Images

Spatter reaching up to 30 m (100 ft) from a fissure that opened this morning (March 6).

This fissure is erupting 1.5 km (0.9 mi) west of Pu'u 'O 'o Crater. You can view this eruption on the new Pu'u 'O 'o to Napau Crater webcam.

Lava spatters above the fissure just west of the base of Pu'u 'O 'o.

Most of the day's activity was focused at this vent, around which a low cone was forming. Pu'u 'O 'o is visible in the background to the northeast.

Early morning view of the fissure eruption between Napau Crater and Pu'u 'O 'o. 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.

This fissure began in the early hours of March 6, erupting spatter and producing lava flows.

A close-up of the fissure just west of Pu'u 'O 'o Crater. Spatter was reaching heights of 40 m (130 ft).

New fissure eruption SW of Pu'u 'O 'o between Pu'u 'O 'o and Napau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20m into the air, above the trees.

Close-up of just-opened fissure segment at NE tip of propagating fissure. Spatter reaching 5m into the air. Lava just breaking the ground surface to the left.

View looking along recently opened fissure segment crossing tephra flats SW of Pu'u 'O 'o, which is in the background.

Ash cloud rising from Pu'u 'O 'o 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 'O 'o is in the foreground.

New fissure eruption SW of Pu'u 'O 'o between Pu'u 'O 'o and Napau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20m into the air, above the trees. Pu'u 'O 'o in the background.

View looking at the NE end of the actively propagating fissure. Lava is just breaking the surface in foreground crack.

View toward the SW of fissure eruption. Fissure segment in forest has shut down. Compare to earlier photos before fissure opened up in tephra.

Close-up of recently opened fissure segment. Spatter reaching about 5m into the air.

Incandescent rubble rolling and sliding down the scarp on the edge of the collapsing crater in Pu'u 'O 'o. 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 'O 'o is in the foreground.

Close-up of spattering fissure. Lava reaching 10m into the air.

View to the SW at the new fissure eruption between Pu'u 'O 'o and Napau. Cracks in the foreground could be seen opening as photo was being taken.

Close-up of just-opened fissure segment at NE tip of propagating fissure. Spatter reaching 5m into the air.

View along fissure looking NE toward Pu'u 'O 'o shrouded in clouds in the background. Fissure segment in forest has shut down.

USGS personnel (5'8") stands next to ice formation at Big Muddy Creek. Flow is 6.45  cubic feet per second.