Just before noon today, HVO's summit webcam (KIcam) captured this striking image of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption. A small rockfall on the north side of the Overlook crater triggered a small explosion in the lava lake, sending a dark-colored ash plume skyward.
Images
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
Filter Total Items: 2971
Small rockfall and explosion at Kīlauea's summit lava lake
Just before noon today, HVO's summit webcam (KIcam) captured this striking image of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption. A small rockfall on the north side of the Overlook crater triggered a small explosion in the lava lake, sending a dark-colored ash plume skyward.
Is the current summit eruption a return to Kīlauea's past?
On November 5, 1967, a line of vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava soon covered the entire crater floor as volcanic gases billowed skyward (aerial view). Near the center, a pool of molten lava repeatedly overflowed a levee of crusted lava, spilling flows onto the lava-covered crater floor (inset).
On November 5, 1967, a line of vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava soon covered the entire crater floor as volcanic gases billowed skyward (aerial view). Near the center, a pool of molten lava repeatedly overflowed a levee of crusted lava, spilling flows onto the lava-covered crater floor (inset).
vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u
On November 5, 1967, a line of vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava soon covered the entire crater floor as volcanic gases billowed skyward (aerial view). Near the center, a pool of molten lava repeatedly overflowed a levee of crusted lava, spilling flows onto the lava-covered crater floor (inset).
On November 5, 1967, a line of vigorous lava fountains erupted on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava soon covered the entire crater floor as volcanic gases billowed skyward (aerial view). Near the center, a pool of molten lava repeatedly overflowed a levee of crusted lava, spilling flows onto the lava-covered crater floor (inset).
Slow slip event on Kīlauea's south flank is expected this year
Black arrows indicate the amount and direction of motion measured by GPS stations in HVO's monitoring network during the October 2015 slow slip event. Arrow lengths correspond to the amount of motion at each station (see scale at bottom of map); arrow points show the direction the stations moved.
Black arrows indicate the amount and direction of motion measured by GPS stations in HVO's monitoring network during the October 2015 slow slip event. Arrow lengths correspond to the amount of motion at each station (see scale at bottom of map); arrow points show the direction the stations moved.
Why are HVO scientists talking so much about Mauna Loa?
Mauna Loa, Earth's largest active volcano, has erupted 33 times since 1843, producing the lava flows shown in black. All of these historic eruptions started at the summit of the volcano. From there, the eruptions either stayed in the summit area or migrated down the volcano's Northeast or Southwest Rift Zones.
Mauna Loa, Earth's largest active volcano, has erupted 33 times since 1843, producing the lava flows shown in black. All of these historic eruptions started at the summit of the volcano. From there, the eruptions either stayed in the summit area or migrated down the volcano's Northeast or Southwest Rift Zones.
Why are HVO scientists talking so much about Mauna Loa?
Mauna Loa tends to erupt large, fast-moving lava flows. About 36 hours after the 1984 eruption began on March 25, lava flowed downstream (toward bottom-right of photo) through this ‘A‘ā channel down rift from the main vent. For scale, note the USGS scientists at work on the left side of the 70-m- (77-yard-) wide lava channel.
Mauna Loa tends to erupt large, fast-moving lava flows. About 36 hours after the 1984 eruption began on March 25, lava flowed downstream (toward bottom-right of photo) through this ‘A‘ā channel down rift from the main vent. For scale, note the USGS scientists at work on the left side of the 70-m- (77-yard-) wide lava channel.
False-Color Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager
(Left) False-Color Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager scene of Saunders Island and Mount Michael on January 31, 2018. This image is composed from red and shortwave infrared light detected by the satellite sensors. Blue represents the high temperature ground surface that includes the lava lake.
(Left) False-Color Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager scene of Saunders Island and Mount Michael on January 31, 2018. This image is composed from red and shortwave infrared light detected by the satellite sensors. Blue represents the high temperature ground surface that includes the lava lake.
Early evening view of the lava lake
Early evening view of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano on January 30, 2018, when the lake level was 27 m (88 ft) below the crater floor. The bright yellow area of spattering marks the location where the circulating lava descends into the lake, thereby releasing gases trapped beneath the solid black crust on the lake surface.
Early evening view of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano on January 30, 2018, when the lake level was 27 m (88 ft) below the crater floor. The bright yellow area of spattering marks the location where the circulating lava descends into the lake, thereby releasing gases trapped beneath the solid black crust on the lake surface.
Earthquakes swarm beneath Kīlauea
Earthquakes swarm beneath Kīlauea Volcano
Earthquakes swarm beneath Kīlauea Volcano
Kīlauea divided into lava-risk zones
Kīlauea Volcano divided into lava-risk zones
Kīlauea Volcano divided into lava-risk zones
Kīlauea has busy week; new episode begins
Kīlauea has busy week; new episode begins
Kīlauea has busy week; new episode begins
Episode 51 stops, 52 begins at Kīlauea
Episode 51 stops, 52 begins at Kīlauea Volcano
Episode 51 stops, 52 begins at Kīlauea Volcano
Kīlauea's not Hawaii's only active volcano
Kīlauea's not Hawaii's only active volcano
Kīlauea's not Hawaii's only active volcano
Kīlauea's episode 51 finally calls it quits
Kīlauea's episode 51 finally calls it quits
Kīlauea's episode 51 finally calls it quits
Kīlauea vents active but lava has slowed
Kīlauea vents active but lava has slowed
Kīlauea vents active but lava has slowed
Quake starts Kīlauea off on a busy two weeks
Quake starts Kīlauea off on a busy two weeks
Quake starts Kīlauea off on a busy two weeks
Missing visitor a tragic reminder of Kīlauea's danger
Missing visitor a tragic reminder of Kīlauea's danger
Missing visitor a tragic reminder of Kīlauea's danger
Kīlauea: a youngster among world's active volcanoes
Kīlauea: a youngster among world's active volcanoes
Kīlauea: a youngster among world's active volcanoes
26 years since last Mauna Loa eruption
26 years since last Mauna Loa eruption
26 years since last Mauna Loa eruption
Mauna Loa poses most serious threat to South Kona
Mauna Loa poses most serious threat to South Kona
Mauna Loa poses most serious threat to South Kona
Rockfalls trigger explosions in Kīlauea's summit lava lake
This video shows a rockfall and subsequent explosion that occurred at 7:03 a.m. HST today within the "Overlook crater" at the summit of Kīlauea. This collapse was followed by a smaller rockfall at 7:07 a.m. (not shown in video).
This video shows a rockfall and subsequent explosion that occurred at 7:03 a.m. HST today within the "Overlook crater" at the summit of Kīlauea. This collapse was followed by a smaller rockfall at 7:07 a.m. (not shown in video).