1. The Birth of Fissure 8
Fissure 8 was a pivotal vent during the 2018 eruption. This fissure became Kilauea's primary conduit for lava to reach the lower East Rift Zone, creating a substantial lava channel and delivering vast quantities of molten rock. Its explosive incandescent bursts and continuous effusive flow were central to the eruption's destructive path and the dramatic reshaping of the island's terrain.
2. The Great Lava Channel
A colossal lava channel, nearly 10 miles long at its peak, transported molten rock from Fissure 8 directly to the ocean. This immense flow sustained the eruption's destructive force, carving new pathways and building extensive lava deltas into the sea, fundamentally altering the Puna district's coastline and coastal infrastructure.
3. Leilani Estates Devastation
Leilani Estates subdivision bore the brunt of Kilauea's 2018 lava flows. Hundreds of homes were destroyed as fissures opened within the neighborhood, spewing lava and volcanic gases, forcing widespread evacuations and leaving behind a landscape transformed by molten rock and ash.
4. Ocean Entry and Poi
The point where Kilauea's lava met the Pacific Ocean was a spectacle of steam and explosions, known scientifically as a 'lava deltoid.' This process, termed 'hydrovolcanism,' was incredibly dangerous due to the rapid temperature differences, creating a spectacular and hazardous phenomenon that witnessed new land being created offshore.
5. Halema'uma'u Crater Collapse
Throughout the 2018 eruption, Halema'uma'u Crater at the summit of Kilauea experienced significant caldera collapse. The ground within the vast crater sank by hundreds of feet as magma drained from beneath, creating a series of seismic events and dramatic landscape changes at the volcano's apex.
6. Lower East Rift Zone Activity
The Lower East Rift Zone, a less active area of Kilauea, became the primary focus of the 2018 eruption. New fissures opened over several weeks, releasing voluminous lava flows that inundated residential areas and agricultural lands, demonstrating the complex interconnectedness of Kilauea's volcanic plumbing system.
7.vog and Gas Emissions
Significant releases of sulfur dioxide gas, commonly known as 'vog' (volcanic smog), plagued communities downwind of Kilauea. The persistent plumes of toxic gases impacted air quality, health, and visibility across Hawaii Island, highlighting the pervasive influence of volcanic activity.