Images

A view of the leading tip of the flow, which was moving through thick forest.

The summit eruption continues, with an active lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Halema‘uma‘u fills up most of the image, and the lava lake can be seen near the bottom of the image contained within the smaller Overlook crater.

The June 27th lava flow remains active and continues advancing northeast in the forested, northwest portion of Kaohe Homesteads. The flow front today was 2.7 km (1.7 miles) from Apa‘a st. and 3.8 km (2.3 miles) from Pāhoa Village Road. Over past two days, the flow front has advanced at an average rate of 290 m/day (960 ft/day).

A close-up view of the flow surface near the flow front, which consisted of numerous, scattered small pāhoehoe lobes.

Preview image for video: provides a brief aerial overview of activity at the flow front. Kaohe Homesteads is in the lower left.

A view of the flow front from tree level, with the lava hidden behind numerous tall trees.

A closer look at the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The lake was roughly 53 m (170 ft) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater this morning.

Lava from June 27 Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō breakout flowing through vacant, forested parcel in Kahoe Homesteads (left side of image). Smoke from trees burning as they come in contact with lava. Kīlauea, Hawai‘i

This small-scale map shows the June 27th flow in Kīlauea's East Rift Zone in relation to lower Puna. The area of the flow on September 15, 2014, at 2:00 PM is shown in pink, while advancement of the flow as mapped on September 17 at 3:45 PM is shown in red.

This small-scale map shows the June 27th flow in Kīlauea's East Rift Zone in relation to lower Puna. The area of the flow on September 12, 2014, at 12:30 PM is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as mapped on September 15 at 2:00 PM is shown in red.

The June 27th lava flow remains active and continues advancing towards the northeast. Recently, the flow front entered the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision, and is currently within the vacant, forested northwest portion of the subdivision. The flow front was 3.3 km (2.1 miles) upslope from Apa‘a Road and 4.3 km (2.7 miles) from Pāhoa Village Road.

Another view of the flow front, in the northwest portion of Kaohe Homesteads subdivision.

An HVO geologist conducts a very-low frequency (VLF) survey of the lava tube to measure the rate of lava flowing through the tube. The measurement consists of two steps. First, a transect of VLF measurements across the roof of the tube is used to measure the cross-sectional area of lava flowing through the tube.

Preview image for video: shows the view through a skylight on the lava tube, which provided a clear view of the flowing lava stream.

A closer view of surface activity on the June 27th lava flow. This pāhoehoe flow consists of many small, scattered, slow-moving lobes burning vegetation.

HVO geologists conduct a VLF (very-low frequency) survey to measure the rate of lava flowing through the lava tube on the June 27th lava flow.

USGS researcher Jeff Wynn monitors in-coming data at the CSAMT (Controlled-Source Audio-Magnetotellurics ) receiver site on Mount St. Helens. The data will be used to locate the top of the groundwater system beneath the site.

This large-scale map shows the distal part of the June 27th flow in relation to nearby Puna communities. The black dots mark the flow front on specific dates. The latitude and longitude of the flow front on September 15 was 19.469506 /-154.981172 (Decimal degrees; WGS84).

This shaded-relief map, with digital surface data provided by the Carnegie Airborne Observatory, shows some of the cracks, faults, and grabens (down-dropped blocks between adjacent faults; http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=graben) that are present in Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, and whic

View from above the middle part of the June 27th flow looking south at a small breakout that is burning forest along the previously existing flow margin. Heiheiahulu cone is in the upper left.

Preview image for video: provides an aerial view of the flow front and its position relative to Kaohe Homesteads.