Thermal Image of Pu'u 'O'o Pond

"Rootless" lava shields are those built over a lava tube, as opposed to those which develop over the vent. This rootless shield was built over the past week, and hosted a lava pond at its summit. Overflows from the pond cascaded down the steep flanks. A short lava flow, in the lower right portion of the image, originates from the flank and represents lava seeping out from the shield interior.