Images

Channelized ‘A‘ā lava flows were still active on the steep sections of the pali. Dark brown areas are recently active ‘A‘ā, and the shiny gray areas are pāhoehoe lava.

The flow front remains active, and consists of slow-moving pāhoehoe lava. This afternoon (July 7) the flow front was roughly 2.2 km (1.4 miles) from the base of the pali, 1.2 km (0.7 miles) from the ocean, and 1 km (0.6 miles) from the road.

This map of Kīlauea Volcano's lava flow shows the locations of Hawai‘i County's designated lava-viewing and parking areas (http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lava-viewing/), as well as the lava flow's location relative to the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park boundary (green line).

View of an ‘A‘ā flow surging down the face of the pali. Narrower ‘A‘ā channels are visible below.

As Kīlauea Volcano's active pāhoehoe flow spreads across the coastal plain on July 6, the new lava appeared more shiny or silvery compared with the older lava beneath it. Molten "toes" of lava breaking out from the leading edges of the flow can be seen in the lower right quadrant of the photo. USGS photo.

The flow front remains active, and was more than half way across the coastal plain today (July 6). This afternoon, the flow front was roughly 2 km (1.2 miles) from the base of the pali, and 1.3 km (0.8 miles) from the ocean. The front consisted of slow moving pāhoehoe.

As this small channel of lava flows into a depression, its semi-congealed surface twists and wrinkles—forming the ropy surface commonly seen on pāhoehoe flows. Flows on the pali are visible in the background.

Close-up view of a typical surface on pāhoehoe lava.

The hardened crust of this pāhoehoe lava is pushed upward as the flow advances, exposing the incandescent lava beneath.

The amount of channelized lava on the pali has decreased over the past week, but there were still several open channels active today.

This small-scale map shows Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow field in relation to the southeastern part of the Island of Hawai‘i. The area of the active flow field on June 30 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the active flow field as mapped on July 5 is shown in red. Older Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows (1983-2016) are shown in gray.

A video of the channelized lava on the pali today.

The flow front remains active, and continues to advance across the coastal plain. This afternoon, the flow front was approximately 1.7 km (1.1 miles) from the ocean. The leading front of the flow is the light gray area in the low center area of the photograph.

A comparison of a normal photograph (left) with a thermal image (right) taken from roughly the same vantage point. The thermal image shows the concentration of hot surface lava near the flow front, as well as areas of surface breakouts on and above the pali.

A closer look at the swiftly moving channelized lava on the pali.

The activity at the leading tip of the flow was vigorous, with small channels appearing from time to time.

A video of activity at the flow front today.

A short distance upslope of the leading tip of the flow, the margin was less vigorous and forming more typical pāhoehoe lobes.

Although the leading tip of the flow consisted of pāhoehoe, visible in the foreground of this photo, there was still ‘A‘ā active on the steep slopes of the pali and at the base of the pali (upper part of the photo). The open channels that were active on the pali a few days ago have largely crusted over, but some sections remained active today.

The flow front remains active and has begun crossing the coastal plain. This afternoon, the flow front was roughly 400 m (0.25 miles) out from the base of the pali, and was 2.9 km (1.8 miles) from the ocean. The front consisted of slabby pāhoehoe, though ‘A‘ā was also active at the base of the pali.

Ox Bel Ha Cave Project Field Team Members (left to right) David Brankovits (TAMUG), Jake Emmert (Moody Gardens), John Pohlman (USGS), and Francisco Bautista De La Cruz (Speleotech).