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A portrait view of the lava lake with the opposite wall of Halema‘uma‘u beyond and the caldera wall of Kīlauea in the background. Jaggar Museum and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) adorn the summit of Kīlauea at upper right.
Video of rocks exploding off of Halema‘uma‘u overlook vent wall
Heat from the high lava lake level in the 'overlook' vent in Halema‘uma‘u is causing the walls of the vent above the lava surface to expand and fracture. This is the source of the cracking and booming noises emanating from the vent in recent days. This video, zoomed in on the back (NW) wall of the vent, shows small fragments of rock exploding from the wall and scattering onto the lake surface. Watch closely...the rocks are originating from an alcove that overhangs the lake and can be difficult to see.
