Images

A helicopter overflight on February 2, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The largest lava lake is located in the eastern portion of the crater, though lava has also filled the areas previously active in the western portion of the crater.

During a Kīlauea summit morning monitoring overflight on February 2, 2023, HVO scientists documented activity in the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption, shown in this photo looking to the SW at 7:30 a.m. HST. Mauna Loa is visible in the background. USGS image by K. Lynn

View of the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea's summit around 7:30 a.m. HST on February 2, 2023, looking to the south/southeast. Lava lake activity continues, and a large overflow from the central pond was active during the morning overflight. USGS image by K. Lynn.

View of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, during an early morning monitoring overflight on February 2, 2023. An overflow from the pond just east of the main island can be seen in the center of the image. A small ooze-out in the northwest part of the crater can also be seen on the right side of the image. View looking approximately southward.

View of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, during an early morning monitoring overflight on February 2, 2023. An overflow from the pond just east of the main island can be seen in the center of the image. Multiple shifting islands of solidified lava can be seen within the eastern active lava lake located southeast (below and to the left) of the overflow.

A helicopter overflight on February 2, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The largest lava lake is located in the eastern portion of the crater, though lava has also filled the areas previously active in the western portion of the crater.

The surface of the dome fountain depresses slightly in the moment before a larger burst. The dome fountain is present at the upwelling source of the lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A close up of the shifting islands in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) flies close to the eastern lava lake and dome fountain in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) flies by the edge of the eastern lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A koa‘e kea bird (white-tailed tropicbird) flies by the small lava lake in the central portion of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Lava lake activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. In recent days islands of solidified lava have migrated across the lake surface. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Lava lake activity remains steady in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. In this photo, a USGS scientist measures the elevation of the lava lake using a handheld laser rangefinder. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This view from the west caldera rim shows several lava lakes active within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The eastern lake is the farthest from this vantage point. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A small fountain has been active in the upwelling zone of the eastern lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. In recent days a small island of solidified lava has been present close to the fountain. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

On the morning of January 25, 2023, the active lava pond in the east side of Halema‘uma‘u crater had low fountaining generating bursts of lava about 1-2 m (3-7 ft) high. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

The perched active lava lake in the east side of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea began to overflow, shown in this zoomed image of the lake margin on the morning of January 25, 2023. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

A close up of the lava lake levee, in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. The levee is formed by numerous small crustal plates rafted atop one another and fused together. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A wide view of the entire eastern lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, on January 20. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A close up of the small lava fountain at the upwelling source of the eastern lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The fountain is adjacent to a small island of solidified lava. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Dusk lighting on January 20, 2023, permitted better views of the morphology of the eastern lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The low sun angle highlighted the perched levees impounding the lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick.