HVO reported that the summit eruption at Kilauea continued during 26 October-2 November at a vent in the lower W wall of Halema`uma`u Crater. Lava entered the lake through a breach in the E part of the W wall cone, feeding the lake which had risen 52 m since 29 September. The lava lake was not level; the W end was 8 m higher than the stagnant E part on 27 October. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was high at 3,600 tonnes per day on 28 October. Lava fountains rose less than 10 m from the W vent, though by 29 October low roiling and spatter bursts were also observed. The Aviation Color Code and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Orange and Watch, respectively.

Geological Summary. Kilauea overlaps the E flank of the massive Mauna Loa shield volcano in the island of Hawaii. Eruptions are prominent in Polynesian legends; written documentation since 1820 records frequent summit and flank lava flow eruptions interspersed with periods of long-term lava lake activity at Halemaumau crater in the summit caldera until 1924. The 3 x 5 km caldera was formed in several stages about 1,500 years ago and during the 18th century; eruptions have also originated from the lengthy East and Southwest rift zones, which extend to the ocean in both directions. About 90% of the surface of the basaltic shield volcano is formed of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the surface is younger than 600 years. The long-term eruption from the East rift zone between 1983 and 2018 produced lava flows covering more than 100 km2, destroyed hundreds of houses, and added new coastline.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)