United States - September 17, 2024

Location: Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Geologists from the US Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS-HVO) were on the ground at Kīlauea's eruption site in Nāpau Crater this morning, engaging in the critical task of collecting fresh lava samples. In a visually striking procedure, a geologist was seen pouring molten lava into a metal bucket, which was then rapidly quenched with water. This method preserves the lava's original geochemistry, preventing any alteration from crystal formation during slow cooling, which is crucial for accurate lab analysis.

The eruption, which began late on September 15, 2024, west of Nāpau Crater, has seen multiple phases of activity. Following an initial burst of activity, a second phase was detected on September 16, and a third phase commenced in the early hours of September 17. This latest phase has seen lava fountains reaching up to 10 meters high, generating lava flows that have now covered approximately 25-30% of Nāpau Crater's floor.

The ongoing activity is contained within the crater, but it's part of a broader pattern of volcanic unrest that includes summit deflation, signaling a continuous magma supply from Kīlauea's summit to the eruption site in the middle East Rift Zone. This supply suggests that volcanic activity could persist as long as magma continues to feed the eruption.

Despite the remote and contained nature of the eruption, there are potential hazards to consider, including volcanic gases leading to vog (volcanic smog), possible ground cracks, subsidence, methane explosions from underground burning vegetation, and the dispersion of Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass particles.

"The eruption, while not posing an immediate threat to life or infrastructure, is a significant geological event that we are closely monitoring," stated a USGS-HVO spokesperson. "Our work today collecting these samples will help us understand more about the magma's composition and its path to the surface, informing our ongoing assessment of volcanic hazards."

The eruption site remains within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, with the USGS-HVO conducting their research with the park's permission. This event not only provides a spectacle of nature's raw power but also serves as a live laboratory for scientists to study volcanic processes.