Maunaloa Eruption Summary, Day 12: Less Lava & Very Low Fountains

On the 12th day of eruption, Maunaloa's lava output was again reduced from yesterday, ending the higher fountains and further draining the downslope lava channels. The lava flow front has retreated to within 1.65 miles or 2.65 km of the vent, in comparison to the 12.1 mile or 19.5 km lava flow that once threatened the Saddle Road and is now stalled. Less gas is also being emitted, though air quality impacts are still evident especially along the Kona coast. Overall this pattern is consistent with the ending stages of historical eruptions, though some take considerably longer to finish than others and it is not clear how much longer this eruption will continue. A transition to a low output, long-lasting eruption has not yet been excluded by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, though further clues may emerge in the coming days. Without further changes, there remains little threat to people or property. On Kīlauea, the summit lava lake remains mostly crusted over, occasionally overturning with fresh lava. HVO has reported that Kīlauea continues to fill with magma at depth, and that recent adjustments in light of Maunaloa's activity have changed its dynamics, with still-unknown consequences. However, the adjustments are taking place in the summit region within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. We review the most important imagery including the USGS live feed, monitoring signals, reports, and earthquakes, annotating and discussing live viewer questions as usual. https://youtu.be/4MWVVpsBKUk