What caused it to collapse? What have we learned?
In 2018, Kīlauea Volcano experienced its largest caldera collapse in more than 200 years profoundly changing the landscape. To describe what happened, we use a highly simplified cross section of a magma reservoir and the overlying caldera to look at the subterranean architecture of Kilauea, and to show how the massive outpouring of lava in 2018 caused the summit of the volcano to collapse.
This animation about the collapse of Kilauea Caldera during the catastrophic eruption in 2018, was written by Dr. Paul Segall, Stanford University based on ongoing geodetic research. We are indebted to the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Geological Survey, UNAVCO, and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
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