Images

Schematic cross section showing examples of chemical, mechanical, and thermal geologic energy storage methods in potential underground settings in a sedimentary basin. This illustration is a higher resolution version of figure 2 of USGS Fact Sheet 2022-3084.

An animated GIF of a manatee looking at the camera and rubbing its belly at the same time. 

December 1, 2022 - A view of the eruption plume from fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. Geologist for scale on the left. USGS image by J. Schmith.

View 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.

December 1, 2022 - USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists deploy buckets downwind of the erupting fissures to collect samples. These samples will be analyzed to learn about lava being erupted by Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone.

Joe Adams (NUSO) positions a UAS over a calibration panel to capture an image with the attached MicaSense Dual multispectral sensor. This calibration image will be used to post-process the imagery in support of radiometric calibration research conducted at the Denver Federal Center in Colorado. 

View of fissure 3 erupting on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. View is from approximately 500 meters downrift.

This image, taken during an early morning overflight on 30 November 2022, shows Fissure 3, the dominant source of activity. As of 7 a.m. HST, the lava fountains are 20-25 meters in height (65-82 feet) and feed a lava flow moving to the northeast at ~130 meters per hour (0.08 miles per hour).

Photograph of a high-definition video camera filming fissure 3. Field crews are out today monitoring the eruption of Mauna Loa. Mauna Kea is in the distance behind the fountaining fissure. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.

As a visual observer, Joe Adams (NUSO) checks the sky and surrounding area for hazards while remote pilot Matt Burgess (NUSO) lands the UAS on an orange drone helipad.

Matthew Burgess and Victoria Scholl (USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office) prepare the Headwall Nano-Hyperspec sensor to fly on an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado.

Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road.

A field crew was out documenting the location of the front of the flow closest to Saddle Road on Nov. 30, 2022, between 3:00 and 4:00 pm HST. This photo shows the front of the aʻa flow, with a helicopter for scale.

Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its third full day. At this time two fissures are active, sending lava flows primarily to the north-northeast.

Aerial image of fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 3 remains the dominant source of the largest lava flow being generated during the eruption. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Aerial image of fissure 4 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 4 is less active than fissure 3, but is generating lava flows moving toward the northeast and a small lobe moving to the east. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Aerial image of the distal end of a lava flow from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of November 30, 2022. As of 12:30 HST p.m. on November 30, the flow front remained about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

A helicopter overflight on November 30, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. Two active fissures on the Northeast Rift Zone are feeding lava flows to the north, northeast, and southeast.

Group photo with USGS employees from the USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) and the USGS EROS CalVal Center of Excellence (ECCOE) standing in a parking lot with clear skies overhead.

Fissure 3 of the Northeast Rift Zone Mauna Loa eruption with a plume of volcanic gases and fine volcanic ash and Pele's hair being wafted in a near vertical plume. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.