June 2023 Summit Eruption

Duration:

44.361 seconds

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected glow in the summit webcam images at 4:44 a.m., confirming the eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Timelapse of the eruption within the first few hours of the eruption.

 

Kīlauea Erupts After a 3 Month Pause

A magnificent display featuring mesmerizing fountains of vibrant, molten lava bursting hundreds of feet into the air began on June 7, 2023 at 4:44 a.m. within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. According to USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geologist, the eruption was detected through webcam images showing glowing presence at the summit in the early morning. HVO geologist observed an increase in earthquake activity and ground deformation hours prior to the eruption, suggesting the movement of magna beneath the surface of Kīlauea.

Fiery Deluge

The largest lava fountains during the onset of the eruption reached 200 feet (60 meters) high. Lava flows inundated much of the crater floor (an area of approximately 370 acres or 150 hectares). Within a few hours, 10 meters (33 feet) depth of new lava had been added to the crater floor.

Most vents were on the crater floor and produced small 30 foot (10 meter) lava fountains at the surface of the lava lake. However, a 65-80 foot (20-25 meter) long fissure formed 100 feet (30 meters) above the lava lake surface on the crater wall.

On June 15th, at 8:00 a.m., the top of the eruptive vent on the southwest wall of Halema'uma'u crater collapsed. Since then, spattering from the vent has been renewed and nearly constant, producing frequent lava fountains visible from the caldera's edge.

 

Duration:

29.988 seconds

Close up view (10x magnification) of the southwest eruptive vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Friday, June 16, 2023, as it spatters and feeds lava flows on the crater floor. The fountaining is continuous, with lava bombs being thrown at least 10 m (33 ft) upwards and at least twice that distance away from the vent. The eruption can be heard from a distance.

 

USGS (Public Source)

This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption on June 14, 2023. The provided eruption statistics are derived from helicopter overflight data collected on Monday, June 12, but map features have been updated based on Wednesday, June 14 webcam views.

Citizen-scientists may notice that this map's values for lava rise and volume since the eruption onset are slightly less than those provided with the first map last Wednesday, June 7. How can this be? In this case, HVO scientists believe that the lava lake was somewhat inflated during its early hours thanks to a massive amount of volcanic gas trapped within the erupted material. But over the coming hours and days, the gas escaped and the lake deflated somewhat. The dropping surface left a "bathtub ring" of crust around the edges, marking the initial high-lava level in many photos shared by HVO scientists. The full extent of new lava from this eruption—368 acres (149 hectares)—is also slightly less than reported last week, but this is simply due to revised and more detailed mapping.

 

he eruption at Kīlauea volcano paused on Monday, June 19 at 4:00 p.m.

USGS Photo

Eruption Pauses

Earlier in the day, there was a significant output of lava from large lava fountains from the south-west cone. However, within an hour, the lava in the crater started to slow and the surface of the lava lake went down several meters. The eruption at Kīlauea volcano paused on Monday, June 19 at 4:00 p.m. Overnight webcam views showed som previously erupted lava still flowing on the crater floor, but views of the lava diminished throughout the next day.