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Explosive eruptions are not bad everywhere. Hawaiian society southeast of Kīlauea’s summit actually benefited from some of them. These benefits result from the deposits of fine volcanic ash that transformed a barren sea of pāhoehoe into an area capable of sustaining agriculture.
Many such explosions resulted from the interaction of magma with groundwater or surface water; others apparently were powered by pressurized gas possibly aided by steam but with no direct involvement of magma.
According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, there has been a dramatic drop in earthquakes, from a peak of over 250 per day last week, to only 23 recorded in the past 24 hours.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported signs of elevated unrest beneath the summit region Wednesday. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
Earthquake rates beneath the summit region increased overnight from less than 10 earthquakes per day to over 140 earthquakes in the last 24 hours.