Gas bubbles can launch lava fountains higher than skyscrapers
Deep beneath the Hawaiian crust, trapped magmatic gases build up like a shaken soda bottle until they explode, launching molten rock into the stratosphere.
The summit of Kīlauea recently transformed into a natural pressure cooker, where trapped subterranean gases act as a hydraulic piston to launch molten rock into the air. During these intense bursts, the volcano does not merely leak lava; it ejects it in focused jets that can reach heights of over 200 meters, dwarfng the skyscrapers of most major cities. One specific event in May 2026 saw the north vent of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater sustain a continuous fountain for nine hours, fueled by a relentless cycle of gas pressure that built up and released every few minutes.
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