The intermittent eruption of Kilauea returns in Hawaii

Honolulu – The Kilauea Volcano of Hawaii has been throwing lava since its summit crater approximately once a week since the end of last year, delighting residents, visitors and spectators online with a molten rock hose.

On Tuesday, the volcano had its episode number 32 since December. Scientists believe that all are part of the same eruption because Magma has been following the same path to the surface.

The lava has been contained within the Crater of the Summit within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and has not threatened homes or buildings.

Park visitors can see the eruption in person. Others can see popular live broadcasts that offer an option of three different camera angles thanks to the United States geological service.

The Kilauea is on the island of Hawaii, the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is about 320 kilometers south of the largest city in the state, Honolulu, which is in Oahu.

This is what you should know about the last eruption in Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world:

A lower magma chamber under the Halemaumau crater has been receiving magma directly from inside the earth to approximately 3.8 cubic meters per second, said Ken Hon, a scientist in charge of the Hawaii Volcanic Observatory. This inflates the camera like a balloon and strength the magma to an upper chamber. From there, it pushes on the ground through cracks.

Many of the eruptive episodes since December have presented lava rising in the air. In some cases, the lava formed towers that exceeded 300 meters. The sources are generated in part because the magma, which contains gases that are released as it rises, has been traveling to the surface through narrow pipe -shaped ducts.

The expanding magma supply is covered by heavier magma that had expelled its gas at the end of the previous episode. Eventually, new magma accumulates to expel the magma wear out, and the magma is triggered as a bottle of champagne that stirred before uncovering the cork.

This is the fourth time in 200 years that Kilauea has launched sources of air lava in repeated episodes. There were more episodes the last time Kilauea followed this pattern: the eruption that began in 1983 began with 44 sessions of shooting sources. However, these were distributed in three years. And the sources arose in a remote area, so few could see them.

The other two occurred in 1959 and 1969.

Scientists do not know how the current eruption will end or how they can change. In 1983, Magma accumulated enough pressure for Kilauea to open a breathlessness to a lower lifting and began to filter laundering continuously from there instead of shooting periodically from a higher elevation. The eruption continued in several ways for three decades and ended in 2018.

Something similar could happen again. Or the current eruption could stop at the summit if his magma supply is exhausted.

Scientists can estimate with a few days or even a week in advance when the lava is likely to emerge with the help of sensors around the volcano that detect earthquakes and tiny changes in the soil angle, which indicates when the magma is inflating or deflating.

‘Our work is like being a lot of ants crawling on an elephant trying to find out how the elephant works, “said Hon.

Lava sources have been shorter lately. Steve Lundblad, a professor of geology at Hawaii University in thread, said the vent could have widen, leaving the less pressurized molten rock.

‘We are still going to have spectacular eruptions, “he said. “They will simply be wider and not so high. ‘

Some people can see lava flows as destructive. But Huihui Kanahele-Possman, executive director of the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation, said the lava is a natural resource that hardens in land and forms the basis of everything on the island of Hawaii.

The non-profit organization of Kanahele-Possman is named after his grandmother, the estimated Hawaiian language and culture. Hula Halau, or school, of the Foundation is famous for its domain of a Hula style rooted in Pele’s stories and his sister, Hiʻiaka.

Kanahele-Possman has visited the crater several times since the eruption began. Initially observes with amazement and reverence. But then observe more details to be able to go home and compare it with the lava in the centenary stories that his school plays. While it is in the crater, it also offers a song prepared in advance and places offerings. Recently AWA presented a drink made with Kava, and a LEI of Fern.

‘You, as a dancer, are the narrator and carry out that story that was written in those mele, “he said, using the Hawaiian word for song. ‘To really see that eruption described in the Mele, that is always exciting for us and drives us and motivates us to remain in this tradition.’

The visit to the park has increased since the eruption began. In April, there were 49% more visitors than in the same month of 2024.

Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said that the last episodes have only lasted between 10 and 12 hours. Those who wish to go must register to receive warning notifications of the United States Geological Service because the eruption could end before they realize, he said.

He warned that visitors must remain on the trails and viewpoints marked because the unstable edges of the cliffs and cracks on earth may not be evident immediately, and falling could cause serious injuries or death. Young children should stay close to adults.

Volcanic gas, glass and ashes can also be dangerous. Night visitors must bring a flashlight.