Pu`u `O`o - Kupaianaha Eruption of Kilauea Volcano1995-1998, Collapse claims west flank of Pu`u `O`o cone |
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1995 January |
Collapse pits develop on the west flank of Pu`u`O`o cone. | |
1997 January |
Lava fissure erupts in and northeast of Napau Crater on January 30, 1997, during episode 54. Five closely spaced fissures were active during the 22-hour episode. | |
1997 January |
Fume rises from eruptive fissures within and just outside Napau Crater during episode 54. Pu`u `O`o cone is visible at top of photograph. | |
1997 January |
Just before the fissures of episode 54 erupted, the lava pond in Pu`u` `O`o drained as magma was diverted to the area beneath Napau Crater. The west rim of Pu`u `O`o collapsed to form a notch 150-200 m wide and 75-100 m deep. |
1997 April |
Lava erupted outside Pu`u `O`o beginning on March 28, 1997, from a small pit at the base of the southwest flank (arrow); this episode 55 vent quickly built a small cone (images below). A few weeks later, another vent became active (circle) and fed a series of short flows for about 3 weeks. | |
1997 April |
This spatter cone marks the site of the episode 55 vent, which became active on March 28, 1997. Other spatter cones were built in this area as the vent location changed through early June. | |
1997 June |
A vigorous new vent began erupting on June 4, 1997, slightly northwest of the original episode 55 cone and the May 12 cone. This new vent eventually built a cone that covered the old episode 55 cone. | |
1997 October |
Lava overflowed the crater of Pu`u `O`o several times between June 16 and October 18, 1997, coating both the west and northeast (lower left) flanks of the cone with pahoehoe. Note active vent in west end of crater. | |
1997 December to 1998 November |
A large new pit, named Puka Nui ("large hole" in Hawaiian), developed on the south flank of Pu`u `O`o in late 1997 (top) and enlarged through 1998 (bottom). By the end of 1999, Puka Nui had nearly intersected the south rim of Pu`u `O`o. | |
1998 May |
During a temporary pause in the supply of magma to Pu`u `O`o on May 19-20, 1998, lava drained out of the tube system and stopped flowing into the ocean at the Waha`ula and Kamokuna entry points. As lava re-entered the tube system on the evening of May 20, several breakouts occurred along the length of the tube. | |
1998 May |
View into skylight shows lava cascading down a steep slope. | |
1998 September |
The shiny surface of new pahoehoe marks the pathway of lava that reached the sea a few weeks after a 2-3 day eruptive pause in August 1998. |
The URL of this page is http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/gallery/kilauea/erupt/1995to1998.html