Images

Flows are still advancing slowly on the coastal plain, and were 1.3 km (0.8 miles) from the ocean today. Although overall flow field advancement was sluggish, one small area had a brief surge of activity during today's field mapping. A portion of an inflated flow margin gave way due to increasing fluid pressure from within, sending out an impressive gush of lava.

At the front of the surge, the thin surface crust rolls up as it advances, creating a ropey pāhoehoe texture.

From the top of the inflated flow margin, the source of the surge can be seen.

Flows were spread across a broad expanse on the coastal plain today, and continue to slowly advance towards the ocean, but have made only minor progress over the past week. This image combines a thermal image with a normal photograph, with the bright yellow areas showing active breakouts and red/purple areas showing warm, but inactive, flow areas.

An HVO geologist, wearing a balaclava and thick gloves to guard against the extreme heat, uses a rock hammer to take a sample of an active pāhoehoe toe. He immediately drops the fluid lava in a bucket of water to quench the sample and prevent further crystal growth, preserving the sample in a pristine state.

Preview image for video: A small lava pond, set within a collapse pit, has been active in the eastern portion of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater for the past several weeks. At the east margin of the lava pond, lava sinks back into the system, with frequent spatter bursts sourced from this downwelling spot.

Lava continued to slowly advance across the coastal plain today, and was still about 1.4 km (0.9 miles) from the ocean. This photo shows a good example of "blue glassy" pāhoehoe on the coastal plain.

Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kīlauea's ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active.

Lava, driven by fluid pressure within the flow interior, breaks out from the top of a tumulus on the coastal plain.

San Francisco Peaks in the San Francisco Volcanic Field are located outside of Flagstaff Arizona. Hazards from future eruptions would have local impacts.

Examining a fresh sample of Pele's hair from the lava lake within the Halema‘uma‘u Overlook vent.

Flows continued to be active over a broad area on the coastal plain today. This composite image combines a normal photograph and a thermal image to show the areas of active breakouts. Yellow areas are active flows while red areas are inactive, but still warm, flows. The flow front in the lower right was 1.6 km (1 mile) from the ocean today.

One of the last remaining portions of Royal Gardens subdivision, showing the overgrown remnants of Prince Avenue and Orchid Street. Flows were active on the east (right) side of this kipuka about one month ago, and flows were active today at the northern tip (upper left).

An HVO geologist returns from checking on spatter collection trays on the rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. In the upper right, the active lava pond in the crater is tossing a small amount of spatter into the air. The photo above this one shows a bird's-eye view of the lava pond and this area.

Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kīlauea's ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active.

View, looking northwest, of the active flows (lighter colored areas) on the coastal plain and in Royal Gardens subdivision. The lava tube supplying lava through Royal Gardens can be identified by the line of fume sources on the pali.

Looking downslope, numerous fume sources provide a clear trace of the path of the lava tube supplying lava to breakouts on the coastal plain.

View of the eastern portion of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. A collapse pit has hosted an active, roiling and spattering lava pond for the past several weeks. In the lower left, two small spatter collection trays can be seen on the crater rim.

About one month ago, lava spilled westward through this roadcut along Paradise Street in Royal Gardens subdivision, hitting a long-abandoned vehicle and just touching the margin of flows from an earlier episode of the current eruption (lower right).

The western branch of the coastal plain flow field is inflated and more active than the eastern branch. Here, a breakout from a tumulus feeds a ropey pahoehoe flow. The fume in the background on the pali marks the lava flow activity that is feeding the coastal breakouts.

Close up of pahoehoe ropes from the tumulus breakout.