Images

A broad view of the Kamoamoa fissures. The fissures extend 2.3 km (1.4 mi) between Napau Crater and Pu'u 'O 'o. The western most fissure is just out of view in this photo.

A close-up of the flow front in the forest.

Early morning view of the fissure eruption between Napau Crater and Pu'u 'O 'o. View is to the northwest. Fume from the eruptive vent in Halema'uma'u can be seen at upper right against the dark mass of Mauna Loa.

A close-up of the fissure just west of Pu'u 'O 'o Crater. Spatter was reaching heights of 40 m (130 ft).

This fissure began in the early hours of March 6, erupting spatter and producing lava flows.

HVO gas geochemist uses a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to measure volcanic gas compositions emitted during the 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption on the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano. The instrument measures the infrared energy from the hot lava fissure as it passes through, and is absorbed by, the volcanic plume along an open atmospheric path.

Increased activity on one of the new fissures between Pu'u 'O 'o Crater and Napau.

Lava spatters above the fissure just west of the base of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on March 6, 2011.

A portion of charred, lava covered forest along the east rift zone, from the initial fissure eruption that began yesterday evening (March 5).

Spatter reaching up to 30 m (100 ft) from a fissure that opened this morning (March 6).

HVO geologist carries a freshly quenched lava sample from the 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption on Kīlauea Volcano. Molten lava is quickly placed in a bucket of water to "freeze" the growth of minerals for chemical and microscopic analyses.

Lava spatters above the fissure just west of the base of Pu'u 'O 'o.

Most of the day's activity was focused at this vent, around which a low cone was forming. Pu'u 'O 'o is visible in the background to the northeast.

This fissure is erupting 1.5 km (0.9 mi) west of Pu'u 'O 'o Crater. You can view this eruption on the new Pu'u 'O 'o to Napau Crater webcam.

Lava pours from the fissure just after daybreak and cascades out of sight into a deep crack. HVO geologist near upper right for perspective.

A small fissure eruption between Pu'u 'O 'o Crater and Napau, extending 100 m long (330 ft) and spattering 20 m (66 ft) high.

Photo taken at dawn of a fissure erupting between Pu'u 'O 'o Crater and Napau.

Close-up of just-opened fissure segment at NE tip of propagating fissure. Spatter reaching 5m into the air.

View along fissure looking NE toward Pu'u 'O 'o shrouded in clouds in the background. Fissure segment in forest has shut down.

View to the SW at the new fissure eruption between Pu'u 'O 'o and Napau. Cracks in the foreground could be seen opening as photo was being taken.

New fissure eruption SW of Pu'u 'O 'o between Pu'u 'O 'o and Napau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20m into the air, above the trees.