Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - June 24, 2018
Kīlauea summit subsides and produces frequent earthquakes
On June 23, 2018 at 4:32 p.m. HST after approximately 17 hours of elevated seismicity, a collapse explosion occurred at the summit if Kīlauea. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a magnitude 5.3 earthquake. During the intense shaking, rockfalls cascaded down the northern margin of the caldera wall just below Uēkahuna Bluff sending rock dust into the air.
(Public domain.)
Fissure 8, lava channel, and ocean entry all active
Aerial view of lava fountain at Fissure 8 and uppermost lava channel during an early morning overflight of the lava flow field.
(Public domain.)
The spatter cone at fissure 8 is now about 55 m (180 ft) tall. Lava fountains rise only occasionally above that point, sending a shower of tephra (cooled lava fragments) over the rim.
(Public domain.)
At fissure 8, fountains provide a vigorous supply of lava that exits the cinder cone and drops over a spillway to enter a well-established lava channel that extends to the sea.
(Public domain.)
View to the southwest, looking "up" the lava channel. Lava flows from Fissure 8 (not pictured) through the open channel about 13 km (8 mi) to the ocean. Lava remains incandescent (glowing orange) along the entire length of the channel with sections of cooled lava (black) on the surface. The dark areas in the lower portion of the image are parts of the early lava flow from Fissure 8 before the relatively narrow channel developed.
(Public domain.)
Lava is entering the sea on the southern side of the entry area primarily through the open channel, but also along a 1 km (0.6 mi) wide area. The entry areas are marked by billowing laze plumes. The interaction of lava with the ocean creates "laze", a corrosive seawater plume laden with hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic particles that can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs. The effects of laze dissipate with distance.
(Public domain.)
Geologists continue to check ground cracks in area for changes
USGS field crews track activity in and around Leilani Estates in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. Observations are also collected on a daily basis from cracks in the area of Highway 130, shown here (no changes in temperature, crack width, or gas emissions have been noted recently).
(Public domain.)
Summit collapse explosion on June 24 results in small plume and rockfalls
On June 24 a small ash-poor steam plume rose above the Halema‘uma‘u crater rim following another collapse explosion event at 4:12 p.m. HST (image taken at 4:27 p.m.). The plume was not detected by weather radar, and geologists estimate the plume rose less than about 600 m (1,968 ft) above the crater rim.
(Public domain.)