Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - October 3, 2003

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Lava started erupting yesterday afternoon or evening in West Gap Pit, in upper center of image, on west flank of Pu`u `O`o. Lava filled the pit and is now sending a narrow flow westward away from Pu`u `O`o. The flow is visible in this image, traceable back to the filled pit.

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Spitting hornito and spattering vent with spatter rim behind. This is southwest vent area of West Gap Pit. Hornito and spatter rim were present before this most recent activity. Spitting and huffing of the hornito was out of sync with the spattering vent and with the vent at the east end of the crater (image to right). Top of hornito fell off in next hour; see right image above, taken at 1041.

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"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." Dante's famous inscription above the gates of Hell is appropriate for this hellish scene, with spattering in front of sulfurous fume, hot ground, and treacherous terrain of Pu`u `O`o. East vent of West Gap Pit.

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Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.

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Two views of spattering from west vent in West Gap Pit. Spatter rim is about 6 m high.

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Geologists and videographers all enjoying west vent, with slope of Pu`u `O`o behind.

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Spattering west vent in West Gap Pit, with lava flow fed by this and east vent just getting going.

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Spattering from east vent has build low rampart and showered spatter on crust of lava filling pit. Height of crater rim, about 8 m.

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View of east end of filled West Gap Pit, showing east vent and spatter blanket coating crust on new lava.

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More detail of east vent in West Gap Pit, showing well the new spatter rampart and a bursting bubble generating spatter.

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Later in day, lava ponded in West Gap Pit is draining back into west vent. Such drainback takes place when lava supply to vent drops, so that lava ponded above the vent must pour back into the cavity.

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Refilling of pit from west vent, only 16 minutes after left image was taken. Repeated filling, draining, filling, draining, etc. is common for this type of eruptive activity. Compare hornito in this image with that taken at 0933; it lost its top but widened its base.

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Nearly continuous spattering from west vent of West Gap Pit, and sporadic spatter bursting from tall hornito to left. Heaving pond of lava between camera and vent. Hand-held camera, so a bit shaky. Note especially the symmetrical burst from hornito at about 15 seconds. Noise is reasonable facsimile of the real thing, emphasizing the treble.

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Spattering from east vent in West Gap Pit, taken from same place as other video and also hand-held. Note the spatter rampart under construction by the falling spatter. Helicopter noise for first several seconds.