Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - June 28, 2017

Impressive spattering in the summit lava lake...

Spattering is common in Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake, and is often focused along the south lake margin. But occasionally, as happened today, numerous spattering sites can appear in the north part of the lake. Unfortunately, northern areas of spattering can rarely be seen from the Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, especially when the lava lake level is as low as it was today.

A close up of spattering in the western portion of the summit lava lake.

Crustal spreading zones leave bands of changing texture on the lava lake surface, highlighted by late afternoon sunlight.

More bands of differing surface texture adjacent to a spreading zone. In the lower right corner, an additional spreading zone is migrating north (toward the upper left in this photo) and has nearly intersected the other spreading zone.