Get ready for an explosive journey as we delve into the fascinating world of Kīlauea's volcanic activity!
The Birth of a Pu'u: A Volcanic Wonder
Kīlauea, a powerhouse of nature, has been putting on quite a show since December 2024. Among the many fascinating developments is the emergence of a new pu'u, a volcanic cone, which has captured the attention of geologists and nature enthusiasts alike. But here's where it gets controversial: tracking its growth has proven to be a challenging task, and the methods employed are a story in themselves!
Initially, the team at the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) tried to measure the accumulation of tephra, those tiny volcanic rock fragments, by photographing the burial of a road sign. However, by May 11, it was clear that this method wouldn't cut it for much longer. So, they got creative.
The Evolution of Tracking Techniques
Before and after episode 22, geologists set up a series of garden stakes along the closed road, aiming to measure tephra fall like a rain gauge. But even this low-tech approach failed due to the rapid growth of the pu'u during lava fountaining episodes. The solution? Higher-tech GPS instruments and walking transects.
Using a handheld, high-precision GPS, geologists measured several locations, including the ever-shifting peak of the pu'u. The process is intricate: the instrument needs to connect with multiple satellites for accurate readings, and then it records data points every second for a few minutes. The whole transect takes a few hours, and the data is processed back in the office, resulting in incredibly precise measurements of around 10 centimeters.
Aerial Lidar Scans and the Challenge of Uniformity
HVO has also deployed its new helicopter-mounted lidar system to survey the pu'u, providing high-resolution 3D scans. This method, however, has its own challenges. Processing the data is complex, and attempts to use photogrammetry, a technique HVO uses to track elevation changes across the crater floor, have been unsuccessful due to the pu'u's uniform surface.
The Rapid Growth of the Pu'u: A Stunning Display of Nature's Power
The data collected paints a picture of the pu'u's incredible growth. For instance, after episode 23, the tephra deposit at the now-buried road sign reached a thickness of 3.4 meters. But the real showstopper was episode 24, which added a staggering 7.8 meters of tephra in just 7½ hours! The pu'u grows the most during high-fountaining episodes, exceeding 300 meters in height. It's a testament to the raw power of nature and the rapid changes that Hawaiian volcanoes can undergo.
A New Landmark on Kīlauea: A Reminder of Nature's Ever-Changing Landscape
Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, is building a new landmark where visitors once drove around Halema'uma'u. HVO geologists will continue to monitor this evolving feature, serving as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our planet.
Volcano Activity Updates
As of November 2025, Kīlauea remains active, with episode 37 lava fountaining occurring on November 25 for 9 hours. The summit is reinflating, and glow has been visible intermittently overnight at both vents. Another fountaining episode is expected between December 6 and 9. Mauna Loa, on the other hand, is currently at a normal alert level, with no unusual activity noted along its rift zones.
Stay tuned for more updates and dive deeper into the world of volcanoes at HVO's website. Email your questions to askHVO@usgs.gov and join the conversation! How do you think we should approach tracking volcanic growth in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments!
