Water samples collected from Halema‘uma‘u crater lake on January 17

On January 17, 2020, USGS-HVO scientists and DOI Unoccupied Aerial System (UAS) team members collected three additional samples of water from the Halema‘uma‘u crater lake. Here, the sampling device and temperature logger were readied for takeoff. The plastic sleeve was attached to the UAS (drone) with a cord about 20 feet (6 m) long. Colored flags were attached to the cord at 5-foot (1.5-m) intervals so that the UAS pilot and other team members could visually gauge how deep the sampler was under the water surface. One water sample was collected close to the lake surface. Two others were collected from a depth of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m)—one in a yellow-orange patch of water and the other in a yellow-green patch of water. USGS photo by S. Warren.