Kilauea Volcano’s 37th episode is erupting again — with an official start time of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday — with lava fountains up to 400 feet tall, according to scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The fountains are currently erupting from the north vent, with heights increasing rapidly, according to USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
During “episode 36,” which ended Nov. 9 after a little more than five hours, lava fountains reached a maximum of 1,000 to 1,100 feet. Past episodes have also produced plumes of up to 20,000 feet above ground level.
HVO warns of small, volcanic particles impacting downwind areas and high levels of volcanic gas during sustained lava fountains.
Due to light winds coming from the northeast, this suggests that “volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed towards the southwest, but could spread more widely,” HVO said.
The on-again, off-again Kilauea eruption began on Dec. 23 of last year, with all eruptive activity confined to Halemaumau Crater within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Most episodes have lasted for a day or less and have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity for at least several days.
The Kilauea volcano alert remains at watch and the aviation color is orange. Scientists said no changes have been detected in the East or Southwest rift zones.
Source: The Garden Island
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