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Puhimau thermal area, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, is marked by dea

Detailed Description

Puhimau thermal area, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, is marked by dead vegetation in this image captured during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit on December 18. Elevated soil temperatures within Puhimau thermal area, as well as geophysical studies, indicate that a hot and potentially partially molten magma body may underlie Puhimau thermal area, which is home to the largest naturally occurring population of the endangered plant Portulaca sclerocarpa. USGS scientists are examining the area to determine if there have been significant changes in ground temperature or gas emissions. Read more about the Puhimua thermal area in this "Volcano Watch" article: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html?vwi…. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

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Public Domain.