Activity in Halema‘uma‘u September 20-21, 2022

This animated gif of images from the thermal F1cam on the west rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater shows changes to the crater floor from September 20-21, 2022. Increased seismicity and ground deformation rates likely represented a temporary blockage in the eruption of lava at Halemaʻumaʻu, causing pressurization below the surface. The lava lake level dropped 23-feet (7-meters) and the crater floor surrounding the lava lake also subsided by several yards (several meters). Once the blockage was cleared, eruption of lava resumed with new breakouts occurring on Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. USGS animated gif.