A Brief History of Kīlauea’s Southwest Rift Zone

"A Brief History of Kīlauea’s Southwest Rift Zone" After Dark in the Park Program in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Kīlauea’s Southwest Rift Zone has shown increased earthquake activity during the fall of 2023. What is known about this region and eruptions that have occurred there over the past 200 years or more? William Ellis, an English missionary, provided the first written documentation of this area, including the “Great Crack” and the 1823 Keaīwa eruption. Older eruptions, such as those from the Kamakaiʻa Hills around 1815 have evolved chemistries not typical of Kīlauea. Other Southwest Rift Zone eruptions occurred in 1868, 1919 – 20 (Maunaiki), September 1971, and December 1974. Join USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Drew Downs as he discusses these topics and more.

Broadcast live by HVERI on January 23, 2024