Renewed Uprift Eruption at Puu Oo (Episodes 50-54)
The map on the right shows the location of the first four major
stages in the eruption. Blue flows are those accompanying high
fountaining centered at Pu'u O'o (1/83 - 7/86). Yellow flows
originated from the Kupaianaha lava lake (7/86 - 2/92). Magenta
flows represent a brief fissure outbreak uprift from Kupaianaha
as the conduit feeding it constricted. (11/91). The red flows
erupted from fissures uprift of Pu'u o'o following the complete
blockage of the conduit feeding Kupaianaha (2/92 - 1/97).
#49: 2/18/92 High stand of Pu'u o'o pond at start of episode
And yet again, lava rose in the summit pond at Pu'u O'o, threatening to
overflow the spillway.
And yet again, as lava neared previous high levels, intrusions began, and
fissuring began as they reached the surface of Kilauea.
#50: 2/18/92 Fissure on west flank of Puu oo
This time, however, fissure eruptions ripped the ground asunder uprift
of Pu'u O'o.
In this image the fissure can be seen cutting the western flank of Pu'u O'o
cone.
#50: 2/18/92 Broad view of fissuring
A broad shield and lava lake began to grow on Pu'u O'os western edge with
early flows vearing toward the North.
For a while it looked as if this would be the hallmark of the new stage
of eruptive activity, and there was some concern that flows might
eventually reach Pahoahoa.
However, after several days of activity, flows surmounted a topographic
barrier and headed south, down the flank of the volcano as before, but
west of the large flow field that had been fed by lavas from Kupaianaha.
#51: 3/27/92 Outbreak on southwest flank
This view shows the beginning of the second episode of the four that eventually
formed this stage of the eruption.
There was a tendency for the outbreak of each to migrate slowly around the cone
to the south.
#51: 6/11/92 Fissure and lava pond
During the first two episodes, there was a well defined lava lake occupying
the summit of the satelitic shield butressing the uprift flank of Pu'u O'o.
During later episodes, the lava lake disappeared, although copious fume
continued from these early vents.
#51: 9/8/92 Skylight with geologists
As with Kupaianaha, a massive tube system developed, and a second large lava
field formed as a result on the flanks of Kilauea west of the one formed
during the Kupaianaha stage.
Lava was erupted continuously rather than episodically, and apparently
was still begin degassed beneath or through the Pu'u O'o vent before
doubling back and erupting further uprift.
Here two intrepid souls test the strength of the roof of the main lava tube
that fed the rapidly growing flow field.
#52: 10/3/92 Aerial view of fountaining from south
As was discussed above, the post-Kupaianaha stage comprised 4 separate
eruptive episodes.
This photograph shows the beginning of the third (episode 52) nearly 8
months after the opening fissure event.
#52: 11/10/92 Kamoamoa just before lava
As the flow field of tube fed pahoehoe continued to develop, more of Kilauea's
treasured spots were buried beneath many meters of new pahoehoe.
Kamoamoa was one of the wonderful spots on the Island of Hawaii, and the joys
experienced here lives on in the hearts of thousands.
Its black sand beach, and sheltering palms experienced uncounted family outings
and spiritual events.
This photograph was taken just two days before it disappeared forever.
#52: 11/12/92 Aerial view of Kamoamoa lava delta
On November 12, 1992, lava crossed the highway and began to move into the
Kamoamoa area.
Lava first entered the ocean over the black sand beach, and quickly began
to fill the bay with a growing lava delta.
The massive flows from Kupaianaha can be seen in the distance.
#52: 11/24/92 Kamoamoa destroyed, looking mauka
Two weeks later this areal view shows a scene of total devastation.
The path the flows took while advancing on Kamoamoa can be easily seen
in the distance, crossing the road on the right side of the photo.
#53: 2/21/93 Fountaining at vent
The last episode (#53) began in February of 1993 and lasted until February
of 1997, a span of four years.
During that time the attendant flow field continued to grow, rivalling
the one formed during the eruption of Kupaianaha.
Again the eruption settled into a steady and stable character that seemed
might never end.
Collapse of Pu'u O'o and Eruption at Napau Crater (Episode 54) 1997
The end came suddenly, though, in early February when Pu'u O'o's summit
collapsed into a pit 330 meters deep, and lava disappeared from view.
Nearly simultaneously, fissures erupted again from Napua crater, the site
of the first fissuring 14 years earlier.
During the first couple of days about 700,000 cubic meters of lava were
erupted, no more than two days supply at current rates.
The low fountains from the new fissures rapidly died as a series of
secondary fissures propogated down rift for several kilometers.
Each in turned died after briefly building low spatter ramparts.
It is interesting that the sequence followed the same general pattern as
the first fissuring in January of 1983.
Three days after its onset, all eruptive activity had ceased, and no lava was seen
on the surface of Kilauea volcano for several weeks.
During this time a vigorous swarm of summit long-period quakes slowly
decreases.
These events were very similar to those following episodes of high fountaining,
but the sequence was much more intense and more protracted.
It has been suggested that these events represent the refilling of the shallow
magma chamber beneath Kilauea's summit from the plexus of conduits and local
storage conducting magma upwards from deeper sources.
However, the summit inflated very slowly during this time, and the rate of
emission of summit gases, an indicator of lava rise at greater depths, remained
low. As we waited for the eruption to resume, we could only wonder if this might be how it actually ends.
Lava returned to Puu Oo about a month later and slowly filled the pit, establishing a large lava lake. Small vents opened up around the base of the cone and a new eruptive cycle began.
The map on the right shows the location of the first four major
stages in the eruption. Blue flows are those accompanying high
fountaining centered at Pu'u O'o (1/83 - 7/86). Yellow flows
originated from the Kupaianaha lava lake (7/86 - 2/92). Magenta
flows represent a brief fissure outbreak uprift from Kupaianaha
as the conduit feeding it constricted. (11/91). The red flows
erupted from fissures uprift of Pu'u o'o following the complete
blockage of the conduit feeding Kupaianaha (2/92 - 1/97).
#49: 2/18/92 High stand of Pu'u o'o pond at start of episode
And yet again, lava rose in the summit pond at Pu'u O'o, threatening to
overflow the spillway.
And yet again, as lava neared previous high levels, intrusions began, and
fissuring began as they reached the surface of Kilauea.
#50: 2/18/92 Fissure on west flank of Puu oo
This time, however, fissure eruptions ripped the ground asunder uprift
of Pu'u O'o.
In this image the fissure can be seen cutting the western flank of Pu'u O'o
cone.
#50: 2/18/92 Broad view of fissuring
A broad shield and lava lake began to grow on Pu'u O'os western edge with
early flows vearing toward the North.
For a while it looked as if this would be the hallmark of the new stage
of eruptive activity, and there was some concern that flows might
eventually reach Pahoahoa.
However, after several days of activity, flows surmounted a topographic
barrier and headed south, down the flank of the volcano as before, but
west of the large flow field that had been fed by lavas from Kupaianaha.
#51: 3/27/92 Outbreak on southwest flank
This view shows the beginning of the second episode of the four that eventually
formed this stage of the eruption.
There was a tendency for the outbreak of each to migrate slowly around the cone
to the south.
#51: 6/11/92 Fissure and lava pond
During the first two episodes, there was a well defined lava lake occupying
the summit of the satelitic shield butressing the uprift flank of Pu'u O'o.
During later episodes, the lava lake disappeared, although copious fume
continued from these early vents.
#51: 9/8/92 Skylight with geologists
As with Kupaianaha, a massive tube system developed, and a second large lava
field formed as a result on the flanks of Kilauea west of the one formed
during the Kupaianaha stage.
Lava was erupted continuously rather than episodically, and apparently
was still begin degassed beneath or through the Pu'u O'o vent before
doubling back and erupting further uprift.
Here two intrepid souls test the strength of the roof of the main lava tube
that fed the rapidly growing flow field.
#52: 10/3/92 Aerial view of fountaining from south
As was discussed above, the post-Kupaianaha stage comprised 4 separate
eruptive episodes.
This photograph shows the beginning of the third (episode 52) nearly 8
months after the opening fissure event.
#52: 11/10/92 Kamoamoa just before lava
As the flow field of tube fed pahoehoe continued to develop, more of Kilauea's
treasured spots were buried beneath many meters of new pahoehoe.
Kamoamoa was one of the wonderful spots on the Island of Hawaii, and the joys
experienced here lives on in the hearts of thousands.
Its black sand beach, and sheltering palms experienced uncounted family outings
and spiritual events.
This photograph was taken just two days before it disappeared forever.
#52: 11/12/92 Aerial view of Kamoamoa lava delta
On November 12, 1992, lava crossed the highway and began to move into the
Kamoamoa area.
Lava first entered the ocean over the black sand beach, and quickly began
to fill the bay with a growing lava delta.
The massive flows from Kupaianaha can be seen in the distance.
#52: 11/24/92 Kamoamoa destroyed, looking mauka
Two weeks later this areal view shows a scene of total devastation.
The path the flows took while advancing on Kamoamoa can be easily seen
in the distance, crossing the road on the right side of the photo.
#53: 2/21/93 Fountaining at vent
The last episode (#53) began in February of 1993 and lasted until February
of 1997, a span of four years.
During that time the attendant flow field continued to grow, rivalling
the one formed during the eruption of Kupaianaha.
Again the eruption settled into a steady and stable character that seemed
might never end.