November, 1975
On November 29, 1975, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred on the south
flank of Kilauea. It was the largest earthquake in over a century. The
movement of the south flank during the earthquake generated a tsunami.
Two people were killed by the tsunami. The earthquake caused over $4
million in damage. It also triggered an eruption that lasted less than a
day from a fissure just east of Halemaumau. Figure 14 from Tilling and
others (1976).
September, 1977
Activity returned to the East Rift Zone on September 13, 1977. The
eruption last 18 days and sent flows 5 miles (8 km) down the flanks of
the volcano. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, September
27, 1977.
November, 1979
The most recent eruption at Hiiaka Crater on the East Rift Zone was on
November 16, 1979. The eruption was preceded by a swarm of earthquakes
that lasted 11 hours. The eruption began from a fissure on the floor of
the crater. Photograph by R.B. Moore, U.S. Geological Survey, November
16, 1979.
As the eruption progressed, a new fissure formed just northwest of the
crater and produced lava flows which traveled to the south. Note people
on the road and near the fissure. Photograph by Robert Decker, U.S.
Geological Survey, November 16, 1979.
April, 1982
The April 1982 eruption at the summit of the Kilauea lasted only 19
hours. It was preceded by rapid
inflation
and a swarm
of small earthquakes that lasted 3 hours. Photography by J. P. Lockwood,
U.S. Geological Survey, April 30, 1982.
Lava erupted from a fissure and produced a curtain of fire 15-30 feet
(5-10 m) high. Photography by J. P. Lockwood, U.S. Geological Survey,
April, 1982.
September, 1982
The second eruption in 1982 began on the evening of September 25 and
lasted only 15 hours. Curtains of fire developed above fissures. This
was the most recent summit eruption of Kilauea volcano. Photograph by
J.D. Griggs, U.S. Geological Survey, September 25, 1982.
Two fissures formed in the southern part of Kilauea caldera (top of
photo, just left of center) and sent lava flows to the northwest and
south (towards the center of the photo). Photograph by Norm Banks, U.S.
Geological Survey, September 26, 1982.
The northwest flow crossed Crater Rim Drive and spilled into the caldera.
Volcanologists on duty during the eruption reported feeling several dozen
earthquakes. Photograph by Ed Wolfe, U.S. Geological Survey, September
26, 1982.
