Images

This graphic depicts the changes to Kīlauea Volcano's summit resulting from the eruption that began on December 20, 2020. Pre-eruption topography of Halema'uma'u crater, collected in 2019, is shown on the left and compared to the topography at the summit on December 26, 2020.

Sunrise at the summit of Kīlauea, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on the morning of December 28, 2020. Portions of Crater Rim Drive that down-dropped during Kīlauea's 2018 collapse events, are visible in the lower left. This area remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions. USGS photo by C. Parcheta. 

A helicopter overflight yesterday (Dec. 28, 2020) at approximately 10:30 AM HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the new eruption within Halema'uma'u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. This preliminary thermal map shows that the lake area has not changed significantly since the thermal map that was made on December 26.

HVO scientists use a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the lava lake surface at Kīlauea's summit.

HVO field crews observed the continuing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit early this morning. Overnight, the western vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u continued to erupt, and the northern/eastern vent remained inactive. At approximately 4:30 a.m. HST today (Dec. 28), HVO field crews measured the lava lake as 179 m (586 ft) deep.

The eruption with Halema‘uma‘u continues on the evening of December 28, 2020. This photo shows an HVO scientist making observations of Kīlauea's summit lava lake, with Mauna Loa in the background. HVO scientists have been monitoring the eruption from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.

This animated GIF is captured from a USGS video which shows both lava erupting from a fissure and a wind vortex (lavanado) over the lava lake at Kīlauea Volcano.

HVO field crews have been using a laser range finder to measure the vertical distance between points of known elevation and features of the ongoing eruption, such as the lava lake surface level and the erupting vents.

This map of Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (black) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl). The map shows that the lava lake (approximate outline marked in red) has filled 177 m (580 ft) of Halema‘uma‘u since the eruption began at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Kīlauea summit KW webam image taken on December 27, 2020, just after 6:30 a.m. HST. The eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu continues and this photo shows that activity remains focused at the west vent as of Dec. 27 morning.

HVO field crews were unable to observe early morning eruption activity in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit due to high winds. Upon return to the eruption site this morning, HVO field crews noted the reduced vigor at the western vent. The northern/eastern vent remains inactive. At approximately 7:30 a.m. HST today (Dec.

The western vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater wall at Kīlauea summit remains active but field crews monitoring the eruption this morning (December 27) noted that its vigor is somewhat reduced from yesterday. Where three open channels were observed yesterday, there are only two today.

Animated GIF of lava erupting from a fissure at Kīlauea Volcano at night time on December 27, 2020. 

Animated GIF of lava erupting from a fissure at Kīlauea Volcano at night time on December 27, 2020. 

A helicopter overflight yesterday (Dec. 26, 2020) at approximately 9:30 AM HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the new eruption within Halema'uma'u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. This preliminary thermal map shows that the new lava lake is 790 m (864 yd) E-W axis and 520 m (569 yd) in N-S axis.

The eruption continues in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit. HVO field crews observing the activity overnight noted that at approximately 2:40 a.m. HST December 26, 2020, activity at west vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u rejuvenated: the west vent has became more active than the northern vent.

As of about 2:40 a.m. HST on December 26, 2020, activity at the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater wall at Kīlauea's summit has increased. This photo, taken at approximately 5:15 a.m. HST shows fountaining at the west vent, and lava pouring from the north end of the fissure into the growing lava lake.

Continuous Laser Rangefinder gauge on crater rim measuring Halema’uma’u lava lake, Kīlauea summit, 12/26/2020.  Exploded drawing of instrument optical enclosure upper right.  USGS photo and drawing by F. Younger. 

Lava lake level measurements collected during a field visit of Kīlauea Volcano's summit around 2:15 p.m. HST on December 25, 2020, were used to create a preliminary lava lake depth map. When compared to pre-eruption topographic models, it shows that the bottom of Halema'uma'u crater has been filled by almost 176 m (578 ft) of lava. Map by H.

An early December 25, 2020, morning view of the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit. Overnight fountaining continued to feed the rising lava lake, which slowly fills Halema‘uma‘u. This photo, taken at approximately 2:30 a.m.

On the evening of December 25, 2020, the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit continued. Throughout the day, fountaining at two vents continued to feed the rising lava lake which slowly fills Halema‘uma‘u. This photo, taken at approximately 6 p.m.