A time-lapse video shows lava fountains erupting from a dangerous volcano in Hawaii.
The images, shared by the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, show Kīlauea’s bubbling lava in its crater.
Kīlauea is located along the southeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is estimated to be between 210,000 and 280,000 years old, having emerged from the sea around 100,000 years ago.
The images show how lava gradually began to fill the volcanic crater as the eruption intensified. This most recent eruption began on June 7, when scientists began to notice a glow coming from its crater.
In the early stages of the eruption, lava fountains sputtered 50 feet up, the observatory said. Some gusts even reached 200 feet.
The lower section of the volcano’s crater was filled with 33 feet of lava just three hours after the eruption. The lava lake covered a whopping 370 acres.
As the volcano began to erupt, the US Geological Survey raised the alert level around the volcano to red, meaning a large volcanic eruption was taking place.
Emission rates from the current eruption were measured at around 65,000 tons per day, according to the observatory.
As the eruption continued, the heights of the lava fountains were reduced and “now range from 13 to 30 feet in height.”
“Still a sight to behold!” said the observatory.
So far, this eruption has not posed any risk to individuals and communities.
It is normal for Kilauea to erupt regularly as it is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It has been erupting regularly since 1983, last erupting in January of this year.
Although most of the volcano’s eruptions are confined to the crater, it is known to have produced devastating eruptions in the past.
In 2018, it suffered a particularly significant eruption that forever changed the island.
At the time, the volcano spewed large lava flows across the Puna district, which destroyed more than 700 homes between May and August.
The national park’s summit area also changed dramatically as the volcano triggered tens of thousands of earthquakes.
The 2018 eruption also caused the Kīlauea caldera to collapse. Since December 2020, several eruptions have caused the collapsed area to fill with lava lakes.
This most recent eruption is being broadcast live by cameras set up by the US Geological Survey, and people can see it in real time.
Scientists will continue to monitor this eruption for any developments.
Do you have any advice on a science story Newsweek should cover? Have a question about Kilauea? Let us know via [email protected].
