Kīlauea Volcano — UAS at Overlook

A UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) mission during this past week documented the widening of the Overlook vent. Earthquakes in the Kīlauea Volcano's summit region continue as the area subsides and adjusts to the withdrawal of magma. The vent is widening due to the collapse of the steep enclosing walls and rim. Large rockfalls from these areas have triggered explosive events that produce minor amounts of ashfall downwind. The video surveys the southeast rim of the Overlook vent to the old Overlook parking lot, showing cracks in the rim and areas dusted with ash. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The information is used to quantify change and informs our assessment of hazards, which is shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Footage is courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Aviation Services.