Hawaii- 2018 case study

In 2018, Hawai'i experiences its most destructive volcanic eruption in over a quarter-century. Residents flee for their lives as the Earth erupts beneath their homes, turning a Hawaiian paradise into a vision of Hell. Through it all, scientists are on the front line, tracking subterranean magma flows while risking exposure to toxic gases. They uncover secrets held inside the molten rock to answer the question on everyone's mind: How bad will it get?

In 2018, the island of Hawai'i becomes a living hell. Locals rush for their lives as red-hot lava bursts from under their houses, fountaining hundreds of feet into the air. It's an eruption on a scale not seen for a generation, with 450 earthquakes in just the last 24 hours, upending the lives of thousands and transforming the landscape of Hawai'i.

While residents evacuate, scientists head into the field to track the action and discover what may be next. With high levels of lava lakes indicating pressure buildup, the scientists become concerned about a potential eruption.

On April 30, the Pu'u 'O'o vent's lava disappears suddenly, catching volcanologists off-guard. Around the vent, the land is shaken by a swarm of tiny tremors, indicating the pressure from the magma has fractured the surrounding rock.

The magma is tunneling east, heading out of the national park and towards the homes of thousands. As pressure builds, the ground opens, and an eruption begins, leading to mandatory evacuations as lava pours over the land, generating multiple flows across roads and into homes.

The eruption continues for over a week, with numerous fissures opened, spewing out enough lava to cover 88 football fields. As the fissures erupt, danger increases with the tracking of lava flows becoming a critical task.

As the eruption enters new phases and fissures dominate, the flow rate increases dramatically, leading to the realization that the effects of this eruption will be widespread and long-lasting. The Hawaiian ecosystem, however, may find new life from this destruction.

The Hawaiian islands, built by volcanic activity, continuously evolve due to processes like erosion and climate effects. New activity beneath the ocean suggests that as old islands sink, new ones will rise, ensuring that Hawai'i will survive, adding to its unique geological narrative.

The eruption ultimately produces enough lava to bury the whole of Manhattan nearly 30 feet deep, covering 14 square miles and building 875 acres of new land in the ocean. The Kilauea volcano, while temporarily dormant, holds the promise of future eruptions as scientists continue to monitor the