2018 lower Puna eruption

2018 lower Puna eruption
Name	2018 lower Puna eruption
Caption	Lava fountains at Leilani Estates, 2018
Date	May–August 2018
Location	Lower Puna, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaii
Volcano	Kīlauea
Type	Fissure vent
Cause	Rift zone magma intrusion
Evacuations	~2,000

2018 lower Puna eruption

The 2018 lower Puna eruption was a major rift-zone eruption of Kīlauea on Hawaiʻi Island that produced widespread lava flows, fissures, and volcanic gas emissions in the Puna District during May–August 2018. The event involved extensive activity at the summit of Kīlauea and along the East Rift Zone, causing the destruction of neighborhoods, modification of coastline, and notable impacts on agencies such as the United States Geological Survey and the National Weather Service. Scientists from institutions including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Smithsonian Institution, and international collaborators documented the eruption, which prompted major responses from the Hawaii County, the State of Hawaii, and federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Background and geological setting

The eruption occurred within the long-active East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, a shield volcano on Hawaiʻi Island formed by Hawaiian hotspot volcanism and studied by researchers at USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The region includes features such as the Puʻuʻōʻō vent, Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and the Leilani Estates subdivision, situated atop rift-related faults and dike-prone lithology described in reports by USGS. The East Rift Zone hosts episodic dike intrusions, melt migration from the mantle plume, and interactions with the island’s magmatic plumbing highlighted in publications from American Geophysical Union meetings and the Geological Society of America.

Eruption chronology

In early May 2018, increased seismicity and ground deformation were recorded by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and seismic networks operated by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. On May 3, a major collapse at Halemaʻumaʻu was followed by escalating summit activity; by May 4–6 a dike propagated into the lower East Rift Zone with surface fissuring in Leilani Estates. Between May and August multiple fissures numbered over two dozen produced lava fountains, advancing flows, and subsidence at the summit; this timeline was tracked by teams from USGS, NOAA, and the Civil Air Patrol with satellite inputs from Landsat, Sentinel-1, and commercial providers.

Volcanic activity and hazards

The eruption generated hazards typical of rift-zone events including lava flow inundation, episodic lava fountains, elevated sulfur dioxide emissions monitored by Hawaii Department of Health, and tephra near active fissures. Pele’s hair and lava spatter posed risks to residents and first responders, while vog produced by volcanic gases affected air quality monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service. The eruption also produced ground collapse and subsidence at the summit region of Kīlauea, generating seismic swarms recorded by regional networks and inspiring comparative studies with historical events such as the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption.

Impact on communities and infrastructure

Lava flows destroyed over 700 structures in Leilani Estates and other communities, leading to the permanent loss of roads, utilities, and private property in the Puna District. The advancing flows altered the coastline where newly erupted lava entered the ocean, creating hazardous laze plumes that affected nearby communities and maritime traffic regulated by the United States Coast Guard. Utilities operated by HELCO were disrupted, while schools under the Hawaii Department of Education system and businesses faced closures. The eruption displaced thousands and reshaped land ownership and insurance considerations involving entities such as local banks and the Hawaii County administration.

Response and emergency management

Evacuations and emergency actions were coordinated by Hawaii County emergency management, with state-level support from the State of Hawaii governor’s office and federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory provided continual hazard assessments and public briefings in partnership with the National Weather Service and the County of Hawaii Civil Defense Agency. Search, sheltering, and infrastructure restoration engaged organizations including the American Red Cross, the Hawaii National Guard, and community volunteer groups. Legal and policy discussions involved the Hawaii State Legislature and local governments addressing zoning, rebuilding, and disaster relief funding.

Scientific studies and monitoring

Researchers from USGS, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Smithsonian Institution, NOAA, and international universities conducted multidisciplinary studies of magma transport, geodesy, gas emissions, and lava rheology. Techniques employed included continuous GPS, InSAR from satellites like Sentinel-1, seismic tomography, petrological analysis of basaltic samples compared to historic lavas, and gas flux measurements using spectrometers developed by institutions such as Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Peer-reviewed articles appeared in journals associated with the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America, contributing to improved eruption forecasting and models of rift-zone dynamics.

Aftermath and long-term effects

Post-eruption recovery involved assessments by FEMA, land-use planning by Hawaii County, and restoration efforts coordinated with the Hawaii Department of Health and community organizations. The eruption permanently reconfigured portions of Puna District coastline and cadastral maps, influenced tourism administered by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and informed revisions to hazard maps maintained by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Ongoing scientific monitoring and policy adaptations continue to incorporate lessons for resilience, insurance, and land management drawn from this significant Kīlauea event.

Category:Kīlauea Category:2018 natural disasters Category:Volcanic eruptions in the United States