Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea GPS campaign and Mauna Loa summit webcams | U.S. Geological Survey

Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea GPS campaign and Mauna Loa summit webcams

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory November 9, 2023

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geophysicists completed the annual GPS survey of Kīlauea in October 2023. On November 8, 2023, HVO staff fixed the MLcam (visual imagery) and MTcam (thermal imagery); both are located near the summit of Mauna Loa.

The MLcam and the MTcam are located on the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera). HVO staff serviced these cameras on November 8, 2023. Both are now transmitting images of Mauna Loa's summit caldera.

Color photograph of webcams monitoring caldera — On November 8, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff visited the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) to service the MLcam and the MTcam. These cameras had been temporarily offline and not transmitting images. View the MTcam here: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/mtcam-mokuaweoweo-caldera-ther…. View the MLcam here: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/mlcam-mokuaweoweo-caldera-nort…. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of caldera floor

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A view of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) from the rim on the northwest side. The lava flows that flooded much of the caldera floor during the brief summit phase of the 2022 eruption are nearly indistinguishable from previous lava flows. Learn more about the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption here: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/november-27-december-10-2022. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of technician adjusting antenna

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On November 8, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff visited the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) to service the MLcam and the MTcam. In this photo, an HVO technician adjusts the antenna that trasmits the webcam data back to the observatory. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

During the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign, which was completed in October 2023, scientists temporarily deploy a number of GPS instruments at established benchmarks; their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.

Color photograph of technician servicing instrument — During the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign, scientists temporarily deploy a number of GPS instruments at established benchmarks; their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity. In this photo, a USGS volunteer helps deploy equipment at the end of Chain of Craters Road. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

Color photograph of GPS instrument in the field

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In this photo, taken on October 3, 2023, near Kīlauea's coastline in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a GPS antenna is mounted on a fixed rod. A GPS receiver, housed in the yellow box, records the positions that can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity. These data augment the permanent, continuously recording GPS instruments in HVO's monitoring network. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

Color photograph of GPS on tripod

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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicists completed the annual GPS survey of Kīlauea. Most Kīlauea and Mauna Loa GPS campaign survey sites have been occupied every year since the early 1990s, whereas the less active volcanoes Hualālai and Haleakalā are surveyed every 3–5 years. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

Color photograph of GPS in the field

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A GPS site is occupied on the south flank of Kīlauea, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, as part of the 2023 annual campaign survey. The survey data will supplement continuous data collected at permanent GPS sites on Kīlauea volcano. The Pacific Ocean is visible in the background. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

Color photograph of GPS survey equipment

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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicists recently completed the annual GPS survey of Kīlauea. For more information on how GPS data are processed, see this recent "Volcano Watch" article: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-not-just-polka-dots-hidden-dance-processing-gps-data. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

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