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Photo and Video Chronology – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory – September 23, 2022

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory September 28, 2022

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory photos and videos of recent activity on Kīlauea volcano.

Kīlauea

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.

September 23 —Slight drop in lava lake level at Kīlauea summit

Color photograph of volcanic vent
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The west vent remains active in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The vent area consisted of several small spatter cones with incandescent openings, along with weak, sporadic, spattering. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Color photograph of volcanic features
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
On September 20, 2022, a slight drop in lava lake level at the summit of Kīlauea resulted in stagnation of the small lava pond that was supplied by the main lava lake. The drop in lava level left a narrow bridge of solidified lava over the pathway between these two areas USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Color photograph of lava lake
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Following a slight drop in the lava lake and subsidence of the crater floor on September 20, at the summit of Kīlauea, the lava lake level has remained several meters (above ten feet) below its rim. USGS photo by M. Patrick on September 23, 2022.

September 20-21 —Halema‘uma‘u subsidence

Color photographs of crater floor
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
This animated gif of images from the B1cam on the east rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater shows changes to the crater floor during the afternoon of September 20, 2022. The lava lake level dropped 23-feet (7-meters) and the crater floor surrounding the lava lake also subsided by several yards (several meters). USGS animated gif. 
Color photographs showing temperature of lava flows
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
This animated gif of images from the thermal F1cam on the west rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater shows changes to the crater floor from September 20-21, 2022. Increased seismicity and ground deformation rates likely represented a temporary blockage in the eruption of lava at Halemaʻumaʻu, causing pressurization below the surface. The lava lake level dropped 23-feet (7-meters) and the crater floor surrounding the lava lake also subsided by several yards (several meters). Once the blockage was cleared, eruption of lava resumed with new breakouts occurring on Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. USGS animated gif. 

 

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