 1500 years ago. About 90% of the surface of the basaltic shield volcano is formed of lava flows less than about 1100 years old; 70% of the volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. The long-term eruption from the East rift zone that began in 1983 has produced lava flows covering more than 100 sq km, destroying nearly 200 houses and adding new coastline to the island.

Kilauea Volcano Photos

Latest satellite images

Kilauea satellite image sat1Kilauea satellite image sat2
Kilauea Volcano Tours
Oahu-Kauai-Maui-Hawai'i (USA)
Hawaii - Birthplace of Islands
14 days walking and study tour to Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawai'i
14 days / 13 nights - Moderate
Price 4990 €
no scheduled dates at present
Big Island, Hawaiʻi (USA)
Pele´s Fire and Myths
7 days walking tour exploring Kilauea´s historic eruption sites, Hawai'i
7 days / 6 nights - Custom (variable)
Price $ 3470
Custom and group dates
Wed, 7 Feb 2024, 15:00

Kilauea volcano (Hawaiian Islands, USA) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 31 January-6 February 2024 (New Activity / Unrest)

HVO reported that seismicity at Kilauea increased on 27 January and during 27-30 January the locations of the earthquakes became more widespread. Inflation at the summit was ongoing and remained at a high level. Sulfur dioxide gas emission rates were low. ... Read all
Sun, 4 Feb 2024, 05:20

Kilauea volcano update: alert level lowered to Yellow as activity has waned significantly

The earthquake activity beneath the Southwest Rift Zone over the past two hours (image: HVO)
The seismic activity and ground deformation at the volcano have significantly decreased. ... Read all
Satellite photo of Kilauea volcano, showing the summit caldera and parts of its east rift zone with the active vent Pu'u 'O'o.
Satellite photo of Kilauea volcano, showing the summit caldera and parts of its east rift zone with the active vent Pu'u 'O'o.
Three-dimesional view of Kilauea volcano based on satellite imagery.
Three-dimesional view of Kilauea volcano based on satellite imagery.

Map of Kilauea volcano, Big Island Hawai'i
Map of Kilauea volcano, Big Island Hawai'i

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