Images

Surface flows erupting; lava bench movement measured

Kīlauea flows are large

This map shows recent changes to Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow field. The area of the active flow field as of March 30 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the active flow as of April 10 is shown in red. Older Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows (1983-2016) are shown in gray. The yellow line is the trace of the active lava tube (dashed where uncertain).

A field of blocks on the sea cliff above the ocean entry suggest that lava delta collapses and explosions have recently occurred. The blocks are resting on a thick layer of Pele's hair and limu o Pele, which are small glassy particles that fall from the ocean entry plume.

The lava entering the ocean continues to produce a robust plume, making it difficult to get a clear view of the small lava delta that is forming.

HVO geologists encountered only one tiny breakout on the coastal plain on Saturday. The pali can be seen in the background.

A small delta has formed at the Kamokuna ocean entry, but views of the delta have been largely obscured by the thick ocean entry plume.

A closer view of the delta. A small black sand beach is visible on its eastern side (bottom of photo).

Fragments of floating lava drift away from the ocean entry, creating small steam plumes as the hot lava boils the seawater.

A small delta at the Kamokuna ocean entry (left) continues to slowly build. Our observations this afternoon (April 10) indicate that the coastal plain breakouts that had been active since mid-February have died within the last few days. Currently, the only active surface flows are from the March 5 breakout on the upper flow field.

This video clip shows the Kamokuna ocean entry, with the laze plume blocking the view of the delta. The billowing white cloud rising from the ocean entry is a corrosive seawater plume laden with hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic particles that can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.

Bogoslof Island before the 2016-17 eruption (LEFT) and on March 11, 2017 (RIGHT) The island has tripled in size as ash and explosive debris have accumulated around the eruptive vent. USGS figure courtesy of the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Image data provided under Digital Globe NextView License.

Warning sign for carbon dioxide gas located on a hiking trail just below Kīlauea Crater rim. The odorless nature of CO2 and its tendency to pool in low-lying places make it an insidious hazard for people wishing to enter summit lava tubes, and the National Park Service closed them to casual entry in 2006.

This map shows recent changes to Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow field. The area of the active flow field as of March 16 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the active flow as of March 30 is shown in red. Older Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows (1983-2016) are shown in gray. The yellow line is the trace of the active lava tube (dashed where uncertain).

The episode 61g flow continues to enter the ocean at the Kamokuna ocean entry (center), and was producing a robust plume. The western Kamokuna delta, which was abandoned in late September 2016, is visible to the left of the entry.

A close-up view of the Kamokuna ocean entry. A tiny delta has been building, but is not clearly visible through the thick plume. One spot of incandescence can be seen through a break in the plume (center) just above sea level. Floating, steaming blocks were also seen in the water just off the ocean entry (lower middle-right).

Interior of a water tunnel though ash layers in the Ka'ū district. Water collects near the tunnel entrance and is transported by PVC pipe for agricultural use. USGS Photo.

Scientists deploy a Chirp seismic instrument from the beach. Seismic data provide view of sub-seafloor geology, which records depositional and erosional events and reveals geologic controls on sediment supply.

On March 21, 2017, the sediment trap from this instrument package (deployed the previous October into Monterey Canyon) is gone and the mounting frame is mangled, having been exposed to several significant turbidity currents in one deployment. 

This 3D model of the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit was constructed from a series of thermal images acquired during an overflight on Thursday, March 16. For scale, the lava lake is about 250 meters (820 ft) across. The lake is within the Overlook crater, which is within Halema‘uma‘u Crater.

This map shows recent changes to Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow field. The area of the active flow field as of February 24 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the active flow as of March 16 is shown in red. Older Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows (1983-2016) are shown in gray. The yellow line is the trace of the active lava tube (dashed where uncertain).