Current Kilauea Volcano Eruption Update
Current Eruption Status,
Information, and
Photos of
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Come visit the most active
Volcano in the World. To see a REAL Volcano is a spectacular
sight. We advise you to always check in at the Visitor Center of the
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to get up to the minute current eruption
updates. The friendly rangers will gladly tell you where to go and how to
view lava safely.
OCEAN ENTRY - LAVA VIEWING AREA:
13 December
2011
Small
streams of
lava
cascading
over the sea
cliff, and
entering the
ocean
The current lava flow, coming down the pali and traversing the coastal plain, reached the ocean late last week. The ocean entry point is within the National Park, near its eastern border. Today, numerous small streams of lava were cascading over the sea cliff, and lava entering the water was starting to build a small delta.
This photograph shows two channels of lava coming over the sea cliff, reaching the new lava delta.
6 December
2011
Awesome
views of the
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
cone and
crater
showing the
fume sources
View looking southwest of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and crater. The fume sources on the northeast flank (lower left) mark the path of the lava tube that is feeding flows on the pali. The vent feeding the tube is the fuming area near the crater rim (center); an active circular lava pond is immediately behind the vent. The pond began to take shape and become slightly elevated above the crater floor in the past couple of days after lava began erupting in the crater on Saturday (12/5), quickly filling a depression in the east part of the crater. On the far west edge of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is a vent (fuming) that erupted many small flows last week.
Close view of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. Incandescent spatter cone stands above fume rising from the main vent area. Lava is still erupting in the lava pond, marked by the smooth shiny surface behind the spatter cone, but the level appears to have stabilized overnight.
Lava spilling down the steep pali this morning formed many small channels and 'a'ā flows. Many such flows were visible on the pali overnight.
Pāhoehoe flows spreading on the coastal plain about 0.6 km from the base of the pali. When visited this morning, the flows had spread out considerably as they filled in low areas of the coastal plain. The leading edge of the flows were about 2.5 km from the ocean.
2 December
2011
Active
pāhoehoe,
fed by a
lava tube
originating
at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
has been
migrating
downslope
within the
Royal
Gardens
subdivision
This photograph, taken from the east rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater, shows a cone in the crater which was occasionally spitting minor amounts of spatter from the incandescent opening at its top. In the foreground, several altered blocks (pink-orange colored) sitting on the recent lava flow are evidence of a small explosive event in the crater — sometime in the last two weeks — that cast the blocks onto the rim.
Active pāhoehoe, fed by a lava tube originating at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, has been migrating downslope within the Royal Gardens subdivision over the past week. The flow front is outlined by the white dotted line. The flow is running alongside a forested kipuka, triggering brush fires visible in the photo. The flow is following the west margin of lava flows emplaced in February 2010, which brings the current flow close to the last occupied residence (orange structure in center of photo) in Royal Gardens.
21 November
2011
A thin
portion of
the roof
over the
lava tube
reveals the
lava stream
A collapse of a thin portion of the roof over the lava tube reveals the lava stream beneath the surface. The fluid stream is the bright orange color, with the dark orange area to the left representing the hot, incandescent tube wall. The lava stream today was relatively slow moving in the tube, perhaps reflecting a low rate of lava supply to the flow front.
For a brief period this afternoon a vigorously spattering vent at the east end of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater fed a swiftly moving river of lava that cascaded into the deeper portions of the crater. The cascade was over within about ten minutes of this photograph, but the vent continued to spatter.
10 November
2011
A large
skylight on
the lava
tube is
supplying
lava to
surface
flows north
of Royal
Gardens
subdivision
This photograph, looking east, shows a large skylight on the lava tube that is supplying lava to surface flows north of Royal Gardens subdivision. The tube trace, which heads southeast, is marked by the line of fume sources in the upper right portion of the image. The surface flows, out of view in this image, were 1.1 km (0.7 miles) north of the uppermost street in Royal Gardens today.
A close-up view of the skylight. The flowing lava stream in the tube was easily visible.
3 November
2011
The
active
episode 61
pāhoehoe
flows of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
View looking northwest through rain at the silvery flows at the front of the active episode 61 flow field. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is hidden in the clouds in the top left part of the photo. The ‘a‘ā flow at bottom center is the inactive terminus of the initial flow emplaced on September 21–22, 2011, after the episode 61 fissure on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō’s east flank opened on September 21. The active flows reached the front of the ‘a‘ā flow several hours later.
Ground view looking at the terminus of the active episode 61 pāhoehoe flows. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the source of the flows, is hidden in the clouds at the top of the photo, just left of center.
25 October
2011
High
aerial view
of the
active lava
channel of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
crater
Left. View looking southwest at the east flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone is at the top of the photo, and the trace of the September 21 fissure is defined by the line of fume at the center of the photo. Right. View looking east at the east edge of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater (bottom of photo) and the trace of the September 21 fissure (center of photo). The active lava tube carrying lava downslope to the southeast is marked by the line of fume that trends toward the upper right side of the photo.
Left. View looking nearly straight down into the open top of a spatter cone built over the September 21 fissure on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō’s east flank. The brighter, yellowish zone is the surface of the active lava stream as it flows downslope (toward the top of the photo). Right. View to the northwest looking at the active flows (center of photo). Activity over the past few weeks has built a broad, low rootless shield (a shield-shaped mound of lava built on the flow field, not the vent), and there has been little advancement downslope. Flows from the shield are slowly burying the ‘a‘ā flow built on September 21 and 22 (dark-colored flow on left side of photo).
7 October
2011
The
active
pāhoehoe
flows of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
This thermal image, looking northwest, shows the active flows east of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Bright yellow portions of the image represent areas of active lava. A short channelized flow was active on the upper east flank of the cone, with most activity – comprising pāhoehoe (center of image) - heading southeast. These pāhoehoe flows had reached about 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) from the vent during today’s overflight.
A close-up of the active pāhoehoe flows.
29 September
2011
Current
flows that
have erupted
on the east
side of Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō cone
This photo, looking west, shows the current flows that have erupted on the east side of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone is the large fume source in the upper left portion of the photograph, and the current flows are sourced from a fissure extending down its upper east flank. In the left-center of the photograph, the bright patch of lava is active pāhoehoe. In the right-center of the photograph is a partially buried cone, Pu`u Halulu, from a much earlier episode of the current eruption. Immediately above Halulu, the dark flow is an 'a'ā flow that became active this morning.
Close-up of the front of an active pāhoehoe flow from this afternoon.
23 September
2011
High
aerial view
of the
active lava
channel of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
crater
Left. Lava channel fed by September 21 fissure eruption coursing down the east flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Right. Stalled terminus of the ‘a‘ā flow fed by the September 21 fissure eruption.
Left. Close-up view of the lava channel on the relatively steep slope of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō’s east flank. Right. Lava falls formed at a topographic break in slope near the eastern base of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The cascade is about 6 m (20 ft) high.
High
aerial
view
of
the
active
lava
channel.
The
lowest,
eastern-most
end
of
the
fissure
is
in
view
at
the
bottom
of
the
photo.
Rather
than
feeding
the
‘a‘ā
flow
active
for
the
first
couple
of
days,
the
flow
now
is
spreading
out
on
the
low
slope
area
at
the
eastern
base
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō,
visible
in
the
top
half
of
the
photo.
23
September
2011
Three
Quicktime
movies of
the active
lava streams
from Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
Video
showing
the
fast-moving
upper
section
of
the
lava
stream
on
the
relatively
steep
eastern
flank
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō.
The
video
pans
to
the
left
to
show
the
smaller
lava
stream
eruption
from
the
lower
(eastern)
end
of
the
fissure.
Video
showing
the
main
lava
stream
on
the
lower
east
flank
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō.
This
stream
carries
most
of
the
lava—the
rest
splits
off
to
the
south
(to
the
left)
and
flows
behind
the
mounds
at
upper
left.
The
previous
video
shows
the
section
of
the
stream
visible
at
upper
right.
The
lava
stream
here
is
about
4 m
(13
ft)
across,
2 m
(7
ft)
deep,
and
is
moving
at
speed
of
about
3 m
per
second
(10
ft
per
second).
Video
showing
a 6
m
(20
ft)
high
lava
cascade
near
the
eastern
base
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō.
This
is
the
same
lava
stream
shown
in
the
previous
two
videos.
The
lava
stream
continues
on
several
hundred
more
meters
(yards)
before
transitioning
into
rubbly
pāhoehoe
and
‘a‘ā
and
stalling
well
short
of
yesterday’s
flow
front,
which
is
now
inactive.
21
September
2011
A new
fissure
opened and
began
erupting on
the east
flank of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
crater
Left.
A
new
fissure
opened
and
began
erupting
on
the
east
flank
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
early
this
morning,
feeding
channelized
‘a‘ā
flow.
The
fissure—the
source
of
the
lava
flow—is
shown
in
this
image.
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
cone
and
crater
is
in
the
background.
View
is
to
the
southwest.
Right.
Close-up
aerial
view
of
the
head
of
the
erupting
fissure.
The
edge
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater
is
at
lower
right.
View
is
to
the
east.
Left.
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
cone,
and
the
erupting
fissure,
is
just
to
the
left
of
top
center.
The
channelized
flow
initially
heads
east-northeast,
then
turns
to
the
southeast.
The
front
of
the
flow
is
at
the
bottom
of
the
image,
where
it
is
advancing
as
an
‘a‘ā
flow.
Right.
View
looking
east-northeast,
directly
down
the
upper
end
of
the
fissure.
The
fuming
cones
in
the
foreground
are
parts
of
the
fissure
that
erupted
when
the
fissure
opened
but
have
since
shut
down.
The
spatter
beyond,
where
the
fissure
is
still
erupting,
is
reaching
about
2 m
(7
ft)
into
the
air.
The
lava
channel
is
visible
in
the
background.
This
view
is
to
the
east,
looking
at
the
western-most
erupting
part
of
the
fissure.
This
lava
joins
with
lava
erupting
from
the
fissure
out
of
sight
below
and
feeds
into
the
channelized
flow
visible
crossing
the
through
the
background
of
the
photo.
16
September
2011
Two
vertical air
photo,
stitched
together,
show all of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō’s
crater
A
deflation–inflation
(DI)
event,
which
began
yesterday
afternoon,
led
to a
marked
decrease
in
eruptive
activity
at
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
overnight.
The
western
lava
lake,
at
upper
right,
became
inactive,
while
the
eastern
lava
lake,
filling
the
center
of
the
frame,
dropped
several
meters
and
became
very
sluggish.
The
drop
in
level
revealed
islands
nearly
hidden
when
the
lake
was
full.
The
view
is
toward
the
south.
Two
vertical
air
photos,
stitched
together,
show
all
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō’s
crater.
The
islands
within
the
eastern
lava
lake,
to
the
right,
give
it
an
appearance
somewhat
like
Edvard
Munch’s
“The
Scream”.
This
perspective
also
shows
the
western
lava
lake,
just
left
of
center,
and
the
channels
that
carried
lava
from
the
western
lava
lake
into
two
perched
ponds
satellitic
to
the
main
western
lake.
The
perched
pond
at
upper
left
is
formed
on
top
of
what
was,
three
days
ago,
a
pit
called
the
West
Gap
pit.
The
perched
pond
at
lower
left
is
formed
on
top
of
what
was
the
Puka
Nui
pit,
which
was
filled
in
late
July.
15
September
2011
Perched lava
ponds have
developed
outside of
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
crater
Since
overflows
to
the
west
began
yesterday
morning
(9/14),
perched
lava
ponds
have
developed
outside
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater
on
the
cone’s
upper
west
flank.
Unless
something
else
gives,
these
ponds
will
likely
continue
to
grow
taller,
impounded
by
chilled
lava
from
the
ponds
themselves.
Overflows
from
the
ponds
will
continue
to
mantle
the
west
flank
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō.
The
pond
in
the
foreground
is
formed
by
lava
exiting
the
crater
through
a
broad
gap
in
the
cone
called
the
“West
Gap”.
Lava
also
flows
out
of
the
crater
through
another
broad
gap
called
the
“Puka
Nui
Gap”,
and
is
visible
in
the
background
just
above
the
center
of
the
image.
A
remnant
of
tephra
from
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
cone
pokes
up
between
the
two
ponds,
just
left
of
image
center.
The
white
spot
on
top
of
this
tephra
is a
time-lapse
camera
which
has
little
time
left
in
this
world.
14
September
2011
Awesome
views of the
active lava
lakes in
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
crater
The
level
of
the
lava
lake
on
the
east
side
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater
is
even
with
the
crater’s
northeast
rim.
Standing
at
that
spot
afforded
an
eerie
view
looking
across
the
surface
of
the
lake.
A
scientist,
rescuing
equipment,
is
visible
on
the
crater
rim
in
the
background.
The
view
is
toward
the
south.
Left.
Lava
has
been
overflowing
the
east
rim
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater
over
the
last
few
days.
These
overflows
have
traveled
up
to
about
500
m
down
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō’s
east
flank
before
stalling
as
the
slope
flattens.
The
overflows
show
up
in
this
photo
as
lighter
gray
pāhoehoe
and
‘a‘ā
flows
at
the
center
of
the
image.
The
view
is
to
the
west.Right.
The
overflows
were
fed
from
the
edge
of
an
active
lava
lake
filling
the
east
side
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater.
As
the
lake
and
its
containing
levees
has
risen,
an
ever
increasing
amount
of
the
east
rim
of
the
crater
is
being
buried.
This
photo,
looking
roughly
northwest,
shows
lava
overflowing
the
east
rim
of
the
crater.
Left.
A
lava
lake
also
fills
the
western
side
of
the
crater.
This
morning,
lava
overflowed
that
lake,
and
then
filled
and
overtopped
the
northwest
rim
of a
pit
on
the
west
side
of
the
crater
(the
West
Gap
pit;
just
above
and
to
the
right
side
of
the
photo).
These
flows
have
traveled
up
to
about
400
m
down
the
northwest
flank
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
to
its
base.
View
is
to
the
northwest.Right.
This
photo
shows
an
overflow
from
the
northwest
side
of
the
West
Gap
pit
advancing
as a
narrow
channelized
flow.
The
flow
is
just
beginning
to
transition
into
‘a‘ā
at
its
terminus.
The
view
is
to
the
south-southeast.
9
September
2011
The
active lava
within Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō crater
showing the
two perched
lava ponds
This
thermal
image,
looking
east,
shows
the
two
perched
lava
ponds
within
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
The
eastern
perched
pond
was
just
below
the
level
of
the
east
rim
today.
This
photograph,
looking
west,
shows
the
active
lava
within
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater
in
the
early
morning
light.
This
photograph
shows
a
close-up
of
the
perched
lava
pond
abutting
the
east
rim
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
The
lava
was
just
a
meter
(yard)
or
so
below
the
low
point
on
the
rim,
and
was
close
to
spilling
over.
This
vertical
view
from
today’s
overflight
shows
the
layout
of
activity
within
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
The
shiny
area
towards
the
right
portion
of
the
crater
floor
is
the
eastern
perched
lava
pond,
while
the
shiny
area
in
the
left
portion
of
the
crater
floor
(close
to
the
center
of
the
image)
is
the
western
perched
pond.
26
August 2011
The
new lava
lake in Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō has
buried much
of the floor
of August 3
The
new
lava
lake
in
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
has
buried
much
of
the
floor
of
the
August
3,
2011,
collapse
crater
beneath
a
maximum
of
about
45 m
(~148
ft)
of
lava.
Most
of
the
lava
upwells
at
the
east
end
of
the
lake
(lower
right)
and
flows
toward
the
west,
much
like
the
lava
lake
prior
to
the
August
3
flank
breakout
and
crater
collapse.
Left.
The
new
lava
lake
has
become
slightly
perched
above
the
surrounding
crater
floor,
as
shown
by
the
distinct
levees
visible
in
this
photo.Right.
This
photo,
similar
to
the
previous,
was
taken
from
the
same
location
as
photos
posted
on
July
21
and
June
9
(and
several
other
dates
scattered
over
the
past
several
months)
to
provide
a
comparison
to
past
activity
in
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō.
8 August
2011
Quicktime
movie
showing the
vents on the
lower west
flank of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
views
from
today’s
overflight
of
the
vents
on
the
lower
west
flank
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
There
are
several
vents,
topped
by
spatter
cones,
that
are
feeding
narrow,
fast-moving
flows
that
feed
into
a
broad
area
of
ponded
lava.
Left.
This
view,
looking
east,
shows
the
broad
area
of
ponded
lava
fed
by
two
main
channels
originating
from
several
individual
vents.
The
fume-filled
crater
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
is
in
the
background.
The
darker
lava
in
the
foreground,
at
the
bottom
of
the
image,
is
from
the
March
2011
Kamoamoa
eruption.
Right.
One
of
the
more
vigorous
vents,
in
the
lower
left,
is
topped
by a
tall
(6
m,
or
20
ft,
high)
spatter
cone.
The
flow
from
this
vent
cascades
down
several
steps,
joining
the
flow
from
two
other
nearby
vents,
before
flowing
under
a
small
bridge
and
into
the
broad
area
of
ponded
lava
to
the
west.
Left.
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater,
following
the
collapse
of
the
crater
floor
on
August
3,
has
been
filled
with
thick
fume.
A
very
tiny
flow,
visible
only
with
a
thermal
camera,
was
active
on
the
crater
floor.Right.
This
thermal
image,
looking
southwest,
shows
the
very
small
flow,
at
the
bottom
of
the
image,
active
in
the
bottom
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
In
the
upper
right,
the
active
flows
on
the
lower
west
flank
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
can
be
seen.
4 August
2011
Awesome
movies
showing the
timelapse
sequence
from Pu`u `Ō
`ō
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
a
timelapse
sequence
taken
from
the
webcam
on
Pu`u
`Ō `ō’s
north
rim.
The
movie
starts
just
after
noon
on
August
3,
with
the
typical
westward
flow
of
lava
within
the
perched
lava
lake.
Just
after
2pm,
breakouts
start
on
the
flank
of
the
perched
lava
lake
and
the
lake
begins
to
drop.
Remarkably,
while
the
lake
drops
the
circulation
is
maintained,
until
the
lake
finally
disintegrates.
By
the
end
of
the
sequence,
the
lava
lake
is
gone
and
floor
has
dropped
about
80
meters
(260
ft).
Around
3:15pm,
you
can
see
a
portion
of
the
rim,
at
the
very
right
end
of
the
image,
collapse
into
the
crater.
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
a
timelapse
sequence
taken
from
a
thermal
camera
on
the
south
rim
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō,
beginning
just
before
noon
on
August
3.
Just
after
2pm,
the
lava
lake
and
surrounding
floor
abruptly
drop.
As
the
lava
lake
drops,
solidified
portions
of
the
crater
floor
slide
into
the
fluid
lava.
By
the
end
of
the
sequence,
the
floor
of
the
crater
is
composed
of
only
hot
rubble
and
inclined
blocks
of
the
pre-existing
crater
floor.
The
temperature
scale
is
degrees
Celsius.
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
views
of
the
numerous
spattering
vents
during
today’s
overflight.
Spattering
at
each
source
is
creating
spatter
cones
and
ramparts,
and
the
lava
issuing
from
the
individual
vents
is
creating
a
series
of
narrow
streams
which
join
to
feed
a
broader
flow
channel.
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
activity
at
some
of
the
individual
vents,
which
are
each
distinct
in
their
behavior.
Thermal
images of
the
individual
vents and
rubble-filled
crater of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
This
thermal
image,
looking
south,
shows
the
individual
vents
feeding
distinct
channels.
This
thermal
image,
looking
west,
shows
the
rubble-filled
crater
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
in
the
foreground,
with
the
active
flow
field
in
the
top
half
of
the
image.
Lava
broke out
from a vent
on the west
flank of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
cone
Around
2:20
p.m.,
HST,
on
August
3,
lava
broke
out
from
a
vent
(center)
low
on
the
west
flank
of
the
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
cone.
Lava
erupting
from
the
flank
vent
is
entirely
within
Hawai‘i
Volcanoes
National
Park,
and
pose
no
hazard
to
residents.
Lava
flowing
from
vents
on
the
west
flank
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
formed
two
branches.
A
weak
north
arm
advanced
northward
into
forested
kipuka
(upper
right).
A
higher-volume
south
arm
quickly
advanced
down
Kīlauea’s
south
flank
along
the
edge
of
flows
erupted
in
2002-2004
(upper
left).
Both
flows
are
entirely
within
Hawai‘i
Volcanoes
National
Park,
and
pose
no
hazard
to
residents.
The
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater
is
shown
in
the
foreground.
Rubble
after
collapse of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater floor
and perched
lava lake
At
2:02
p.m.,
HST,
on
August
3,
the
floor
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater,
which
had
risen
significantly
over
the
past
month,
forming
a
dome
beneath
the
perched
lava
lake,
started
to
subside.
By
3:15
p.m.,
the
crater
floor
and
perched
lava
lake
began
to
collapse.
Within
a
couple
of
hours,
the
lava
lake
was
no
longer
visible,
and
the
crater
floor
was
covered
in
rubble.
29 July
2011
Awesome
views of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater
Photo
looking
southwest
at
the
lava
lake
in
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater.
Starting
by
July
25,
lava
began
to
exit
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
through
a
gap
in
the
southwest
side
of
the
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
cone,
and
flowed
a
short
distance
down
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō’s
flank.
By
July
29,
lava
had
begun
to
pond
on
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō’s
southwest
flank,
completely
filling
the
Puka
Nui
and
MLK
pits.
Left.
Another
photo
of
the
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
crater,
this
one
looking
northwest.
In
addition
to
flowing
out
of
the
crater
to
the
southwest,
lava
has
also
been
filling
in
the
northeast
side
of
the
crater.
Lava
there
is
within
6 m
(20
ft)
of
the
crater
rim.
The
gas
plume
from
the
vent
at
Kīlauea’s
summit
is
in
the
background.
The
gentle
slope
of
Mauna
Loa
volcano
forms
the
skyline
beyond.
Right.
Starting
in
late
June,
the
crater
floor
around
the
lava
lake
began
to
uplift.
The
photo
here
shows
the
flank
of
the
east
side
of
the
lava
lake.
Prior
to
uplift,
this
steeply
dipping
surface
was
nearly
flat-lying.
Left.
The
lava
lake
within
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō
stands
higher
than
the
surrounding
crater
floor.
The
elevation
of
the
lava
lake
surface
is
roughly
even
with
the
east
rim
of
Pu‘u
‘Ō‘ō.
This
photo,
from
a
slightly
higher
portion
of
the
east
rim,
looks
across
the
lava
lake
surface
to
the
opposite
lake
rim.
Right.
The
lava
accumulating
on
the
southeast
side
of
the
crater
has
begun
to
form
a
low
shield
that
extends
out
from
the
crater
and
has
buried
the
Puka
Nui
and
MLK
pits.
Compare
this
photo
to
one
taken
last
week
(July
21)
from
the
same
spot.
21 July
2011
Lava
filled the
floor of the
Puka Nui pit
and the MLK
pit on the
west end of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
Over
the
past
few
days,
lava
has
filled
the
floor
of
the
Puka
Nui
pit
(lower
left)
and
the
MLK
pit
(lower
right)
on
the
west
end
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
Left.
Looking
south
toward
the
MLK
pit
(straight)
and
Puka
Nui
pit
(right).
Lava
is
only
a
few
meters
(yards)
away
from
overtopping
the
pits
and
flowing
onto
the
southwest
flank
of
Pu`u
`Ō `ō.Right.
A
Scroll
down
to
the
photo
taken
on
June
29
to
compare
the
amount
of
uplift
the
floor
of
the
crater
has
endured
in
the
last
month.
This
photo
was
taken
from
a
similar
spot
to
the
lower
right
of
the
three
photos
posted
that
day.
18 July
2011
Quicktime
movie
showing the
recent
uplift of
the lava
lake and
crater floor
in Pu`u `Ō
`ō Crater
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
the
recent
uplift
of
the
lava
lake
and
crater
floor
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater,
captured
by a
thermal
camera
on
the
crater
rim.
The
time-lapse
movie
spans
July
9 to
today,
July
18,
and
is
looped
several
times.
The
uplift
was
continuous
between
July
9
and
16,
but
had
stalled
by
the
17th.
Throughout
this
movie,
the
lava
lake
activity
in
the
crater
was
steady,
with
lava
upwelling
in
the
east
portion
of
the
lake
(right
margin
of
image)
and
flowing
towards
the
west
end
(left),
where
it
would
sink.
Frequent
small
spattering
events
are
commonly
observed
on
the
lake
margins,
throwing
spatter
over
the
rim.
A
small
collapse
of
the
steep
levee
wall
resulted
in a
short
lived
breach
of
lava
out
of
the
lake
on
July
15.
The
uplift
that
this
movie
shows
is
probably
due
to
the
shallow
injection
of
magma
beneath
the
crater
floor.
For
scale,
the
lava
lake
is
about
200
meters
(660
feet)
long
and
100
meters
(330
feet)
wide.
The
temperature
scale
is
in
degrees
Celsius.
11 July
2011
Quicktime
movie
showing
timelapse
sequence
from Pu`u `Ō
`ō Crater
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
a
timelapse
sequence
taken
from
a
thermal
camera
on
the
rim
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
The
movie
spans
from
May
26
to
today
and
shows
the
rising
level
of
the
lava
lake
in
the
crater.
In
the
first
part
of
the
movie,
covering
most
of
June,
the
level
of
the
lava
lake
rises
primarily
due
to
overflows
building
the
steep
levee
walls
higher.
In
the
last
portion
of
the
movie,
from
about
July
1 to
today,
much
of
the
rise
of
the
lava
lake
has
been
due
to
uplift
of
the
crater
floor,
carrying
the
lava
lake
upward.
This
uplift
has
been
especially
pronounced
over
the
past
few
days,
shown
by
the
final
few
moments
of
the
movie.
The
temperature
scale
is
in
degrees
Celsius.
29 June
2011
Looking west
into Pu`u `Ō
`ō Crater
and the
perched pond
Looking
west
into
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater.
Recent
flows
that
have
spilled
out
of
the
perched
pond
stand
out
by
their
silver
color.
These
overflows
have
built
up
the
crater
floor
another
5 m
(16
ft)
since
last
week.
Kane
Nui
o
Hamo,
Mauna
Ulu,
and
Pu`u
Huluhulu
are
in
the
background.
Left.
A
breach
in
the
south
wall
of
the
perched
pond
allowed
lava
to
gush
out
onto
the
floor
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater.Right.
A
different
perspective
of
the
perched
pond,
from
the
west
side
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater.
23 June
2011
The
active lava
lake in Pu`u
`Ō `ō and
its levee
View
looking
east
into
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō,
its
crater
partly
filled
by
lava
flows
accumulating
on
the
crater
floor.
The
active
lava
lake
in
the
crater
is
205
m
(673
ft)
long
and
varies
in
width
from
80–115
m
(262–377
ft).
The
West
Gap
pit
is
in
the
central
foreground,
and
the
Puka
Nui
and
MLK
pits
are
to
the
right
(the
MLK
pit
is
in
back).
The
crater
has
filled
in
vertically
about
100
m
(328
ft)
since
the
crater
collapsed
on
March
5,
2011,
at
the
start
of
the
uprift
Kamoamoa
eruption.
It
still
has
about
12 m
(39
ft)
to
go
to
reach
the
level
of
the
crater
floor
prior
to
the
collapse.
When
viewed
from
a
steeper
angle
(here
looking
west)
the
lava
lake’s
shape
makes
it
look
like
a
huge
slipper.
Recent
overflows
appear
as
lighter-colored
patches
of
lava
on
the
crater
floor
around
the
lake.
Along
with
overflows,
low-level
spattering
from
points
wandering
around
the
perimeter
of
the
lava
lake
continually
builds
up
the
levee
that
impounds
the
lake.
The
lava
lake’s
levee
stands
up
to 8
m
(26
ft)
above
the
surrounding
crater
floor.
This
steep-sided
levee
impounds
the
lava
and
forms
what
is
called
a
“perched”
lava
lake.
Pieces
of
the
rim
occasionally
collapse
into
the
lake,
leading
to
sudden
and
fast-moving
overflows
of
lava
onto
the
crater
floor.
10 June
2011
Pu`u
`Ō `ō Crater
is once
again
perched
above the
surrounding
crater floor
Left.
HVO
geologist
and
helicopter
pilot
repair
a
mobile
Webcam
on
Kupaianaha
to
continue
monitoring
the
east
flank
of
Pu`u
`Ō `ō.Right.
Over
the
past
week,
the
lava
pond
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater
has
rebuilt
its
retaining
walls
and
is
once
again
perched
3-5
m
(10-16
ft)
above
the
surrounding
crater
floor.
2 June
2011
Quicktime
video
showing the
lava lake
deep within
Halema`uma`u
vent
This
Quicktime
video
shows
recent
activity
at
the
lava
lake
deep
within
the
Halema`uma`u
vent
cavity.
Spattering
can
be
seen
in
the
northwest
corner
(upper
left)
and
a
steady
stream
of
lava,
coming
from
an
unseen
source
towards
the
southeast,
is
in
the
lower
right.
For
scale,
the
lava
lake
is
about
150
meters
(164
yards)
wide
here.
The
lava
stream
plunges
into
the
lava
lake,
disrupting
the
crust
in a
chaotic
fashion
and
later
inducing
a
rotation
to
the
flow
in
the
lake.
The
photo
on
this
page
from
June
1
shows
the
source
of
the
lava
stream
photographed
during
an
overflight,
which
is
the
only
way
this
portion
of
the
vent
cavity
floor
can
be
seen.
1 June
2011
A
near-vertical
look inside
the vent
cavity of
the
Halema`uma`u
Overlook
vent
A
near-vertical
look
at a
lava
cascade
inside
the
vent
cavity
of
the
Halema`uma`u
Overlook
vent.
Overflows
from the
lava pond in
Pu`u `Ō `ō
and numerous
spattering
sources
Left.
Overflows
from
the
lava
pond
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
have
nearly
leveled
the
crater
floor
with
the
perched
pond.
The
floor
of
the
crater
is
now
39 m
(128
ft)
below
the
east
rim.Right.
Numerous
spattering
sources
were
active
on
the
east
end
of
the
pond,
causing
pond
level
fluctuations
throughout
the
day.
27 May
2011
Quicktime
movie
showing the
refilling of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
over the
past two
months
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
the
refilling
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
over
the
past
two
months,
taken
from
a
thermal
camera
on
the
south
rim
of
the
crater.
Lava
drained
from
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
on
March
5
during
the
Kamoamoa
fissure
eruption,
and
remained
absent
for
several
weeks.
This
thermal
camera
began
recording
on
March
18,
and
shows
the
abrupt
return
of
lava
to
the
crater
floor
on
March
26.
Lava
refilling
has
been
very
unsteady
since
then,
occurring
in
fits
and
starts,
and
has
culminated
in
the
development
of a
perched
lava
lake
over
the
past
several
weeks.
This
perched
lava
lake
has
steep
walls
about
8-10
m
(26-33
ft)
above
the
surrounding
crater
floor.
The
temperature
scale
is
in
degrees
Celsius.
20 May
2011
Aerial
view of the
perched lava
lake in Pu`u
`Ō `ō crater
Aerial
view
of
the
perched
lava
lake
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
Small
fluctuations
in
the
lava
lake
level
lead
to
frequent
overflows.
These
serve
to
build
the
levee
around
the
lake
even
higher,
amplifying
the
perched
appearance.
A
low-angle
view
of
the
perched
lava
lake
shows
how
it
is
elevated
above
the
floor
of
the
crater,
like
an
above-ground
swimming
pool.
The
levee
around
the
stands
some
8-10
m
(26-33
ft)
above
the
surrounding
crater
floor.
Also
visible
as
the
bottom
of
the
photo
is a
new
vent
which
began
erupting
around
midnight
last
night
on
the
western
edge
of
the
crater
floor.
There
are
three
scientists
standing
on
the
crater
rim
in
the
background,
just
left
of
center.
Can
you
spot
them?
11 May
2011
A
complex
configuration
deep within
the vent
cavity in
Halema`uma`u
crater
Left.
A
complex
configuration
has
been
in
place
deep
within
the
vent
cavity
in
Halema`uma`u
crater.
Lava
upwells
in
the
west
portion
of
the
vent
floor
(upper
left
of
photograph),
feeding
the
small,
crusted,
circular
lava
lake.
In
the
east
portion
of
the
vent
cavity
floor,
lava
upwells
(out
of
view,
towards
the
lower
right
of
the
photo)
and
feeds
an
elevated
and
swiftly
moving
lava
stream,
which
flows
west
and
cascades
over
a
small
cliff
into
the
lava
lake.Right.
A
close-up
of
the
swiftly
moving
lava
stream,
plunging
into
the
lava
lake.
6 May
2011
An
infrared
image of the
summit vent
in
Halema`uma`u
crater
An
infrared
image
of
the
summit
vent
in
Halema`uma`u
crater.
The
bright
white
area
is a
cascade
of
lava,
falling
from
a
shelf
into
a
deeper
pond
within
the
vent
cavity.
The
rise and
spill over
of the pond
on the floor
of Pu`u `Ō
`ō crater
Left.
Looking
northwest
at
the
lava
pond
on
the
floor
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
At
the
time
of
the
photograph,
the
level
of
the
lava
pond
was
about
3 m
(10
ft)
below
the
floor
of
the
crater.Right.
An
hour
later,
the
lava
had
risen
high
enough
to
spill
over
the
pond
walls
and
expand
across
the
crater
floor.
29 April
2011
The
floor of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater
continues
its slow
rise
The
floor
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater
continues
its
slow
rise
as
lava
pours
out
of a
new
vent
at
the
base
of
the
east
wall.
The
height
of
the
floor
has
risen
20 m
(66
ft)
over
the
past
two
weeks.
A
close-up
of
the
spattering
source
on
the
floor
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
A
small
spatter
rampart
has
formed
along
the
east
side
of
the
vent.
21 April
2011
A
small lava
lake is
active at
the bottom
of Pu`u `Ō
`ō crater
Left.
A
small
lava
lake,
confined
by
slightly
elevated
levees,
is
active
at
the
bottom
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater.
The
lake
is
roughly
the
same
size
as a
football
field.Right.
In
this
close-up
view
of
the
lava
lake
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō,
lava
upwells
at
the
west
edge
of
the
lake
(bottom
center
of
the
photo)
and
flows
toward
the
east
(top
of
photo)
where
the
mostly
degassed
lava
sinks
back
down,
presumably
circulating
back
into
the
vent.
Thermal
image of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater
showing the
lava lake
within the
crater
This
thermal
image
was
taken
from
the
south
rim
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater,
showing
the
lava
lake
within
the
crater.
Hotter
surfaces,
such
as
the
narrow
zones
between
crustal
plates,
are
shown
by
yellow
and
white
colors.
Cooler
surfaces,
such
as
the
cooled
lava
around
the
lake,
are
shown
by
blue
and
black
colors.
The
large
size
of
the
crustal
plates
attests
to
the
relatively
sluggish
motion
of
the
lava
surface.
15 April
2011
Pu`u
`Ō `ō
continues to
host a small
lava lake at
the bottom
of the
crater
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
continues
to
host
a
small
lava
lake
at
the
bottom
of
the
crater.
Minor
spattering
and
overturning
of
the
lake
surface
was
observed
by
field
crews
today.
28 March
2011
Lava
reappeared
in Pu`u `Ō
`ō crater,
covering the
floor with a
small lava
lake
Lava
reappeared
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater
on
Saturday
morning
(March
26),
covering
the
floor
of
the
crater
with
a
small
lava
lake.
14 March
2011
Measuring
the
thickness of
an 'a'ā flow
produced by
the Kamoamoa
fissure
eruption
Left.
Measuring
the
thickness
of
an 'a'ā
flow
produced
by
the
Kamoamoa
fissure
eruption.
The
measuring
stick
is 2
m
(6.5
ft)
tall.
Right.
Measuring
the
flow
thickness
from
another
section
of
the
'a'ā
flow,
using
a 1
m
(3.2
ft)
orange
pole
for
scale.
10 March
2011
The
east rift
zone
eruption is
currently in
a hiatus
The
east
rift
zone
eruption
is
currently
in a
hiatus.
The
east
and
west
Kamoamoa
fissures
are
still
fuming,
but
no
lava
is
erupting.
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
is
the
fuming
cone
in
the
background.
Fume
from
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
has
diminished
enough
to
see
a
portion
of
the
rubble-filled
crater
floor.
Gobs
of
spatter
solidified
in
the
remaining
trees.
The
spatter
was
erupted
from
the
first
fissure
to
open
on
March
5.
Ground
cracks
between the
east and
west
Kamoamoa
fissure
segments
Ground
cracks
between
the
east
and
west
Kamoamoa
fissure
segments.
Geologist
is
about
6 ft
tall.
5-7
March 2011
Quicktime
movie
showing
March 5th
through 7th
draining of
the
Halema`uma`u
lava lake
This
Quicktime
movie
shows
a
sequence
taken
from
a
thermal
camera
looking
into
the
Halema`uma`u
vent
cavity
between
March
5
and
7.
Tremor
and
deflation
began
at
about
1:42pm
on
March
5,
and
this
was
shortly
followed
by
draining
of
the
Halema`uma`u
lava
lake.
Before
the
draining,
the
lava
lake
was
about
75
meters
below
the
rim
of
the
vent
cavity,
and
about
a
day
later
the
lava
was
about
220
meters
deep,
having
retreated
to
the
bottom
of
the
vent
cavity.
9 March
2011
Thermal
images
showing
active
fountains
and
channelized
'a'ā flow
This
thermal
image
was
taken
from
a
helicopter
above
the
active
fountains
at
the
west
end
of
the
fissure
system.
There
were
two
adjacent
fountaining
areas,
with
one
situated
within
a
spatter
cone
and
the
other
bursting
through
a
perched
lava
pond.
The
fountains
were
feeding
a
channelized
flow
that
can
be
seen
in
the
upper
right
portion
of
the
image.
This
thermal
image
shows
the
channelized
'a'ā
flow
that
was
being
fed
by
the
fountains
at
the
west
end
of
the
fissure
system
today.
Near
the
end
of
the
flow,
the
channel
empties
into
the
delta-like
flow
front.
The
western vent
complex of
Kamoamoa
continues to
erupt
Left.
The
eastern
vent
complex
of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption
was
inactive
today,
but
it
continues
to
emit
a
thick
gas
plume.Right.
The
western
vent
complex
continues
to
erupt,
and
had
been
doing
so
for
about
30
hours
as
of
the
time
of
this
photo.
Lava
erupting
from
the
vent
complex
is
flowing
into
a
channel
with
levees.
The
channelized
flow
from
the
western
vent
complex
advanced
significantly
downslope
through
forest
within
the
Hawai`I
Volcanoes
National
Park.
Left.
By
early
this
morning,
the
front
of
the
'a'ā
flow
fed
from
the
western
vent
had
intercepted
the
edge
of
the
Mother's
Day
flow,
which
was
emplaced
in
2002-2004.
The
flow
advanced
about
2.9
km
(1.8
miles)
in
30
hours.Right.
The
front
of
the
advancing
'a'ā
flow
is
about
4 m
(13
ft)
thick.
8 March
2011
Lava
fountains
from the
northeastern
vent of the
Kamoamoa
eruption
Lava
fountains
from
the
northeastern
vent
of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption.
Though
it
is
an
impressive
sight,
the
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
cone
in
the
background,
and
several
hundred
meters
higher,
puts
the
current
activity
into
perspective.
Left.
View
looking
down
onto
the
northeastern
vent.Right.
Lava,
erupting
from
the
southwestern
vent
of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption,
fountains
above
the
surrounding
forest.
Left.
Overview
of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption
looking
northeast
toward
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō,
in
the
background.
The
southwestern
vent
is
in
the
foreground,
while
the
northeastern
vent
is
the
distant
fume
at
the
base
of
Pu`u
`Ō `ō.Right.
Overview
of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption
looking
south.
The
northeastern
vent
is
to
the
left,
and
the
southwestern
vent
is
to
the
upper
right.
A
river
of
lava,
erupting
from
the
southwestern
vent,
can
be
seen
advancing
toward
the
southeast
through
forest
within
Hawai`i
Volcanoes
National
Park.
A
piece of
spatter
ejected on
March 7,
2011
A
piece
of
spatter
ejected
on
March
7,
2011.
Handheld
GPS
for
scale
Thermal view
into the
Halema`uma`u
vent that
been largely
obscured by
fume
Views
into
the
Halema`uma`u
vent
have
been
largely
obscured
by
fume
over
the
past
several
days,
and
the
only
consistent
views
have
been
with
a
thermal
camera,
which
can
"see"
through
the
fume.
This
thermal
image
was
taken
at a
nearly
vertical
angle
from
a
helicopter,
in
order
to
see
the
bottom
of
the
extremely
deep
and
narrow
vent
cavity.
Prior
to
the
drop
in
lava
level,
the
lava
lake
was
near
its
high
lava
mark,
shown
by
the
hot
ring
on
the
upper
vent
cavity
walls.
The
lava
level
dropped
considerably
over
the
past
several
days,
retreating
to a
narrow
opening
deep
within
the
vent
cavity.
7 March
2011
Video
showing low
fountaining
from the
dominant
vent,
adjacent to
Nāpau Crater
Video
showing
low
fountaining
from
the
dominant
vent,
near
the
southwest
end
of
the
fissure
system
adjacent
to
Nāpau
Crater,
active
during
the
day
on
March
7.
Video
showing the
collapse of
the Pu`u `Ō
`ō crater
floor on
March 5
Video
showing
the
collapse
of
the
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
crater
floor
on
March
5.
The
video
starts
at 4
am
and
ends
at
11
pm.
The
floor
of
the
crater
dropped
about
115
meters
(377
ft)
in
just
a
few
hours.
A
broad view
of the
Kamoamoa
fissures
between
Nāpau Crater
and Pu`u `Ō
`ō
Left.
A
broad
view
of
the
Kamoamoa
fissures.
The
fissures
extend
2.3
km
(1.4
mi)
between
Nāpau
Crater
and
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
The
western
most
fissure
is
just
out
of
view
in
this
photo.
Right.
On
the
west
end
of
the
fissure
system,
spatter
ramparts
are
forming
as
the
lava
fallout
solidifies
in a
mound
upwind
from
the
source.
Left.
A
view
of
the
spattering
source
from
the
ground.Right.
Lava
was
reaching
heights
above
the
tree
line.
Left.
Lava
from
the
erupting
fissure
produced
a
large
flow
that
is
moving
southeast
through
the
adjacent
forest.
Right.
A
close-up
of
the
flow
front
in
the
forest.
A
collapse
from the
upper
portion of
the
Halema`uma`u
vent cavity
produced a
robust brown
plume
With
lava
retreating
deeper
into
the
Halema`uma`u
vent
cavity
over
the
past
two
days,
the
cavity
walls
have
experienced
more
frequent
collapses.
At
2:23pm
today,
a
collapse
from
the
upper
portion
of
the
vent
cavity
produced
a
robust
brown
plume,
but
did
not
eject
any
large
particles.
6 March
2011
Video
showing lava
pouring from
the fissure
into a
seemingly
bottomless
crack
Video
showing
lava
pouring
from
the
fissure
into
a
seemingly
bottomless
crack.
Nāpau
Crater
in
the
background.
Helicopter
for
scale.
Video
showing
spattering
from
the
most
persistent
vent
of
the
day
just
west
of
the
base
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
near
the
northeastern
end
of
the
fissure
system.
Lava
spatters
above the
fissure just
west of the
base of Pu`u
`Ō `ō
Lava
spatters
above
the
fissure
just
west
of
the
base
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
Left.
Early
morning
view
of
the
fissure
eruption
between
Nāpau
Crater
and
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
View
is
to
the
northwest.
Fume
from
the
eruptive
vent
in
Halema`uma`u
can
be
seen
at
upper
right
against
the
dark
mass
of
Mauna
Loa.Right.
Most
of
the
day's
activity
was
focused
at
this
vent,
around
which
a
low
cone
was
forming.
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
is
visible
in
the
background
to
the
northeast.
Lava
pours
from
the
fissure
just
after
daybreak
and
cascades
out
of
sight
into
a
deep
crack.
HVO
geologist
near
upper
right
for
perspective.
Left.
A
portion
of
charred,
lava
covered
forest
along
the
east
rift
zone,
from
the
initial
fissure
eruption
that
began
yesterday
evening
(March
5).Right.
A
small
fissure
eruption
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater
and
Nāpau,
extending
100
m
long
(330
ft)
and
spattering
20 m
(66
ft)
high.
Left.
This
fissure
is
erupting
1.5
km
(0.9
mi)
west
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater.
You
can
view
this
eruption
on
the
new
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
to
Nāpau
Crater
webcam
installed
today!Right.
A
close-up
of
the
fissure
just
west
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater.
Spatter
was
reaching
heights
of
40 m
(130
ft).
Left.
Photo
taken
at
dawn
of a
fissure
erupting
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater
and
Nāpau.Right.
This
fissure
began
in
the
early
hours
of
March
6,
erupting
spatter
and
producing
lava
flows.
Left.
Spatter
reaching
up
to
30 m
(100
ft)
from
a
fissure
that
opened
this
morning.Right.
Increased
activity
on
one
of
the
new
fissures
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
Crater
and
Nāpau.
5 March
2011
Ash
cloud rising
from Pu`u `Ō
`ō as crater
floor
collapses
Ash
cloud
rising
from
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
as
crater
floor
collapses
due
to
magma
withdrawal.
Incandescent
rubble
can
be
seen
crumbling
and
rolling
down
the
scarp.
The
east
rim
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
is
in
the
foreground.
Incandescent
rubble
rolling
and
sliding
down
the
scarp
on
the
edge
of
the
collapsing
crater
in
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
A
remnant
of
the
pre-collapse
crater
floor
can
be
seen
in
the
background
below
the
crater's
south
wall.
The
east
rim
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
is
in
the
foreground.
Video
clips of the
fissure
eruption
between Pu`u
`Ō `ō and
Nāpau Crater
Video
clip
shot
from
the
air
looking
SW
at
the
fissure
eruption
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
and
Nāpau
Crater.
The
fissure
segment
in
the
tephra
in
the
foreground
opened
seconds
earlier,
and
only
about
10
minutes
after
the
eruption
as a
whole
started.
The
cracks
through
the
tephra
are
in
the
process
of
opening,
though
this
can't
be
picked
out
at
this
distance.
Video
clip
shot
in
front
of
the
propagating
fissure,
showing
low
spattering
that
started
moments
earlier.
Thick
white
steam
from
the
crack
in
the
foreground
indicates
that
lava
is
about
to
reach
the
surface,
and
is
seen
doing
so
seconds
later.
Video
of
spattering
near
the
front
of
the
propagating
fissure.
New
fissure
eruption SW
of Pu`u `Ō
`ō between
Pu`u `Ō `ō
and Nāpau
crater.
Left.
New
fissure
eruption
SW
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
and
Nāpau
crater.
Spatter
is
reaching
15-20
m
into
the
air,
above
the
trees.
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
in
the
background.Right.
New
fissure
eruption
SW
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
and
Nāpau
crater.
Spatter
is
reaching
15-20
m
into
the
air,
above
the
trees.
Left.
View
to
the
SW
at
the
new
fissure
eruption
between
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
and
Nāpau.
Cracks
in
the
foreground
could
be
seen
opening
as
photo
was
being
taken..Right.
Close-up
of
recently
opened
fissure
segment.
Spatter
reaching
about
5 m
into
the
air.
View
looking
at
the
NE
end
of
the
actively
propagating
fissure.
Lava
is
just
breaking
the
surface
in
foreground
crack.
Left.
Close-up
of
just-opened
fissure
segment
at
NE
tip
of
propagating
fissure.
Spatter
reaching
5 m
into
the
air.Right.
Close-up
of
just-opened
fissure
segment
at
NE
tip
of
propagating
fissure.
Spatter
reaching
5 m
into
the
air.
Lava
just
breaking
the
ground
surface
to
the
left.
Close-up
of
spattering
fissure.
Lava
reaching
10 m
into
the
air.
Left.
View
looking
along
recently
opened
fissure
segment
crossing
tephra
flats
SW
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō,
which
is
in
the
background.
Right.
View
along
fissure
looking
NE
toward
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō
shrouded
in
clouds
in
the
background.
Fissure
segment
in
forest
has
shut
down.
View
toward
the
SW
of
fissure
eruption.
Fissure
segment
in
forest
has
shut
down.
Compare
to
earlier
photos
before
fissure
opened
up
in
tephra.
4 March
2011
Awesome
movies
showing wall
and rim
collapses of
Halema`uma`u
There
was
a
series
of
vent
wall
and
rim
collapses
on
March
3,
much
like
those
than
occurred
in
January
and
February.
This
video,
compiled
from
the
Webcam
on
the
rim
of
Halema`uma`u
above
the
vent,
is
one
of
the
larger
collapses,
and
shows
the
northwest
rim
of
the
vent
falling
into
the
lava
lake.
This
video,
also
compiled
from
the
Webcam
on
the
rim
of
Halema`uma`u,
shows
the
north
rim
of
the
vent
collapsing.
This
clip,
captured
by a
video
camera
on
the
rim
of
Halema`uma`u
to
the
southwest
of
the
vent,
shows
a
small
slice
of
the
western
rim
of
the
vent
collapsing
into
the
lava
lake
and
includes
sound.
Turn
on your
speakers!—Hear
the Boom
from the
vent in
Halema`uma`u!
Booming
sounds
from
the
vent
in
Halema`uma`u
have
been
audible
around
the
summit
area
of
Kilauea
for
the
past
several
days.
Some
of
these
sounds
are
caused
by
rocks
striking
the
surface
of
the
lava
lake,
but
most
are
actually
the
sound
of
the
vent
walls
cracking
due
to
heating
and
expansion
of
rock.
This
video,
from
February
25,
illustrates
what
this
sounds
like.
Occasionally,
these
sharp
reports
and
booms
can
be
visually
correlated
to
rocks
exploding
off
the
vent
wall
and
showering
fragments
down
onto
the
surface
of
the
lava
lake.
The
level
of
the
lava
lake
sometimes
changes
abruptly.
These
cycles
of
rise
and
fall,
which
amount
to a
vertical
change
of
around
15 m
(about
50
ft),
are
occasionally
triggered
by
rockfalls.
Here,
a
small
collapse
from
the
vent
wall
triggers
degassing
and
a
drop
in
the
lava
level.
As
the
spattering
shown
in
the
previous
video
intensifies,
the
walls
of
the
vent
heat
even
more,
causing
the
cracking
of
the
rocks
through
thermal
expansion
to
speed
up,
creating
the
cacophony
of
popping
noises
apparent
in
this
video.
3 March
2011
A
channelized
flow erupted
from the
vent on the
floor of
Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater
A
channelized
flow
was
being
erupted
today
from
the
vent
on
the
west
side
of
the
floor
of
Pu`u
`Ō
`ō.
Views
from the
active lava
surface in
Halema`uma`u
crater
Left.
Following
several
collapses
and
small
explosive
events
that
deposited
spatter
on
the
floor
of
Halema`uma`u
crater
around
noon
today,
the
lava
surface
in
Halema`uma`u
was
roiling
and
agitated
for
the
remainder
of
the
afternoon,
with
numerous
points
of
upwelling
and
spattering.Right.
A
close-up
of
the
active
lava
surface
in
Halema`uma`u.
Left.
At
2:31pm
today,
another
large
chunk
of
the
rim
collapsed
into
the
Halema`uma`u
lava
lake.
Right.
Just
moments
after
the
last
photograph,
the
2:31pm
collapse
produced
a
thick
brown
plume,
but
did
not
appear
to
trigger
an
explosive
event
in
this
case.
Eruption-viewing
opportunities
change
constantly,
so refer to
this page
often. Those
readers
planning a
visit to
Kilauea or
Mauna Loa
volcanoes
can get much
useful
information
from
Hawai`i
Volcanoes
National
Park.
The URL
of this
page is
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/images.html
Contact:
hvowebmaster@usgs.gov
Updated:
13
December
2011 (pnf)
10 March 2011
The east rift
zone eruption is
currently in a
hiatus
The east
rift
zone
eruption
is
currently
in a
hiatus.
The east
and west
Kamoamoa
fissures
are
still
fuming,
but no
lava is
erupting.
Pu`u `Ō
`ō is
the
fuming
cone in
the
background.
Fume
from
Pu`u `Ō
`ō has
diminished
enough
to see a
portion
of the
rubble-filled
crater
floor.
Gobs of
spatter
solidified
in the
remaining
trees.
The
spatter
was
erupted
from the
first
fissure
to open
on March
5.
Ground cracks
between the east and
west Kamoamoa
fissure segments
Ground
cracks
between
the east
and west
Kamoamoa
fissure
segments.
Geologist
is about
6 ft
tall.
5-7 March 2011
Quicktime movie
showing March 5th
through 7th draining
of the Halema`uma`u
lava lake
This
Quicktime
movie
shows a
sequence
taken
from a
thermal
camera
looking
into the
Halema`uma`u
vent
cavity
between
March 5
and 7.
Tremor
and
deflation
began at
about
1:42pm
on March
5, and
this was
shortly
followed
by
draining
of the
Halema`uma`u
lava
lake.
Before
the
draining,
the lava
lake was
about 75
meters
below
the rim
of the
vent
cavity,
and
about a
day
later
the lava
was
about
220
meters
deep,
having
retreated
to the
bottom
of the
vent
cavity.
9
March 2011
Thermal images
showing active
fountains and
channelized 'a'ā
flow
This
thermal
image
was
taken
from a
helicopter
above
the
active
fountains
at the
west end
of the
fissure
system.
There
were two
adjacent
fountaining
areas,
with one
situated
within a
spatter
cone and
the
other
bursting
through
a
perched
lava
pond.
The
fountains
were
feeding
a
channelized
flow
that can
be seen
in the
upper
right
portion
of the
image.
This
thermal
image
shows
the
channelized
'a'ā
flow
that was
being
fed by
the
fountains
at the
west end
of the
fissure
system
today.
Near the
end of
the
flow,
the
channel
empties
into the
delta-like
flow
front.
The western vent
complex of Kamoamoa
continues to erupt
Left.
The
eastern
vent
complex
of the
Kamoamoa
eruption
was
inactive
today,
but it
continues
to emit
a thick
gas
plume.Right.
The
western
vent
complex
continues
to
erupt,
and had
been
doing so
for
about 30
hours as
of the
time of
this
photo.
Lava
erupting
from the
vent
complex
is
flowing
into a
channel
with
levees.
The
channelized
flow
from the
western
vent
complex
advanced
significantly
downslope
through
forest
within
the
Hawai`I
Volcanoes
National
Park.
Left.
By
early
this
morning,
the
front of
the 'a'ā
flow fed
from the
western
vent had
intercepted
the edge
of the
Mother's
Day
flow,
which
was
emplaced
in
2002-2004.
The flow
advanced
about
2.9 km
(1.8
miles)
in 30
hours.Right.
The
front of
the
advancing
'a'ā
flow is
about 4
m (13
ft)
thick.
8
March 2011
Lava fountains
from the
northeastern vent of
the Kamoamoa
eruption
Lava
fountains
from the
northeastern
vent of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption.
Though
it is an
impressive
sight,
the Pu`u
`Ō `ō
cone in
the
background,
and
several
hundred
meters
higher,
puts the
current
activity
into
perspective.
Left.
View
looking
down
onto the
northeastern
vent.Right.
Lava,
erupting
from the
southwestern
vent of
the
Kamoamoa
eruption,
fountains
above
the
surrounding
forest.
Left.
Overview
of the
Kamoamoa
eruption
looking
northeast
toward
Pu`u `Ō
`ō, in
the
background.
The
southwestern
vent is
in the
foreground,
while
the
northeastern
vent is
the
distant
fume at
the base
of Pu`u
`Ō `ō.Right.
Overview
of the
Kamoamoa
eruption
looking
south.
The
northeastern
vent is
to the
left,
and the
southwestern
vent is
to the
upper
right. A
river of
lava,
erupting
from the
southwestern
vent,
can be
seen
advancing
toward
the
southeast
through
forest
within
Hawai`i
Volcanoes
National
Park.
A piece of
spatter ejected on
March 7, 2011
A piece
of
spatter
ejected
on March
7, 2011.
Handheld
GPS for
scale
Thermal view into
the Halema`uma`u
vent that been
largely obscured by
fume
Views
into the
Halema`uma`u
vent
have
been
largely
obscured
by fume
over the
past
several
days,
and the
only
consistent
views
have
been
with a
thermal
camera,
which
can
"see"
through
the
fume.
This
thermal
image
was
taken at
a nearly
vertical
angle
from a
helicopter,
in order
to see
the
bottom
of the
extremely
deep and
narrow
vent
cavity.
Prior to
the drop
in lava
level,
the lava
lake was
near its
high
lava
mark,
shown by
the hot
ring on
the
upper
vent
cavity
walls.
The lava
level
dropped
considerably
over the
past
several
days,
retreating
to a
narrow
opening
deep
within
the vent
cavity.
7
March 2011
Video showing low
fountaining from the
dominant vent,
adjacent to Nāpau
Crater
Video
showing
low
fountaining
from the
dominant
vent,
near the
southwest
end of
the
fissure
system
adjacent
to Nāpau
Crater,
active
during
the day
on March
7.
Video showing the
collapse of the Pu`u
`Ō `ō crater floor
on March 5
Video
showing
the
collapse
of the
Pu`u `Ō
`ō
crater
floor on
March 5.
The
video
starts
at 4 am
and ends
at 11
pm. The
floor of
the
crater
dropped
about
115
meters
(377 ft)
in just
a few
hours.
A broad view of
the Kamoamoa
fissures between
Nāpau Crater and
Pu`u `Ō `ō
Left.
A
broad
view of
the
Kamoamoa
fissures.
The
fissures
extend
2.3 km
(1.4 mi)
between
Nāpau
Crater
and Pu`u
`Ō `ō.
The
western
most
fissure
is just
out of
view in
this
photo.
Right.
On
the west
end of
the
fissure
system,
spatter
ramparts
are
forming
as the
lava
fallout
solidifies
in a
mound
upwind
from the
source.
Left.
A
view of
the
spattering
source
from the
ground.Right.
Lava
was
reaching
heights
above
the tree
line.
Left.
Lava
from the
erupting
fissure
produced
a large
flow
that is
moving
southeast
through
the
adjacent
forest.
Right.
A
close-up
of the
flow
front in
the
forest.
A collapse from
the upper portion of
the Halema`uma`u
vent cavity produced
a robust brown plume
With
lava
retreating
deeper
into the
Halema`uma`u
vent
cavity
over the
past two
days,
the
cavity
walls
have
experienced
more
frequent
collapses.
At
2:23pm
today, a
collapse
from the
upper
portion
of the
vent
cavity
produced
a robust
brown
plume,
but did
not
eject
any
large
particles.
6 March 2011
Video
showing lava pouring from the
fissure into a seemingly
bottomless crack
Video showing lava
pouring from the
fissure into a
seemingly bottomless
crack. Napau Crater
in the background.
Helicopter for
scale.
Video showing
spattering from the
most persistent vent
of the day just west
of the base of Pu`u
`Ō `ō near the
northeastern end of
the fissure system.
Lava
spatters above the fissure just
west of the base of Pu`u `Ō `ō
Lava spatters above
the fissure just
west of the base of
Pu`u `Ō `ō.
Left. Early
morning view of the
fissure eruption
between Napau Crater
and Pu`u `Ō `ō. View
is to the northwest.
Fume from the
eruptive vent in
Halema`uma`u can be
seen at upper right
against the dark
mass of Mauna Loa.Right.
Most of the
day's activity was
focused at this
vent, around which a
low cone was
forming. Pu`u `Ō `ō
is visible in the
background to the
northeast.
Lava pours from the
fissure just after
daybreak and
cascades out of
sight into a deep
crack. HVO geologist
near upper right for
perspective.
Left. A
portion of charred,
lava covered forest
along the east rift
zone, from the
initial fissure
eruption that began
yesterday evening
(March 5).Right.
A small fissure
eruption between
Pu`u `Ō `ō Crater
and Napau, extending
100 m long (330 ft)
and spattering 20 m
(66 ft) high.
Left. This
fissure is erupting
1.5 km (0.9 mi) west
of Pu`u `Ō `ō
Crater. You can view
this eruption on the
new Pu`u `Ō `ō to
Napau Crater webcam
installed today!Right.
A close-up of
the fissure just
west of Pu`u `Ō `ō
Crater. Spatter was
reaching heights of
40 m (130 ft).
Left. Photo
taken at dawn of a
fissure erupting
between Pu`u `Ō `ō
Crater and Napau.Right.
This fissure
began in the early
hours of March 6,
erupting spatter and
producing lava
flows.
Left. Spatter
reaching up to 30 m
(100 ft) from a
fissure that opened
this morning.Right.
Increased
activity on one of
the new fissures
between Pu`u `Ō `ō
Crater and Napau.
5 March 2011
Ash cloud
rising from Pu`u `Ō `ō as crater
floor collapses
Ash cloud rising
from Pu`u `Ō `ō as
crater floor
collapses due to
magma withdrawal.
Incandescent rubble
can be seen
crumbling and
rolling down the
scarp. The east rim
of Pu`u `Ō `ō is in
the foreground.
Incandescent rubble
rolling and sliding
down the scarp on
the edge of the
collapsing crater in
Pu`u `Ō `ō. A
remnant of the
pre-collapse crater
floor can be seen in
the background below
the crater's south
wall. The east rim
of Pu`u `Ō `ō is in
the foreground.
Video clips
of the fissure eruption between
Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau Crater
Video clip shot from
the air looking SW
at the fissure
eruption between
Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau
Crater. The fissure
segment in the
tephra in the
foreground opened
seconds earlier, and
only about 10
minutes after the
eruption as a whole
started. The cracks
through the tephra
are in the process
of opening, though
this can't be picked
out at this
distance.
Video clip shot in
front of the
propagating fissure,
showing low
spattering that
started moments
earlier. Thick white
steam from the crack
in the foreground
indicates that lava
is about to reach
the surface, and is
seen doing so
seconds later.
Video of spattering
near the front of
the propagating
fissure.
New fissure
eruption SW of Pu`u `Ō `ō
between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau
crater.
Left. New
fissure eruption SW
of Pu`u `Ō `ō
between Pu`u `Ō `ō
and Napau crater.
Spatter is reaching
15-20 m into the
air, above the
trees. Pu`u `Ō `ō in
the background.Right.
New fissure
eruption SW of Pu`u
`Ō `ō between Pu`u
`Ō `ō and Napau
crater. Spatter is
reaching 15-20 m
into the air, above
the trees.
Left. View to
the SW at the new
fissure eruption
between Pu`u `Ō `ō
and Napau. Cracks in
the foreground could
be seen opening as
photo was being
taken..Right.
Close-up of recently
opened fissure
segment. Spatter
reaching about 5 m
into the air.
View looking at the
NE end of the
actively propagating
fissure. Lava is
just breaking the
surface in
foreground crack.
Left.
Close-up of
just-opened fissure
segment at NE tip of
propagating fissure.
Spatter reaching 5 m
into the air.Right.
Close-up of
just-opened fissure
segment at NE tip of
propagating fissure.
Spatter reaching 5 m
into the air. Lava
just breaking the
ground surface to
the left.
Close-up of
spattering fissure.
Lava reaching 10 m
into the air.
Left. View
looking along
recently opened
fissure segment
crossing tephra
flats SW of Pu`u `Ō
`ō, which is in the
background.
Right. View
along fissure
looking NE toward
Pu`u `Ō `ō shrouded
in clouds in the
background. Fissure
segment in forest
has shut down.
View toward the SW
of fissure eruption.
Fissure segment in
forest has shut
down. Compare to
earlier photos
before fissure
opened up in tephra.
4 March 2011
Awesome
movies showing wall and rim
collapses of Halema`uma`u
There was a series
of vent wall and rim
collapses on March
3, much like those
than occurred in
January and
February. This
video, compiled from
the Webcam on the
rim of Halema`uma`u
above the vent, is
one of the larger
collapses, and shows
the northwest rim of
the vent falling
into the lava lake.
This video, also
compiled from the
Webcam on the rim of
Halema`uma`u, shows
the north rim of the
vent collapsing.
This clip, captured
by a video camera on
the rim of
Halema`uma`u to the
southwest of the
vent, shows a small
slice of the western
rim of the vent
collapsing into the
lava lake and
includes sound.
Turn on
your speakers!—Hear the Boom
from the vent in Halema`uma`u!
Booming sounds from
the vent in
Halema`uma`u have
been audible around
the summit area of
Kilauea for the past
several days. Some
of these sounds are
caused by rocks
striking the surface
of the lava lake,
but most are
actually the sound
of the vent walls
cracking due to
heating and
expansion of rock.
This video, from
February 25,
illustrates what
this sounds like.
Occasionally, these
sharp reports and
booms can be
visually correlated
to rocks exploding
off the vent wall
and showering
fragments down onto
the surface of the
lava lake.
The level of the
lava lake sometimes
changes abruptly.
These cycles of rise
and fall, which
amount to a vertical
change of around 15
m (about 50 ft), are
occasionally
triggered by
rockfalls. Here, a
small collapse from
the vent wall
triggers degassing
and a drop in the
lava level.
As the spattering
shown in the
previous video
intensifies, the
walls of the vent
heat even more,
causing the cracking
of the rocks through
thermal expansion to
speed up, creating
the cacophony of
popping noises
apparent in this
video.
3 March 2011
A
channelized flow erupted from
the vent on the floor of Pu`u `Ō
`ō crater
A channelized flow
was being erupted
today from the vent
on the west side of
the floor of Pu`u `Ō
`ō.
Views from
the active lava surface in
Halema`uma`u crater
Left.
Following several
collapses and small
explosive events
that deposited
spatter on the floor
of Halema`uma`u
crater around noon
today, the lava
surface in
Halema`uma`u was
roiling and agitated
for the remainder of
the afternoon, with
numerous points of
upwelling and
spattering.Right.
A close-up of
the active lava
surface in
Halema`uma`u.
Left. At
2:31pm today,
another large chunk
of the rim collapsed
into the
Halema`uma`u lava
lake. Right.
Just moments after
the last photograph,
the 2:31pm collapse
produced a thick
brown plume, but did
not appear to
trigger an explosive
event in this case.
23-25
February 2011
Time-lapse
movie showing lava erupting from
vents on the floor of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater
Time-lapse movie
showing lava
erupting from vents
on the floor of Pu`u
`Ō `ō crater. Each
frame is a composite
of eight images
comprising a
panorama of the
crater that is
captured every five
minutes. During
daylight hours, the
camera switches to
an IR mode so that
eruptive activity is
easier to monitor.
At night, the camera
switches back to
normal mode.
24 February
2011
Lava
surface in the Halema`uma`u
Overlook vent returned to about
80 m
After recovering
from last week's DI
event, the lava
surface in the
Halema`uma`u
Overlook vent
returned to about 80
m (260 ft) below the
floor of
Halema`uma`u Crater.
The north/northwest
rim of the vent
(right side of
photo) is still
noticeably overhung,
making future
collapses very
likely.
Left. A view
of the Halema`uma`u
Overlook vent from
the north. Right.
The northeast
vent on the floor of
Pu`u `Ō `ō is once
again producing lava
flows that are
repaving portions of
the crater floor.
The fuming area on
the back wall is the
main source of last
week's activity in
the crater.
Close-up of
the northeast vent in Pu`u `Ō
`ō, showing spattering
A close-up of the
northeast vent in
Pu`u `Ō `ō,
spattering and
sending lava flows
into the crater.
17 February
2011
Movie
showing spattering from a vent
on the east wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater
Movie showing
spattering from a
vent on the east
wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater.
Quicktime
movie of the erupting vent on
the east wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō
Crater
A movie of the
erupting vent on the
east wall of Pu`u `Ō
`ō Crater. The movie
begins with a
cascade of lava
filling the southern
opening on the east
wall and ends at the
spattering source,
which is producing
the cascading flow.
Lava began
erupting from the septum on the
east wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō
Left. Lava
began erupting from
the septum between
the two openings on
the east wall of
Pu`u `Ō `ō crater
the morning of
February 17, just
after 7:00 am.
Right. A closer
view of the recent
activity from the
east wall of Pu`u `Ō
`ō Crater.
Left. The
spattering source on
the east wall of
Pu`u `Ō `ō Crater.
Right. Flows
from the more
northerly vent are
crossing a small
portion of the
crater floor and
filling in the
southern opening.
Left. A view
looking south at
this morning's new
breakout. The
southern opening is
completely filled in
and the flows are
expanding across the
crater floor. The
geologist on the
opposite rim is 1.8
m (6 feet) tall.
Right. At the
same time the vent
on the east wall was
erupting, a small
lava pond fed by the
northeast vent began
to overturn.
15 February
2011
Quicktime
movie of another series of
collapse on the floor of
Halema`uma`u
Another series of
collapses occurred
within Kīlauea's
summit vent on the
floor of
Halema`uma`u before
sunrise on February
15. This movie shows
the first of the
rockfalls and the
resulting small
explosive event.
14 February 2011
Movie
showing ashy plume rising above
Kilauea's summit vent in
Halema`uma`u crater
Movie showing ashy
plume rising above
Kilauea's summit
vent in Halema`uma`u
crater. The plume
was the result of
the collapse of a
portion of the vent
wall moments
earlier.
Movie of
the lava lake in Halema`uma`u
crater minutes after a slice of
the vent wall had plunged into
the lava
Movie of the lava
lake in Kilauea's
summit vent in
Halema`uma`u crater
minutes after a
slice of the vent
wall had plunged
into the lava. The
lava lake is roiling
violently as the
recently added wall
debris is digested
by the lava. Slabs
of rock can be seen
breaking loose from
the base of the
overhanging vent
wall and falling
into the lava. The
length of time it
takes the rocks to
reach the lava
surface provides an
indication of the
size of the
hole-it's about 150
m (492 ft) across
and the rocks are
falling about 60 m
(197 ft).
Quicktime
movie of lava flows in Pu`u `Ō
`ō crater from February 6-8
Movie of lava flows
in Pu`u `Ō `ō crater
from February 6-8.
Lava has been
erupting
sporadically from
three vents within
Pu`u `Ō `ō crater-a
cone on the west
side of the crater
floor (foreground to
left), a cone on the
northeast side
(center frame), and
from an opening on
the east crater wall
(background).
MP3 Sound
file of lava lake activity from
inside Halema`uma`u Crater
Sounds of lava lake
activity within
Kilauea Volcano's
summit vent inside
Halema`uma`u Crater
on the afternoon of
February 14, 2011.
The continuous
"crashing wave"
noise is the sound
of churning lava as
gases are released
from the lake
surface, which is in
nearly constant
motion. The
discontinuous sharp
"pops" occur when
rocks falling from
the vent wall hit
the lava lake
surface. A very
faint "clinkery"
sound (like broken
glass) was also
produced by a small
rock slide on the
vent wall.
Quicktime
movies showing large collapses
within Kīlauea's summit vent
Movie showing the
second of five large
collapses within
Kilauea's summit
vent on the floor of
Halema`uma`u. The
collapse was
captured by a Webcam
located on the rim
of Halema`uma`u
directly above the
erupting vent.
Movie showing the
fourth of five large
collapses within
Kīlauea's summit
vent on the floor of
Halema`uma`u. The
collapse was
captured by a Webcam
located on the rim
of Halema`uma`u
directly above the
erupting vent.
Vigorous
boiling of the lava surface in
Kīlauea's summit vent
Photo of vigorous
boiling of the lava
surface in Kīlauea's
summit vent
following vent wall
and rim collapses
earlier in the day.
The rim of the vent
on the floor of
Halema`uma`u is
about 150 m (yards)
across. The lava
surface is about 100
m (yards) below the
rim.
9 February
2011
Quicktime
movie showing the lava lake in
Halema`uma`u crater
This Quicktime movie
shows a quick video
of the lava lake in
Halema`uma`u crater
taken during today's
overflight. The lava
surface has recently
been very shallow,
as little as 90
meters (98 yards)
below the floor of
Halema`uma`u crater.
When the video was
taken, the lava was
at a high stand
during part of a
rise and fall cycle,
when very little gas
is emitted and views
are clear. About
seven minutes after
the video was taken,
violent spattering
and gas release
occurred from the
lake margin,
triggering a drop of
the lava surface to
a low-stand level.
The substantial
overhang along the
north rim of the
vent cavity is shown
very well by the
video. Additionally,
the remains of the
partially destroyed
Halema`uma`u
Overlook—on the rim
of Halema`uma`u
crater, directly
above the vent
cavity—can be seen
several times during
the clip. For scale,
the vent cavity is
about 150 meters
(164 yards) wide.
A small
lava flow erupted from the
septum on the east wall of Pu`u
`Ō `ō crater
A small lava flow
erupted from the
septum between two
vents on the east
wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater on Sunday,
February 6. The hole
on the right, which
is no longer active,
was the original
east wall vent. The
fuming hole behind
the new lava flow is
the current east
wall vent.
Left. This
week, the northwest
vent was producing
lava flows on the
floor of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater. The
northeast cone is in
the background, as
well as the small
lava flow that ran
down the east wall
of the crater.
Right. A new
rootless shield is
building along the
TEB tube above the
pali. Lava began
erupting in the area
on February 4, and
has built up a
shield and lava pond
about 10 m (33 ft)
high.
8 February
2011
A look into
Halema`uma`u Overlook vent shows
the depth of the lava pond
The lava pond in the
vent cavity of the
Halema`uma`u
Overlook vent during
the rise phase of a
rise/fall cycle. In
this photo, the lava
pond is 95 m (312
ft) below the floor
of Halema`uma`u
crater. When the
pond level is high
there is very little
fume, allowing for
unusually clear
views.
4 February
2011
A look into
Halema`uma`u and a new
spattering vent at TEB shield
Left. Looking
down into the vent
cavity of the
Halema`uma`u
Overlook vent. The
black ring on the
walls surrounding
the lava pond is a
high lava mark,
outlining the height
the lava rose during
a recent rise/fall
cycle. Right.
A new spattering
vent formed on the
south side of the
TEB shield, just
before daybreak on
February 4.
Left. Spatter
being ejected from
the newly formed
vent.Right. A
fortuitous shot of a
lava blob being
thrown from the
vent.
Active vent
on the floor of Pu`u `Ō `ō
slowly filling the east side
Left. Earlier
this week, lava
began erupting from
a vent on the floor
of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater. The mound on
the right side of
the photo is the
vent producing lava
flows, slowly
filling the east
side of the crater.
Right. A
close-up of the
active vent on the
floor of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater.
1 February
2011
Breakout
cascading into a small
depression on the flow field
Breakouts remain
active near Kalapana,
with vigorous
activity situated
approximately 630
meters (0.4 miles)
west of the end of
the Kalapana access
road. This breakout,
just south of a
partially burned
kipuka, was
cascading into a
small depression on
the flow field.
27 January
2011
A wide shot
of the current flow field from
the coastal plain up to the TEB
vent
Left. A wide
shot of the current
flow field, from the
coastal plain up to
the TEB vent. The
current flow is
still split into an
eastern and western
lobe on the coastal
plain, entering the
ocean along the
eastern lobe (lower
right). The area is
scattered with small
breakouts, several
of which show up
nicely in light
grey. The plume in
the background is
coming from the TEB
vent. Right.
A close-up view of
the small ocean
entry from the
eastern branch of
lava flows near
Kalapana.
22 January
2011
Movies from
January 17 and 21 showing
collapse and explosive eruption
Movie of the January
17 collapse and
explosive eruption
captured by a Webcam
located in the
observation tower at
the Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory.
.wmv format
Movie of the January
17 collapse and
explosive eruption
captured by a Webcam
located on the rim
of Halema`uma`u
directly above the
erupting vent.
wmv format
Movie of the January
21 collapse and
dusty plume captured
by a Webcam located
in the observation
tower at the
Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory.
wmv format
20 January
2011
Spectacular
aerial view down into the vent
in Halema`uma`u
Aerial view down
into the vent in
Halema`uma`u with
the active lava lake
at the bottom. Lava
is upwelling at the
upper right side of
the lake (north) and
downwelling at lower
left (south).
Awesome
views of Pu`u `Ō `ō, the spatter
cone, and the fuming opening
Viewing looking west
at Pu`u `Ō `ō. The
summit gas plume is
in the distance at
upper right.
Left. View
looking north at the
spatter cone on the
northwest side of
Pu`u `Ō `ō crater
floor. The cone is
about 6 m (20 ft)
high. Right.
View looking
southeast across the
eastern half of Pu`u
`Ō `ō crater and
showing the spatter
cone on the
northeast side of
the crater and the
fuming opening in
the east wall.
Left. View of
the spatter cone on
the northeast side
of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater
floor. Right.
View of the fuming
opening in the east
wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater with
incandescent holes
on its rim.
Left. View
looking north across
new and active
flows, light gray in
color, on the
coastal plain west
of Kalapana Gardens
subdivision (visible
at right).Right.
View looking
southeast at new
flows, light gray in
color, just west of
Kalapana Gardens
subdivision.
13 January
2011
Spectacular
views of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater and
the erupting spatter cone
Aerial view of Pu`u
`Ō `ō crater,
looking
north-northeast. New
flows, erupting from
a spatter cone just
above the center of
the photo and a
spatter cone to the
left of center, have
been slowly filling
the crater over the
past few months.
Left. Viewing
looking northeast
across Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater. The spatter
cone erupting lava
flows on to the
crater floor over
the past few weeks,
visible just above
the center of the
photo, tops the low
mound of lava that
it has constructed.
Right. Aerial
view looking south
toward a lava flow
advancing through
forest along the
Roger James fishing
access road. The
recently active Puhi
O Kalaikini delta is
to the left. The
current ocean entry
at Ki is at upper
right.
Aerial view
of the Ki ocean entry and the
active lava lake at Halema`uma`u
Left. Aerial
view of the Ki ocean
entry with several
narrow streams of
lava pouring into
the ocean. Right.
View of the
active lava lake at
Halema`uma`u. The
lava upwells at the
upper right corner
of the lake (north)
and sinks back down
at lower left
(south) where weak
spattering is
occurring.
Quicktime
movies showing spattering of the
lava lake in Halema`uma`u
Quicktime movie
showing spattering
at the south edge of
the lava lake in the
vent at Halema`uma`u.
Quicktime movie
showing a close-up
of spattering at the
south edge of the
lava lake in the
vent at Halema`uma`u.
6 January
2011
Spectacular
views of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater and
the erupting spatter cone
Left.
Near-vertical view
down into the
Overlook vent
collapse crater. The
partly destroyed
visitor overlook is
at lower right. The
gray surface of the
lava lake at the
bottom of the pit is
faintly visible
through fume. North
is toward the top of
the photo. Right.
View toward the
southeast of lava
erupting from a
spatter cone on the
northeast part of
the Pu`u `Ō `ō
crater floor. The
Pu`u `Ō `ō Webcam is
visible on the rim
of the crater near
the bottom of the
photo.
Another view of the
erupting spatter
cone in Pu`u `Ō `ō,
this one looking
toward the west.
Left. A third
view of the erupting
spatter cone, from
the south. Right.
A new ocean
entry started
overnight, fed by a
western branch of
the active flow. The
light gray-colored
new flow shows up
well in the cloud
shadow at left edge
of the photo. An
eastern branch of
the flow continues
to advance slowly
toward Kalapana
Gardens, which is
visible at the upper
right. The eastern
flow branch is
visible as a
slightly lighter
gray within the
broader flow field,
its terminus about
even with the
vertical center line
of the photo just
above the
heart-shaped
forested kipuka.
Composite
images showing eastern and
western lobes that are active on
the coastal plain
Left. This
composite image
combines a thermal
image with a normal
photograph of the
coastal plain and
pali. The active
flow field is split
into several lobes,
and this image shows
the eastern lobe
that has been
approaching Kalapana
Gardens subdivision.
Active lava has
reached the end of
the paved access
road, where the
County lava viewing
area is. Right.
This composite
image shows the west
lobes that are
active on the
coastal plain. The
east lobe, shown in
the other composite
image, extends of
view to the right.
Like the other
composite image
shown today, hot
colors (yellow,
white) show active
areas of the flow
field, while the
cooler colors (red,
purple) show recent
but inactive flows.
The west lobes were
very active today.
One of these western
lobes reached the
ocean over the past
day, creating a new
ocean entry. A
close-up of the
breakout point in
the previous image.
Eruption-viewing opportunities
change constantly, so refer to
this page often. Those readers
planning a visit to Kilauea or
Mauna Loa volcanoes can get much
useful information from
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Visitors are
allowed entry to
the viewing area
every day from 2
p.m., with the
last vehicles
admitted at 8:00
p.m. This will
allow officials
to ensure that
everybody is out
of the area by
10 p.m.
The
viewing area is
closed between
10 pm and 2 pm.
This schedule is
subject to
change;
hazardous
conditions may
require changes
to the schedule
or closure.
- click on map
for larger view-
Hawai`i County
Civil Defense
has set up a new
telephone
hotline to
provide daily
updates on
viewing at the
Kalapana Safe
Viewing site.
The lava hotline
phone number is
961-8093,
which lets you
know the lava
viewing hours
for the day
ahead. The lava
hotline
automated
message is
updated every
day at 10 a.m.
The Kalapana
Safe Viewing
program at the
volcanic
eruption site is
a wonderful
natural
attraction, and
the County Civil
Defense Agency
wants all
visitors to
enjoy the
experience in
safety and
comfort.
With that in
mind, we
encourage
visitors to
prepare not only
for sunny days
at the lava
viewing sight
but also for
rain.
Please note that
there are no
shelters at the
site in case of
rain.
For your comfort
and convenience,
please prepare
for rain
keeping in mind
any trip hazard:
·
An umbrella
and/or
·
Windbreaker or
raincoat
Visitors are
also strongly
advised to
take the
following gear
for both safety
and comfort:
·
Bottled water
(2-3 quarts or
liters per
person)
·
Sturdy closed
boots or shoes
and socks
·
Flashlight (1
per person) and
fresh batteries
·
Long pants
·
Sun hat and
sunscreen
·
Binoculars
(optional)
Visitors are
reminded to obey
all the warning
signs and stay
within the
allowed areas to
ensure their
safety. The
newly formed
lava and black
sand beach are
extremely
unstable,
and can collapse
into the ocean
at any time.
Visitors must
stay well away
from the
volcanic steam
clouds which
contain
hydrochloric
acid and glass
particles.
Please note:
There is no cell
phone coverage
in the viewing
area.
We ask that
visitors show
the greatest
courtesy and
respect to
the local
residents and
property owners.
Please remember
never to go off
the road or
trail, and
please dispose
of all trash in
the garbage cans
provided.
Guide/interpreters
will be on hand
in the viewing
area to provide
information and
assistance. For
more
information,
please call
Civil Defense at
935-0031.
For the Hawaiian
Volcanoes
Observatory’s
eruption updates
online, please
click on
http://lavainfo.us/
.
PActivity Summary for past 24 hours: A DI event is nearly
complete. At the summit, a circulating, bubbling, and spattering lava
pond surface was visible in a hole in the vent cavity floor deep beneath
Halema`uma`u Crater floor; its level rose several meters covering the
entire vent floor before dropping but remaining visible in the Overlook
vent Webcam. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and
east rift zone vents remain elevated. Lava flows are active on the
coastal plain; lava flows through tubes to the coast and is entering the
ocean at two locations west of Kalapana.
Past 24 hours at Kilauea summit: The lava pond continued bubbling
and circulating at its low level within a hole in the vent cavity floor
deep beneath the vent rim (in the Halema`uma`u Crater floor) until 7:23
pm when it abruptly rose several meters, peaking and covering the entire
vent floor at about 7:30 pm, then draining back into the hole nearly an
hour later; the lava level in the hole remained higher than it was when
the night started but lower than the 7:30 pm peak. Glow is visible from
the Jaggar Museum Overlook. This morning, the dense white plume moves to
the southwest through beautiful clear skies. The most recent sulfur
dioxide emission rate measurement was 800 tonnes/day on November 20,
still elevated above the 2003-2007 average of 140 tonnes/day. Very small
amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continued to drop out of the plume
near the vent.
The summit tiltmeter network recorded weak inflation completing the most
recent DI event. The GPS network, which is less sensitive than the
tiltmeter network, recorded contraction starting at the beginning of
November switching to extension after November 12th.
Seismic tremor levels remained at low values with a drop. The number of
RB2S2BL earthquakes remained below background levels. Two earthquakes
were strong enough to be located on south flank faults.
Past 24 hours at the middle east rift zone vents and flow field:
Magma continued to degas through Pu`u `O`o crater before erupting from
the TEB vent, located 2 km to the east. The most recent sulfur dioxide
emission rate measurement was 1,300 tonnes/day on November 21, below the
2003-2007 average of 1,700 tonnes/day. Very weak glow was again recorded
from the crater last night.
The tiltmeter on the north flank of Pu`u `O`o recorded the switch to DI
inflation around 9:30 an yesterday and continued slow inflation. The GPS
network, which is less sensitive than the tiltmeter network, recorded
continued slow contraction of the cone, amounting to almost 3 cm of
contraction over the past 3 months. Seismic tremor levels at Pu`u `O`o
and the TEB vent were at low values.
Lava flows through two tube branches to the coast, across State- and
privately-owned land, and was entering the ocean at two general
locations - Waikupanaha and west Waikupanaha 700 m (2,300 ft) to the
west. Yesterday, HVO geologists found scattered surface flows over the
coastal plain and at least one possible surface flow on the pali; a
single entry at Waikupanaha and several at the west Waikupanaha location
were active. GOES-WEST imagery showed thermal anomalies on the coastal
plain suggesting continuing surface flow activity through dawn.
HAZARD ALERT: The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and
out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field.
Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock
falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local
waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine
lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to
your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have
been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Kilauea Volcano
are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php.
A daily update summary is available by phone at (808) 967-8862.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can
be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
Definitions of Terms Used:
glow: light from an unseen source; indirect light.
CD: Hawai`i County Civil Defense
RB2S2BL earthquakes: earthquakes that were recorded but were too small
to be located. These quakes have magnitudes less than 1.7 and may only
be recorded by one or two seismometers. Recording at a minimum of 4
seismometer sites is required to locate an earthquake.
tonne: metric unit equal to 1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lbs, or 1.1 English
tons.
tephra: all material deposited by fallout from an eruption-related
plume, regardless of size.
ash: tephra less than 2 mm (5/64 inches) in size.
TEB: Thanksgiving Eve Breakout, the designation used for lava flows that
started with a breakout on November 21, 2007.
DI tilt event: DI is an abbreviation for 'deflation-inflation' and
describes a volcanic event of uncertain significance. DI events are
recorded by tiltmeters at Kilauea summit as an abrupt deflation of up to
a few microradians in magnitude lasting several hours to 2-3 days
followed by an abrupt inflation of approximately equal magnitude. The
tilt events are usually accompanied by an increase in summit tremor
during the deflation phase. A careful analysis of these events suggests
that they may be related to changes in magma supply to a storage
reservoir at less than 1 km depth, just east of Halema`uma`u crater.
Usually, though not always, these changes propagate through the magma
conduit from the summit to the eruption site, as many of the DI events
at Kilauea summit are also recorded at a tiltmeter at Pu`u `O`o, delayed
by 1-2 hours. DI events often correlate with lava pulses and/or pauses
in the eruption at the Pu`u `O`o/July 21/TEB vents.
More definitions with photos can be found at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/about/pglossary/index.php
.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories
within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring
volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
Volcano
Gallery, P.O.
Box 699, Volcano Village, Big Island of Hawaii (Hawaii) 96785
Phone ( Local / Int'l) 808-987-0920 ( USA)
808-987-0920 Email
Us
last edited:
December 31, 2012 -
Copyright 1998-2005, Volcano Gallery,
Div. of Rainbow Moon Volcano, Hawaii - All rights reserved
-
*Not responsible for
typographical errors. Rates / Prices subject to change without
notice.
We reserve to right to refuse service at our discretion Broken Link?
Problems? Please email
webmaster
This website created and maintained by
Arnopole & Associates,
Volcano Hawaii
