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Aerial of lava fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Fissure 22
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Fissure 22
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Fissure 22

Aerial view of erupting fissure 22 and lava channels flowing southward from the fissure during an early morning overflight. View is toward the southwest.

Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Kīlauea Summit Activity
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Kīlauea Summit Activity
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Kīlauea Summit Activity

This video was filmed on May 21, 2018, with a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Limited UAV flights above the hazardous Kīlauea summit area, which is currently too dangerous for geologists to enter for ground observations, are conducted with permission from the National Park Service.

This video was filmed on May 21, 2018, with a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Limited UAV flights above the hazardous Kīlauea summit area, which is currently too dangerous for geologists to enter for ground observations, are conducted with permission from the National Park Service.

Aerial of lava fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Fountain (Fissure 22)
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Fountain (Fissure 22)
Laze plume from ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze

Lava continues to enter the sea at two locations this morning. During this morning's overflight, the wind was blowing the "laze" plumes along the shoreline toward the southwest.

Lava continues to enter the sea at two locations this morning. During this morning's overflight, the wind was blowing the "laze" plumes along the shoreline toward the southwest.

plume rising from ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry

By the end of the afternoon, only a single ocean entry was active. The lava channel originates from fissure 22. This photo was taken during a late afternoon overflight of the lower East Rift Zone, Kīlauea Volcano.

By the end of the afternoon, only a single ocean entry was active. The lava channel originates from fissure 22. This photo was taken during a late afternoon overflight of the lower East Rift Zone, Kīlauea Volcano.

Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Fissure 20 Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Fissure 20 Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Fissure 20 Complex

Fissure fountains feed lava flows, as shown in this overflight video of the Fissure 20 complex on May 21, 2018, around 7:20 AM, HST.

Photo of the stern of a ship at a dock with people standing together, and a bridge is in the far distance.
Ready for data collection
Ready for data collection
Ready for data collection

USGS scientists aboard R/V Bold Horizon at the dock in San Diego, CA, preparing for a sampling and data collection research cruise offshore of Oceanside.

USGS scientists aboard R/V Bold Horizon at the dock in San Diego, CA, preparing for a sampling and data collection research cruise offshore of Oceanside.

Bald eagle sits atop a leafless tree, overlooking a marshy inlet with farmland in the distance.
Bald Eagle in Washington
Bald Eagle in Washington
Bald Eagle in Washington

I spy with my little (eagle-) eye . . .

After a successful beach survey and installation of remote-sensing cameras on a nearby island, scientists Shawn Harrison and Andrew Stevens spotted this bald eagle near the mouth of the Skagit River, Washington.

I spy with my little (eagle-) eye . . .

After a successful beach survey and installation of remote-sensing cameras on a nearby island, scientists Shawn Harrison and Andrew Stevens spotted this bald eagle near the mouth of the Skagit River, Washington.

Color photograph of Earth
GOES-17 image of Earth
GOES-17 image of Earth
GOES-17 image of Earth

One of the first images collected by GOES-17 upon its arrival in orbit, before shifting to its permanent position at 137° west longitude. Image from May 20, 2018. Courtesy NOAA-NASA.

One of the first images collected by GOES-17 upon its arrival in orbit, before shifting to its permanent position at 137° west longitude. Image from May 20, 2018. Courtesy NOAA-NASA.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 20 at 11:00 a....
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 20 at 11:00 a.m
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 20 at 11:00 a.m
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 20 at 11:00 a.m

Map as of 11:00 am HST, May 20. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. Site of active ocean entry is shown with dots.

Lava entering ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean

Lava from the Fissure 20 complex is entering the ocean in two locations, separated by an area tens of yards wide. At the time of this early morning photo, lava flowing into the ocean entry on the eastern (left-most) lobe was diminishing while lava flowing into the ocean on the western (right-most) lobe was vigorous.

Lava from the Fissure 20 complex is entering the ocean in two locations, separated by an area tens of yards wide. At the time of this early morning photo, lava flowing into the ocean entry on the eastern (left-most) lobe was diminishing while lava flowing into the ocean on the western (right-most) lobe was vigorous.

Lava entering ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean

Lava flows from the Fissure 20 complex move downslope and enter the ocean. Lava can be seen in the middle of the channel. A laze plume hides the point of ocean entry.

Lava flows from the Fissure 20 complex move downslope and enter the ocean. Lava can be seen in the middle of the channel. A laze plume hides the point of ocean entry.

Aerial view of lava entering a crack in the ground
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava from Fissure 20 Enters a Crack
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava from Fissure 20 Enters a Crack
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava from Fissure 20 Enters a Crack

Lava from the eastern channel of the Fissure 20 complex flows into a crack in the ground. The crack opened in the early morning hours of May 20, 2018. Prior to opening, lavawas flowing vigorously down a channel. After the crack formed, the lava began pouring into the ground.

Lava from the eastern channel of the Fissure 20 complex flows into a crack in the ground. The crack opened in the early morning hours of May 20, 2018. Prior to opening, lavawas flowing vigorously down a channel. After the crack formed, the lava began pouring into the ground.

Lava flowing into a crack
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava from Fissure 20 Enters a Crack
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava from Fissure 20 Enters a Crack
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava from Fissure 20 Enters a Crack

Lava from the eastern channel of the Fissure 20 complex is flowing into a crack in the ground that opened on the morning of May 20, 2018. The crack is "robbing" the easternmost channel of lava and the eastern ocean entry is therefore less vigorous than the western entry point.

Lava from the eastern channel of the Fissure 20 complex is flowing into a crack in the ground that opened on the morning of May 20, 2018. The crack is "robbing" the easternmost channel of lava and the eastern ocean entry is therefore less vigorous than the western entry point.

Laze plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze Plume

Lava from the Fissure 20 complex enters the ocean generating a white laze plume. Helicopter overflight on May 20, 2018, at 6:45 AM HST.

Lava from the Fissure 20 complex enters the ocean generating a white laze plume. Helicopter overflight on May 20, 2018, at 6:45 AM HST.

Laze from the ocean entry of lava
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Laze Plume

Lava from the fissure complex erupting in Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone entered the ocean in late evening on May 19, 2018. The active ocean entry is producing a white "laze" plume. Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean, forming a plume of hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles.

Lava from the fissure complex erupting in Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone entered the ocean in late evening on May 19, 2018. The active ocean entry is producing a white "laze" plume. Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean, forming a plume of hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles.

Aerial view of lava entering ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Ocean Entry

The helicopter hovers above the ocean entry on May 20, 2018, around 6:45 AM HST. Several braided lava channels (red) are visible on the right. The white plume is "laze," which forms when hot lava hits the ocean sending hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles into the air.

The helicopter hovers above the ocean entry on May 20, 2018, around 6:45 AM HST. Several braided lava channels (red) are visible on the right. The white plume is "laze," which forms when hot lava hits the ocean sending hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles into the air.

Laze plume rising in the distance
Kīlauea Volcano — Plume Rising
Kīlauea Volcano — Plume Rising
Kīlauea Volcano — Plume Rising

A plume rises from the site of the lava ocean entry, viewed on approach by HVO scientists during an overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on May 20, 2018, around 6:45 AM HST.

A plume rises from the site of the lava ocean entry, viewed on approach by HVO scientists during an overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on May 20, 2018, around 6:45 AM HST.

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