Lava flow mapping provides situational awareness of volcanic eruptive hazards in Hawaii. During eruptions, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists employ a variety of techniques to collect and disseminate map data depicting key eruptive features, especially lava flows.
Understanding the location of a volcanic eruption is arguably the most important factor in determining the hazards posed by the event. Pinpointing the locations of eruptive fissures, flow channels, and flow fronts can inform scientists about the directions that lava flows may go, and tracking their progression through time helps to constrain the timeframes over which potential future impacts might occur.
Webcams provide a rapid approximation of eruption location
Activity at Hawaii’s volcanoes can escalate from unrest to eruption in less than an hour, so HVO personnel are rarely in place to witness the onset firsthand. Instead, HVO’s extensive webcam network keeps 24/7 watch of the areas with greatest potential for eruption: the summits and rift zones of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Images from these webcams provide scientists with an approximate location of the outbreak.
Webcam views are available to the public at the links below:
Kīlauea Webcams
Mauna Loa Webcams
Field personnel collect map data for the most critical eruptive features
The first HVO personnel to reach an eruption site—either on the ground or from the air—are primarily tasked with collecting map data for the most critical eruptive features. In the past, radios were used to transmit the locations of eruptive fissures and lava flow fronts back to the HVO office and to emergency managers. New technology allows field personnel to collect this data in a smartphone app that automatically syncs to the cloud.
Aerial mapping captures the entirety of an eruption in greater detail
Most Hawaiian eruptions are too large for personnel to map completely in the field. Instead, HVO helicopter and UAS (drone) overflights capture optical and thermal images that can later be processed, respectively, into orthomosaics and thermal maps of the eruption area. From these products, accurate points, lines, and polygons can be digitized to depict eruption features. Satellite images augment the HVO-constructed products, especially during big events.
Map products are generated and disseminated
Points, lines, and polygons depicting eruption features such as flow fronts, fissures, and lava flow footprints have customarily been compiled into image file maps periodically posted to the HVO website, available at the links below.
Kīlauea Periodic Maps
Mauna Loa Periodic Maps
HVO now also offers an ArcGIS Online web map that is updated in near-real-time during eruptions. Data is added as the event progresses and as time allows for more detailed mapping techniques to be employed. The dynamic maps are avialable at the two links below.
USGS HVO Monitoring Map (includes dynamic eruption layers)
USGS Hawaii eruption map - preliminary (argis.com)
Related News
These "Volcano Watch" articles provide additional information about HVO lava flow mapping efforts.
Introducing HVO's new online eruption map — April 5, 2024
New eyes in the sky for monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes — June 6, 2019
How are lava-flow maps made during an eruption? — November 1, 2018
Thermal maps help with the pāhoehoe challenge — September 21, 2017
Helicopter pilots and mechanics crucial for monitoring and observing active volcanoes — November 3, 2016
Monitoring lava flows with boots on the ground and eyes in the sky — January 22, 2015
HVO and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense jointly track the June 27th lava flow — September 18, 2014
Mapping new lava as easy or difficult as finding the flow margin — January 13, 2000
Lava flow mapping provides situational awareness of volcanic eruptive hazards in Hawaii. During eruptions, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists employ a variety of techniques to collect and disseminate map data depicting key eruptive features, especially lava flows.
Understanding the location of a volcanic eruption is arguably the most important factor in determining the hazards posed by the event. Pinpointing the locations of eruptive fissures, flow channels, and flow fronts can inform scientists about the directions that lava flows may go, and tracking their progression through time helps to constrain the timeframes over which potential future impacts might occur.
Webcams provide a rapid approximation of eruption location
Activity at Hawaii’s volcanoes can escalate from unrest to eruption in less than an hour, so HVO personnel are rarely in place to witness the onset firsthand. Instead, HVO’s extensive webcam network keeps 24/7 watch of the areas with greatest potential for eruption: the summits and rift zones of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Images from these webcams provide scientists with an approximate location of the outbreak.
Webcam views are available to the public at the links below:
Kīlauea Webcams
Mauna Loa Webcams
Field personnel collect map data for the most critical eruptive features
The first HVO personnel to reach an eruption site—either on the ground or from the air—are primarily tasked with collecting map data for the most critical eruptive features. In the past, radios were used to transmit the locations of eruptive fissures and lava flow fronts back to the HVO office and to emergency managers. New technology allows field personnel to collect this data in a smartphone app that automatically syncs to the cloud.
Aerial mapping captures the entirety of an eruption in greater detail
Most Hawaiian eruptions are too large for personnel to map completely in the field. Instead, HVO helicopter and UAS (drone) overflights capture optical and thermal images that can later be processed, respectively, into orthomosaics and thermal maps of the eruption area. From these products, accurate points, lines, and polygons can be digitized to depict eruption features. Satellite images augment the HVO-constructed products, especially during big events.
Map products are generated and disseminated
Points, lines, and polygons depicting eruption features such as flow fronts, fissures, and lava flow footprints have customarily been compiled into image file maps periodically posted to the HVO website, available at the links below.
Kīlauea Periodic Maps
Mauna Loa Periodic Maps
HVO now also offers an ArcGIS Online web map that is updated in near-real-time during eruptions. Data is added as the event progresses and as time allows for more detailed mapping techniques to be employed. The dynamic maps are avialable at the two links below.
USGS HVO Monitoring Map (includes dynamic eruption layers)
USGS Hawaii eruption map - preliminary (argis.com)
Related News
These "Volcano Watch" articles provide additional information about HVO lava flow mapping efforts.