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Photo and Video Chronology – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory – August 26, 2022

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory August 26, 2022

Photos and videos of the recent activity on Kīlauea volcano and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory response to seismic unrest in American Samoa.

HVO scientists collect detailed data to assess hazards and understand how the eruption is evolving at Kīlauea's summit, all of which are shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The current eruption at Kīlauea's summit began at approximately 3:20 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021. Lava activity is confined within Halema‘uma‘u crater, in the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

August 24, 2022 — Overview of Halema‘uma‘u eruption, Kīlauea summit

Color photograph of crater floor and lava lake
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
This overview photograph of the Halema‘uma‘u eruption at the summit of Kīlauea was captured by a HVO geologist in the morning of August 24, 2022, from the webcam site on the west rim of the crater. The active lava lake (silver) can be seen near the center-right of the frame, with substantial amounts of volcanic gas emitting from the nearby west vent that is feeding the eruption. The lava flows that constitute the remainder of the crater floor now stretch approximately 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) from west (near side) to east (far side). Two of the crater's down-dropped blocks from the 2018 summit collapse are being overflowed at this time: one on the north side (left), and another on the west side (lower-right). USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

August 18, 2022 — Timelapse of lava lake motion in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea

Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
This time-lapse sequence is shown at 100x speed and shows the motion of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava enters the lake at the west end (bottom of image) and flow steadily towards the east end, where the crust is consumed along the lake margins. 

August 2022 — Hawaiian Volcano Observatory response to seismic unrest in American Samoa

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is responding to earthquake activity in the Manuʻa island group of American Samoa. Residents report that earthquakes began in late July 2022. For more information, see the Taʻū Island webpage: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/ta-u-island

Color photograph of ocean and island in distance
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
An afternoon view of the tuff cone near Faleāsao village located in northwest Ta‘ū island, with the islands of Ofu and Olosega visible in the distance. This tuff cone, which is thousands of years old, formed when hot magma interacted with either shallow groundwater or sea water. There are several tuff cones located within the northwest corner of Ta‘ū island. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Color photograph of earthquake monitoring device
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
A Raspberry Shake microseismometer was installed on Ta‘ū island, American Samoa, on August 19, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA National Weather Service team. This is one of several microseismometers that have been placed within the Manu‘a islands to help detect earthquakes in the region that started to be felt in late July. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Color photograph of volcano slopes
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
A view of the summit region of Ta‘ū island, in the Manu‘a island group of American Samoa. Ta‘ū island is the exposed top of a volcano that formed as a result of volcanic activity at the Samoa hotspot. Most of the volcano is under the ocean surface. The exposed part of this volcano that forms Ta‘ū island is covered in dense jungle vegetation though scoria cones are evident on its slopes. USGS photo by Drew Downs.
Color photograph of people installing field instrument
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
A broadband seismometer being installed on Ta‘ū island near Fiti‘uta on August 23, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, NOAA National Weather Service, and with help from the American Samoan government and local residents of Ta‘ū island. This is one of two broadband seismometers that have been placed on Ta‘ū island to help detect earthquakes that started to be felt by residents starting in late July. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Color photograph of scientists installing instrument
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
A broadband seismometer was installed on Ta‘ū island on August 22, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA National Weather Service team. This is one of two broadband seismometers that have been placed on Ta‘ū island to help detect earthquakes that started to be felt in the region starting in late July. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Color photograph of sea cliff
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
View of south part of western side of Nuʻutele Island, off the west coast of Ofu Island in the Manuʻa Islands, American Samoa. Nuʻutele Island is an eroded tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions. The layers exposed within the unvegetated cliff are the result of individual explosions during the eruption that created this tuff cone. The age of the eruption which formed Nuʻutele Island is thought to be Holocene (erupted within the last 12,000 years). After the eruption, ocean waves and currents eroded part of the tuff cone. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Color photograph of sea cliff
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
View of part of the tuff cone which contains both Faleāsao village and Faleasao Harbor from the northwest part of Taʻū Island, American Samoa. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions. The layers exposed within the unvegetated cliff are the result of individual explosions during the eruption that created this tuff cone. The age of the eruption which formed this tuff cone is unknown. After the eruption, ocean waves and currents eroded (removed) the northern side of the tuff cone, leading to the creation of Faleasao Harbor. Faleāsao village is also located within the tuff cone. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Color photograph of monitoring equipment
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
A Raspberry Shake seismometer was installed at Fitiʻuta Elementary School on Taʻū Island on August 13, 2022, to provide initial data on the swarm of earthquakes that started on the Manuʻa Islands around July 26, 2022. The equipment was provided by the US Geological Survey, and installation was completed with the support of the American Samoa office of the NOAA National Weather Service. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
color photograph of scientist installing instrument
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
A Raspberry Shake seismometer was installed at Fitiʻuta Elementary School on Taʻū Island on August 13, 2022, to provide initial data on the swarm of earthquakes that started on the Manuʻa Islands around July 26, 2022. The equipment was provided by the US Geological Survey, and installation was completed with the support of the American Samoa office of the NOAA National Weather Service. USGS photo by N. Deligne

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