The cascading origin of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and implications for future forecasting

Nature Communications
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Abstract

The 2018 summit and flank eruption of Kīlauea Volcano was one of the largest volcanic events in Hawaiʻi in 200 years. Data suggest that a backup in the magma plumbing system at the long-lived Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption site caused widespread pressurization in the volcano, driving magma into the lower flank. The eruption evolved, and its impact expanded, as a sequence of cascading events, allowing relatively minor changes at Puʻu ʻŌʻō to cause major destruction and historic changes across the volcano. Eruption forecasting is inherently challenging in cascading scenarios where magmatic systems may prime gradually and trigger on small events.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The cascading origin of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and implications for future forecasting
Series title Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-19190-1
Volume 11
Issue 5646
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Nature Research
Contributing office(s) Volcano Science Center
Description 13 p.
Country United States
State Hawaii
Other Geospatial Island of Hawai'i, Kīlauea Volcano
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