Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone 2019: Quiet but insightful

In the year since Kīlauea Volcano’s notable 2018 eruption ended, the lower East Rift Zone has been relatively quiet. But USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists continue to gain insight into the eruption through ongoing research and monitoring. Some of the many questions asked by island residents include, Why did the fissures erupt along a linear pattern? How long will it take for the lava to solidify? Why is vegetation still dying in the area? USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Carolyn Parcheta explored these and other queries and shared recent observations and findings by HVO scientists in this Volcano Awareness Month talk presented in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on January 21, 2020. Volcano Awareness Month is spearheaded by the USGS–Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, in cooperation with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and provides informative and engaging public programs about the science and hazards of Hawaiian volcanoes. Photo caption: Aerial view of fissure 8 lava flow on Kīlauea’s lower East Rift Zone after the 2018 eruption ended. USGS photo by D. Becker, 08-31-2019.