Kīlauea Eruption Update, Day 68: February 26, 2021

Lava continues to erupt within Halemaʻumaʻu crater on Kīlauea volcano, with fluctuating gas emissions and pressure cycles causing only minor changes: New: - Another back-to-back Deflation-Inflation cycle - Small flow from upper north side of West Vent during brief inflation - SO2 emissions fluctuate to 1,100 t/d from as low as 600 t/d - Lava lake depths still hovering; last week: 215-218 m (705 - 715 ft) - Minor talus debris accumulating on lava surface We review public USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring signals, available new media and webcam images, which we also use to produce our own time-lapse sequences focused on this week's features, while offering geologic narration and annotation. As usual during our end-of-week update, we also touch base on Maunaloa volcano, not erupting but focus of attention this week with slightly increased earthquakes and a Volcano Watch article. For our in-depth segment, we review the recent USGS paper on bubble-bursting in the 2015 lava lake, and its implications and insights into the differences between Hawaiian and Strombolian eruptions. Finally, as in our other updates, we take a few live viewer questions. https://youtu.be/KoEV836IY18