Images

Looking into the Halema'uma'u Overlook vent during a lava high stand. In the lower half of the vent, several glowing cracks in the crusted lava surface can be seen through the diffuse fume. The remaining portion of the Halema'uma'u Overlook fence is at the bottom of the photograph.

Small lava channels enter the ocean along a section of the Puhi-o-Kalaikini lava delta.

Sulfur dioxide gas emissions from the crater of Pu‘u ‘Ō ‘ō on Kīlauea’s east rift zone and the vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater at Kīlauea’s summit create volcanic pollution that affects the air quality of downwind communities.  Here, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist measures Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō gas emissions using an instrument that detects ga

An aerial view of Pu'u 'O 'o, looking toward the southwest. Although the inside of the crater is shrouded in fume, a distinct plume can still be seen coming from the east wall. This vent has once again become the dominant heat source in Pu'u 'O 'o since the cessation of flows in the crater several weeks ago.

Close-up of the channelized breakout, showing the lava stream near the breakout point and the surrounding pahoehoe.

This composite image of the coastal plain near Kalapana combines a thermal image and a conventional photograph. The majority of lava is traveling through the lava tube system to the ocean and is not easily detectable in the image. Sometimes, however, the lava tubes do show a clear thermal signature.

A vigorous but relatively small channelized breakout near the base of the pali began this morning around 4 am. The flow near the breakout point is pahoehoe (shiny appearance), whereas the middle and lower portions of the flow are 'a'a (dull black color).

The most recent breakout on the coastal plain, which began on October 15, is still active in several places along its southern margin. The lighter grey lava flows in the middle of the photograph are the extent of the latest activity. The flow is 550 m (1800 ft) long and runs parallel with the trace of Highway 130 (the road on the right side of the photograph).

Another view of the lava lake, this one from the much lower western rim of Pu'u 'O 'o.

A zoomed-in view of the spatter vent taken from the north rim of Pu'u 'O 'o.

Near-vertical view into the eruptive vent inset within the southeast edge of Halema'uma'u Crater. The crusting, slowly circulating lava surface was about 115 m (375 ft) below the floor of Halema'uma'u.

A vent opening on the north side of the Pu'u 'O 'o crater floor just after 6 am this morning. By 10:30 am, a lava lake up to 10 m (33 ft) deep had filled the eastern half of the crater.

A new breakout started yesterday afternoon (9/30) near Kalapana. By this morning, the flow had nearly stopped, its front (shown here) barely creeping forward through grass and sparse forest.

The breakout was from the side of the lava tube feeding the Puhi-o-Kalaikini ocean entry a few hundred meters (yards) upslope from where the tube crosses Highway 130. The photo is taken from the crest of the tube, which forms a low ridge snaking through the flow field in this area.

Lava devastated more forest in the past few days as the finger of lava feeding the eastern ocean entry expanded slightly eastward. 

This photograph shows the eastern ocean entry, which covered a small beach. 

The western entry continued to add to its delta, with several small streams of lava battered by the waves. 

This composite image merges a thermal image and normal photograph, and shows the active flow front in Kalapana.  Breakouts (shown by white/yellow areas) were present at the base of the pali (uppermost white/yellow areas), in several spots near the County viewing area, and on the fingers of lava feeding the two ocean entries. 

View looking south toward active flows on the coastal flats near Kalapana Gardens subdivision. The new flows entered the area from right center, crossing the end of Hwy 130, and burning through forest adjacent to the coast. The burned remains of trees and brush cover the surface of the new flows at the center of the image.

View looking south at the more vigorous western ocean entry. The fault scarp that prevented flows from reaching the ocean for several days crosses the photo in the foreground.

View looking west at the eastern of the two new ocean entries. Lava has completely buried the beautiful pebbly beach that was in this spot. The western entry is in the background at upper left.