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The eruption continues at Kīlauea's summit, Island of Hawai‘i. With Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park permission, HVO field crews—equipped with a range of specialized safety gear and PPE—monitor the current eruption from within the closed area. The west vent in Halema‘uma‘u remains active; the lava lake level has not changed. Gas emissions and
The KW webcam has captured the recent shift in vent activity in Halema‘uma‘u crater wall at Kīlauea's summit. The first image, taken on December 25, 2020, just after 6 p.m. HST shows the northern/eastern vent as more vigorous. HVO field crews observing the activity noted that at approximately 2:40 a.m. HST December 26, 2020, activity at west vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u rejuvenated while the northern vent was drowned by the rising lava lake. The second image, taken at just after 6:30 a.m. HST on December 27, 2020, shows that the west vent remains active. You can view live KW webcam images here. USGS photo.
HVO field crews were unable to observe early morning eruption activity in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit due to high winds. Upon return to the eruption site this morning, HVO field crews noted the reduced vigor at the western vent. The northern/eastern vent remains inactive. At approximately 7:30 a.m. HST today (Dec. 27), HVO field crews measured the lava lake as 177 m (581 ft) deep. The lava lake level has not changed significantly over the past 24 hours. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
The western vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater wall at Kīlauea summit remains active but field crews monitoring the eruption this morning (December 27) noted that its vigor is somewhat reduced from yesterday. Where three open channels were observed yesterday, there are only two today. Of the three locations that have been erupting at the west fissure vent, the eastern one has slightly reduced in vigor, the central one maintains a similar level of activity to yesterday, and the western location has crusted over but is visible in this photo as a glowing hole. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
During the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists continue to monitor the event. A geologist on the southwest rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater records eruptive activity. At approximately 7:30 a.m. HST the lava lake was measured at 177 m (581 ft) deep. For comparison, the maximum lava lake depth measured during the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption was 126 m (413 ft) deep. Mauna Loa Volcano is visible in the background. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick.
The western fissure vents remain active within Halema‘uma‘u crater, but have slightly decreased in eruptive vigor since yesterday afternoon (December 26). Emission rates remain elevated but have decreased significantly since the northern fissure shut down shortly after 2:40 a.m. HST on December 26. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick at approximately 8:50 a.m. HST on December 27.
The ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater continues at the western fissure vents. Yesterday morning, December 26 around 2:40 a.m. HST, all three vents increased in eruptive vigor and were sending channels of lava into the lava lake. The increase in lava discharge from the western vents continued into yesterday afternoon (left photo). Today, December 27, the eruptive activity appears to have slightly decreased. This morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. HST (right photo) the western-most vent (left) had a small skylight visible with occasional spatter ejected. The central vent channel was crusted over, but a swift stream was visibly entering the lava lake near the tubes base. The eastern (right) vent continues to produce an open channel that feeds into the lava lake. USGS photos by M. Patrick.
The Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater continues this evening with no major changes from earlier today, December 27. The western fissure vents (right) remain active. A HVO scientist makes observations of the ongoing activity. Mauna Loa Volcano is visible in the background. USGS photo taken at approximately 5:45 p.m. HST on December 27 by F. Trusdell.
27 December 2020 - Kīlauea Volcano US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory - Evening views of the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. The west vent remained active overnight, with strombolian-like bursts and lava cascades. Lava cascading from the vent plunges into the lava lake in multiple places, causing local upwelling. As the cascades enter the lava lake, they cause the lava lake surface to slosh and pull cooled pieces of crust under the surface.
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