Images

This map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow. The area of the flow on December 9, 2014, at 2:30 PM is shown in pink, while advancement of the flow as mapped on the ground on December 12 at 10:00 AM is shown in red.

The active flow front continues to advance downslope towards the northeast. This morning, the leading tip of the active lava was 2.6 km (1.6 miles) upslope from Pāhoa Marketplace, as measured along the steepest descent line.

An HVO geologist uses a handheld GPS unit to mark the flow margin coordinates. The flow field map today was updated by taking a series of GPS points like this around the leading portion of the flow.

Aerial view of lava inundating Kalapana in May 1990. The Hakuma Horst, a 20-m (66-ft) high north-facing fault scarp near the ocean, diverted the lava flows into the most populated areas of Kalapana. By the end of 1990, the flows were as high as the last remaining homes on the horst.

Santa Cruz Main Beach and Boardwalk just before a "Super Soaker" winter storm hit with 2.5 inches of rain in just a few hours' time.

This small-scale map shows Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow in relation to lower Puna. The area of the flow on December 1, 2014, at 11:30 AM is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as mapped on December 9 at 2:30 PM is shown in red.

A comparison of a normal photograph with a thermal image of the leading tip of the active lobe on the June 27th lava flow. Corresponding points are marked with letters for reference. Active surface flows were present at the front of the lobe, and there were numerous small breakouts scattered in the immediate area upslope of the front.

This map uses a satellite image acquired in March 2014 (provided by Digital Globe) as a base to show the area around the front of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow. The area of the flow on December 1, 2014, at 11:30 AM is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as mapped on December 9 at 2:30 PM is shown in red.

This large-scale map shows the distal part of Kīlauea's active East Rift Zone lava flow in relation to nearby Puna communities. The area of the flow on December 1, 2014, at 11:30 AM is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as mapped on December 9 at 2:30 PM is shown in red.

The leading tip of the active portion of the June 27th lava flow continues to advance downslope, and is 3.4 km (2.1 km) from the intersection of Highway 130 and Pāhoa Village Road (as measured along a straight line). The front has advanced 300 meters (0.2 miles) since Sunday, December 7, and 1.4 km (0.9 miles) since our last overflight on December 1.

A vigorous channelized breakout on the flow, a short distance upslope of the leading tip of activity.

A breakout was also present in the upslope portion of the June 27th lava flow, closer to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The breakout point was about 800 meters (0.5 miles) north of Pu‘u Kahauale‘a, which is close to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The breakout began on December 5 from the existing lava tube, and this photo shows the breakout point clearly.

California volcanoes and threat rankings.

Fogo Volcano, as viewed from space, on November 24, 2014, at 11:58 UTC, shows lava flows (bright yellow and orange) erupting from Pico de Fogo. LANDSAT-8 image courtesy of Peter Webley (http://volcanodetect.blogspot.com/2014/11/landsat-view-of-fogo-volcano-…).

This image was acquired yesterday (December 1, 2014) by the WorldView 2 satellite, and shows the activity in the downslope portion of the June 27th lava flow. The portion of the June 27th lava flow that entered Pāhoa in October is inactive, but a new lobe is advancing downslope a short distance west of the earlier flow.

A closer look at the narrow lava channel near the leading tip of the active lobe. The channel consists of both open sections as well as sections that are crusted over.

A small breakout was also active on the upslope portion of the June 27th lava flow. The pāhoehoe lava was flowing over an ‘A‘ā flow from late 2007.

This small-scale map shows the June 27th lava flow in relation to lower Puna. The area of the flow on November 24, 2014, at 12:00 PM is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as mapped on December 1 at 11:30 AM is shown in red.

A digital still image can be overlaid onto the lidar “point cloud” data to give it a realistic 3D look.

USGS Geographer Josh Logan sets up the lidar scanner near Capitola before the December 11, 2014 "Super Soaker" storm.