2024 Southwest Rift Zone Eruption

Duration:

1 minute, 15 seconds

During an overflight at approximately 6 a.m., USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observed the fissures system that opened on the upper portion of the Southwest Rift Zone. Approximately half a mile (about 1 km) in length, only the southwest portion of the system was active by daylight.

 

This reference map depicts the approximate location of fissure vents that began erupting from Kīlauea Southwest Rift Zone at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST on June 3, 2024. The most recent eruption in this region was during December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours.

USGS map

Breaking the Silence: Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone Erupts After Almost 50 Years

Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone erupted in the early hours of June 3, 2024, marking its first significant activity since December 1974. Similar to the 1974 eruption, the June, 3, 2024 eruption was very short, only lasting a few hours. While the East Rift Zone has dominated headlines over the past four decades, with Puʻuʻōʻō's continuous eruption, the 2018 Leilani Estates eruption, and recent summit eruptions, the Southwest Rift Zone has often been overlooked.

The distinctive appearance of the Southwest Rift Zone, especially near Kīlauea's summit, is shaped by wind-swept, sandy, boulder-strewn explosive deposits from eruptions like the Keanakākoʻi tephra, beginning around 1500s. Despite its lesser-known status, the Southwest Rift Zone holds significant geological importance, offering insights into volcanic processes and historical eruptions dating back to the 19th century. Ongoing research continues to uncover the mysteries of this fascinating area, underscoring its potential for future volcanic activity.

The eruption stretched approximately 0.6 miles from a fissure system within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Although initially dramatic with multiple active fissures, the eruption quieted within the first few hours. The lava flows, though limited, covered a modest area of a few thousand square meters.

 

 

Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea

The Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea is a significant underground geological feature that extends from the volcano's summit southwestward towards the coast, approximately 5 kilometers southeast of the town of Pāhala. This rift zone is characterized by a network of fractures and fissures through which magma from the volcano's chamber can ascend to the surface during eruptions. It is one of two rift zones of Kīlauea that extends southward.

 

NPS Graphic