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A lava boat traverses down the fissure 3 lava channel during the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa on December 7, 2022. Lava boats or lava balls form when portions of the fissure cone or lava channel levees break away and are rafted down the lava stream.

Video of the fissure 3 lava channel near the vent, high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Near the vent, the lava flow velocity has been measured at 32-39 feet per second (10-12 meters per second) within the lava channel. USGS video by M. Patrick. 

An overflight the morning of December 7, 2022, provided this aerial view of fissure 3 erupting at an elevation of 10,500 feet (meters) above sea level on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The fissure is feeding a lava channel; near the vent, the lava flow speed has been measured at 32-39 feet per second (10-12 meters per second). USGS video by M.

A close up view of the fissure 3 lava channel erupting from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone, as seen by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews on the morning of December 5, 2022. The large bumps are standing waves in the lava.

Aerial view of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 4, 2022.

View of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 4, 2022. Lava fountaining at the vent was approximately 100 feet (33 m) tall yesterday; fragments of lava are deposited in the area near the vent construct the cone visible in this video. USGS video by F. Trusdell. 

Video of lava fountaining at fissure 3, on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa.

Video of the lava channel issuing from fissure 3, on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. 

Video of a fissure 3 erupting at a high elevation on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Consistent lava fountains at fissure 3 has built up a spatter rampart around the fissure. USGS video by M. Patrick.

Two decades of drought are contributing to low water levels in reservoirs along the Colorado River, including Lake Powell.

Lake Powell’s highest recorded water level was in 1983. In this 1984 Landsat 5 image, the lake’s elevation was 3,702 feet above sea level.

Footage of a channelized section of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa, captured the morning of December 1, 2022.

Aerial footage of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa captured the morning of December 1, 2022.

Aerial footage of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa captured the morning of December 1, 2022.

Footage of a geologist taking a sample of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa the morning of December 1, 2022.

Aerial footage of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa captured the morning of December 1, 2022.

Aerial footage of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa captured the morning of December 1, 2022.

Video of fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting during the morning of December 1, 2022. Fissure 3 continues to be the dominant of two erupting fissures on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone.