Images

A new fissure eruption in September 2011 on the flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on Kīlauea Volcano's east rift zone reminds us of the need to be aware of our ever-changing volcanic environment on Hawai‘i Island. "Volcano Awareness Month" events in January 2012 offer island residents and visitors many opportunities to learn more about Hawai‘i's active volcanoes.

This thermal image shows the western portion of the West Ka‘ili‘ili ocean entry, which hosts numerous small entry points. Active breakouts can be seen on the coastal plain along the west margin of the flow field.

Lava has continued to enter the ocean at West Ka‘ili‘ili, with numerous entry points scattered along a broad section of the coast. The small boat in the center of the image provides a rough sense of scale.

View of scattered pāhoehoe lobes and toes on the coastal plain, just inland from the ocean entry.

One of the individual streams of lava cascading over the sea cliff, producing a thick steam plume at the water's edge.

View of scattered pāhoehoe lobes and toes on the coastal plain, just inland from the ocean entry.

This near-vertical view from the helicopter shows the surface of the lava lake at Halema‘uma‘u.

This skylight provided a clear view of the lava stream inside the lava tube on today's overflight, and a swiftly moving current could easily be seen.

This near-vertical view from the helicopter shows the surface of the lava lake at Halema‘uma‘u.

Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kīlauea's ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active.

This thermal image shows the western portion of the West Ka‘ili‘ili ocean entry, which hosts numerous small entry points. Active breakouts can be seen on the coastal plain along the west margin of the flow field.

One of the individual streams of lava cascading over the sea cliff, producing a thick steam plume at the water's edge.

This skylight provided a clear view of the lava stream inside the lava tube on today's overflight, and a swiftly moving current could easily be seen.

This image of a dusty plume produced by rocks collapsing from the wall of the eruptive vent within Kīlauea Volcano’s Halema‘uma‘u Crater was captured by a USGS time-lapse camera on December 21, 2011.  Vigorous spattering on the lava lake deep within the vent created the orange glow visible at the base of the plume.   

On December 4, at 9:20 a.m., a collapse in the Halema‘uma‘u vent turned the plume a dusty-brown color and deposited a thin layer of ash on the road downwind of the vent. Forty minutes later, at 10:00 a.m., the plume was greatly diminished. Since this December 4 event, the plume has been small and wispy, except when heavy rains cause an increase in steam.

The lava bench at East Lae‘apuki on November 21, 2005 before the collapse and on November 29, 2005 after the collapse.

Footprints made in muddy ash during Kīlauea's 1790 eruption are reminders that people experienced the largest explosive eruption in Hawai‘i in 1,000 years. Several hundred, and possibly more than a few thousand, people were killed by the eruption soon after the footprints were made.

Gas emissions from the crater of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on Kīlauea's east rift zone (foreground) and the summit vent in Halema‘uma‘uCrater (background, just below the clouds) create volcanic pollution that affects the air quality of downwind communities. USGS photo by Tim Orr.

Views of the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater on March 10 and 13, 2008, showing the emergence of a new gas vent. The Halema‘uma‘u crater overlook is circled. Note the large gas plume in the right frame taken on March 13, 2008.

Views of April 6 and 10, 2008, showing the before and after effect of the April 9 11:08 p.m. explosion

The current lava flow, coming down the pali and traversing the coastal plain, reached the ocean late last week. The ocean entry point is within the National Park, near its eastern border. Today, numerous small streams of lava were cascading over the sea cliff, and lava entering the water was starting to build a small delta.