West vent and Halema‘uma‘u lava lake

The eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, continues to feed a rising lava lake. During the evening of December 15, 2021 a period of increased eruptive activity included lava entering the lake from multiple sources and frequent large spatter bursts throwing lava onto the sides of the west vent cone. Photo was taken from the public viewpoint near Keanakāko‘i crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo taken by B. Carr.