Kilauea volcano update: fountaining from SW spatter cone and several vents feeds western lava lake

Active western lava lake and spattering from several vents (image: USGS HVO)

The effusive eruption within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater continues at the vents by mild fountaining.

The spatter cone (also called a hornito) in the Sw crater wall continues to eject hot, juvenile and plastic lava clots that in turn, have piled into the steep-sided deposits. Besides, it contains a small cauldron of boiling lava from where the main lava flow feeds the westernmost part of the crater floor.

Lava fountain heights reache about 9 meters in elevation.

The USGS HVO continues: „Active lava and vents cover much of the west half of Halemaʻumaʻu crater in a broad horseshoe around a central uplifted area.
An active lava lake is centered within the uplifted area and is fed by a vent in its northeast corner. This feature is the „western lava lake“ from prior eruptions that has been reactivated along with a smaller circular pool just southeast of the lake. All previously active lava features in the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu now appear to be stagnant.“


Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory volcano activity update 12 June 2023

A partiall collapse of the SW crater spatter cone yesterday (source: USGS HVO)