The Kīlauea volcano’s summit eruption is currently on pause. Experts predict that high lava fountaining will start up again sometime next week.
On Friday morning, webcams showed the summit under low visibility, likely due to weather and volcanic smog (vog). A quiet Thursday night saw no glow from the vents, which scientists attribute to this poor visibility.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that sulfur dioxide emissions reached 3,400 tonnes per day. This is significantly higher than the usual 1,200 to 1,500 tonnes seen during previous quiet periods. According to experts, such elevated gas emissions might indicate that the volcano is gearing up for another eruption.
The tremor signals from the volcano have also decreased in the past day. There has been a noticeable drop in gas-pistoning tremors, which is often a sign that volcanic activity is stabilizing.
Despite this pause, the summit continues to inflate, showing signs that eruptive episode 39 could kick off between December 22 and 27. This pattern of inflation before eruptions indicates the volcano is building pressure.
Historically, Kīlauea has seen numerous eruptions, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Such activity can affect local communities, air quality, and tourism. According to recent surveys, many residents remain vigilant and prepared for sudden eruptions, as past events have often caught people by surprise.
As the situation unfolds, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will provide daily updates to keep the public informed.
For more on volcanic activity and monitoring, you can refer to resources like the USGS Volcano Hazards Program.
