Photo & Video Chronology — March 19, 2025 — Kīlauea summit eruption

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory March 19, 2025

The ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption of Kīlauea within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park saw activity increase early on March 19, with low-level lava fountains feeding short lava flows.

Color photograph of eruptive vent and lava flow

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Early on March 19, the southern eruptive vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea was the primary host of low-level eruptive activity. This photo, captured from the southern crater rim, shows minor spatter at the vent and a small lava flow proceeding onto the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Color photograph of eruptive vents and lava flows

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Later in the morning on March 19, the northern eruptive vent joined its southern counterpart in effusing a lava flow onto the western floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, both vents and lava flows are seen from above on the western crater rim. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Color photograph of lava pond — Once the northern eruptive vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea became active on March 19, it began exhibiting cyclic dome fountaining and lava drainback approximately every 5 minutes. In this image captured from above on the western crater rim, the drainback is evidenced by whirlpool textures in the lava pond's crustal plates. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

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A closer view of the low dome fountain at the northern eruptive vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on March 19, 2025. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

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At the summit of Kīlauea on March 19, 2025, cycles of filling and draining at the northern eruptive vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater included periods of more intense spattering in the lava pond. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

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At the summit of Kīlauea on March 19, 2025, the onset of draining at the northern eruptive vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater included intense gas jetting, spraying small droplets of lava vertically. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

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This video is shown at 100x speed and captures several cycles of filling and draining in the lava pond at the northern vent at the summit of Kīlauea on March 19, 20-25, during episode 14 of the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. Each cycle begins with low fountaining and lava gradually refilling the pond above the conduit. The low dome fountain sometimes intensifies into a more vigorous, spattering source. Eventually, fountaining diminishes and lava slowly begins to drain back down the conduit, often associated with gas jetting and an increase in outgassing. This video covers approximately one hour of activity, and HVO geologists observed that the cycles were occurring at intervals of 8-9 minutes. This type of cyclic behavior in lava ponds has been commonly observed on Kīlauea, and is sometimes referred to as "gas pistoning."