Volcano Watch — Water in Kīlauea, and its role in its eruptions

VOLCANO WATCH: The Role Of Water In Kīlauea Eruptions

ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI - At Kīlauea, water has an impact on the explosivity of the eruptions, the texture of erupted rocks, and on the amount of gas emitted.

Volcano Watch — Water in Kīlauea, and its role in its eruptions

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory August 14, 2025 When most people think of erupting water, they probably have geysers, like Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, in mind. However, Kīlauea and its diverse style of eruptions are also significantly impacted by water. In fact, some of Kīlauea’s past explosive eruptions occurred when magma erupted through groundwater or through a lake in a summit crater. Volcano Watch is a weekly article…