Calderas Across Two Worlds

One of the most common features found at large volcanoes are calderas, formed by the collapse of the land due to eruption. The scale of these features varies a lot depending on if you're on Earth or Mars.

Rocky Planet iconRocky Planet
By Erik Klemetti
Dec 31, 2024 2:00 PM
Fountaining at Kīlauea
Lava fountaining at Kīlauea within the Halema'uma'u Crater on December 30, 2024 with a USGS scientist taking video of the eruption. Credit: USGS/HVO/Matthew Patrick

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The current eruption at Kīlauea in Hawai'i that started just before Christmas is still rolling along. The activity from the major vents on the edge of the Halema'uma'u crater has waxed and waned some, but lava fountains reaching tens of meters (hundreds of feet) have been common for the past week. The USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory reports that lava from this eruption has covered two-thirds of the caldera floor.

An overflight of the volcano on December 27 showed the extent of the new, dark, black lava flows from the eruption. A small cone has built up on the edge of the caldera where the vents have been most active. The most recent reports (December 30) from the HVO say that the summit area is slowly deflating but sulfur dioxide emissions are still high, which makes sense considering that the eruption is ongoing.

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