Episode 13 ends after 12 hours of lava fountaining at Kīlauea, Hawai’i
Episode 13 of Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption at Halema’uma’u crater ended at 01:13 UTC on March 12, 2025, after 12 hours and 37 minutes of lava fountaining. Lava covered over 60% of the summit floor, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions peaked at 40 000 tonnes per day.
A view from the west rim of Kīlauea’s summit caldera, looking east across Halemaʻumaʻu and the down-dropped caldera floor. Captured by the KWcam at 22:20 LT on March 11, 2025. Image credit: USGS
The latest episode of Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption at Halema’uma’u crater ended at 15:13 LT (01:13 UTC on March 12) on March 11, after 12 hours and 37 minutes of intense lava fountaining.
The north vent suddenly ceased activity at 01:11 UTC, followed by the south vent two minutes later. The eruption covered over 60% of the summit floor with fresh lava flows, while sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions peaked at 40 000 tonnes per day.
During Episode 13, the deflationary tilt reached a total loss of 13 microradians before reversing to inflation at 01:13 UTC. Pele’s hair, fine strands of volcanic glass generated by lava fountains, was reported drifting and falling in Pāhala, located about 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Halema’uma’u.
Since December 23, 2024, episodic fountaining events at Halema’uma’u have lasted between 13 hours and eight days, with intervals between eruptions ranging from less than a day to 12 days. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) maintains the Volcano Alert Level at Watch and the Aviation Color Code at Orange. All volcanic activity remains confined to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
The eruption is generating high levels of volcanic gas, including water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The gases contribute to the formation of vog (volcanic smog), which can affect air quality in downwind areas.
Pele’s hair and other volcanic fragments present additional hazards. The glass fibers, formed by the rapid cooling of lava fountains, can be carried by the wind and cause skin and eye irritation. Clusters of Pele’s hair, resembling tumbleweeds, have been reported accumulating in some areas.
Lava flows remain confined to Halema’uma’u and the southwestern section of Kaluapele, Kīlauea’s summit caldera. While the current eruption does not directly threaten communities, ground instability around the caldera, ongoing seismic activity, and rockfalls continue to present dangers within closed areas of the national park.
Episode 12 of the ongoing Halema’uma’u eruption began at 17:30 UTC on March 4, with sporadic lava flows from the north and south vents. Continuous fountaining reached heights of 150–165 m (490–540 feet) by 00:20 UTC on March 5.
Kīlauea exhibited fluctuating lava fountaining between February 19–25, 2025. The north vent began erupting on February 19 at 20:22 LT (06:22 UTC on February 20), with fountains reaching 90–125 m (295–410 feet) by 07:00 UTC. Fountains were 45–60 m (148–197 feet) high by the next morning, covering 75% of the crater floor.
SO2 emissions were estimated at 10 000 tons per day (t/d) during peak fountaining, decreasing to 2 100 t/d by February 20 at 21:00 UTC. Small lava flows and intermittent incandescence persisted until February 25, when fountaining resumed at the north vent, reaching 180 m (590 feet) within an hour.
Kīlauea is a basaltic shield volcano with numerous eruptions recorded in Polynesian oral history and Western observations since 1820.
The 3 x 5 km (1.8 x 3.1 miles) summit caldera formed in multiple collapse events over the past 1 500 years. The East Rift Zone eruption between 1983 and 2018 covered more than 100 km2 (39 mi2), destroying hundreds of homes and adding new land to the island’s coastline.
References:
1 Kilauea volcano – USGS/HVO – March 12, 2025
2 Kilauea volcano – GVP – Accessed on March 12, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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