Images

A GeoScientists Promoting Accessible Collaborative Experiences (GeoSPACE) student capturing ground control point coordinates with a GPS.

A tumbleweed of Pele’s hairs—collected near Saddle Road on November 29, 2022—viewed under a microscope. The scale bar in the lower right is 750 micrometers (0.03 inches) wide. The golden-brown glass strands are intertwined, whereas the thicker dark glass is rigid. The shape of the darker glass reflects the shape of the lava droplets as they quenched.

View from Kailua-Kona of Mauna Loa lava flows from the south caldera during the early morning hours of November 28, 2022. Photo courtesy of Ilya Bilyk. 

A tripod on Mauna Loa's summit and holding a GPS antenna for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's post-eruption survey of Mauna Loa was iced in during the recent Kona low storm. The ice broke away easily and there was no damage to the equipment.

January 2023 is the Island of Hawaiʻi's 14^th annual Volcano Awareness Month. Presentations about Hawaiian volcanoes will be offered around the Island of Hawaiʻi throughout January 2023. 

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicist Ingrid Johanson checks on a survey-mode GPS instrument deployed near the summit of Mauna Loa. This survey will supplement HVO's network of continuous GPS instruments and provide higher spatial density of measurements for how Mauna Loa deformed during the recent eruption.

As of 7:00 a.m. on December 12, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observed only residual incandescence and no lava movement in the fissure 3 vent on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The channels below the vent appear drained of lava and no longer feed the main flow front. USGS image by F. Trusdell. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues at greatly reduced levels as of December 12, 2022 (fifteenth full day). Only incandescence was observed within fissure 3 overnight. This morning, field crews heard small explosions accompanied by sprays of spatter from the west end of the fissure 3 vent.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues at greatly reduced levels as of December 11, 2022 (fourteenth full day). Only incandescence was observed within fissure 3 overnight.

View of fissure 3 the morning of December 10, 2022. As of 7:00 a.m. on December 10, a lava pond replaced the fountains at the fissure 3 vent. The pond fed short lava flows that extended only 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the vent but are already stagnating. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Geologists conducted a monitoring overflight of Kīlauea summit on the morning of December 10, 2022. They noted that the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater was mostly solidified, though incandescence was visible. USGS image by J. Bard. 

Aerial view of the fissure 3 cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 10, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted there are no fountains present in fissure 3. Only a lava pond is present with minor circulating activity. Photograph by K. Mulliken.

Aerial view of the fissure 3 cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 10, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted there are no fountains present in fissure 3. Only a lava pond is present with minor circulating activity. Photograph by K. Mulliken.

Aerial view of the fissure 3 cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 10, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted there are no fountains present in fissure 3. Only a lava pond is present with minor circulating activity. USGS image by J. Bard.

Just days, ago, lava was full in the channels from the fissure 3 eruption on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. Over the past two days, the eruption output has greatly reduced. A pond of lava in the fissure 3 cone feeds short lava flows that extended only 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the vent.

Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of December 10, 2022. The eruption output has greatly decreased over the past two days and within the fissure 3 cone, geologists noted a small lava pond rather than a lava fountain. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Just days, ago, lava was full in the channels from the fissure 3 eruption on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. Over the past two days, the eruption output has greatly reduced. A pond of lava in the fissure 3 cone feeds short lava flows that extended only 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the vent.

Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. As of 7:00 a.m. today, December 10, a lava pond replaced the fountains at the fissure 3 vent. USGS image by J. Bard. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues at reduced levels as of December 10, 2022 (thirteenth full day).

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues as of December 9, 2022 (twelfth full day). One active fissure, fissure 3, feeds lava flows downslope to the north.

Eruptive activity in Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone fissure 3 was dominated by ponded lava inside the fissure that drained to the east into the lava channel system, as viewed here from a monitoring overflight around 10:30 a.m. HST on December 9, 2022. USGS photo by K. Lynn.