Images

Map shows activity from Episode 56

Following several collapses and small explosive events that deposited spatter on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u crater around noon today, the lava surface in Halema‘uma‘u was roiling and agitated for the remainder of the afternoon, with numerous points of upwelling and spattering.

A close-up of the active lava surface in Halema‘uma‘u.

New fissure eruption SW of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and Nāpau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20 m into the air, above the trees.

Map showing the extent of the active flows of the Kamoamoa eruption, which started on March 5, 2011. Bright red shows the currently active flow, and light red shows an incomplete mapping of recent, but inactive, flows. Dark gray is the exposed area of flows erupted between 1983 and 1992, while light gray shows the extent of flows erupted from 1992 to 2007.

Map showing the location of the Halema‘uma‘u Overlook vent, and subsequent closures due to the eruption. The Overlook vent and volcano's summit are located within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

At 2:31pm today, another large chunk of the rim collapsed into the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake.

Just moments after the last photograph, the 2:31pm collapse produced a thick brown plume, but did not appear to trigger an explosive event in this case.

Lava spatters above the fissure just west of the base of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

Most of the day's activity was focused at this vent, around which a low cone was forming. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is visible in the background to the northeast.

Lava pours from the fissure just after daybreak and cascades out of sight into a deep crack. HVO geologist near upper right for perspective.

This fissure is erupting 1.5 km (0.9 mi) west of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater. You can view this eruption on the new Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō to Nāpau Crater webcam installed today!

Early morning view of the fissure eruption between Nāpau Crater and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. View is to the northwest. Fume from the eruptive vent in Halema‘uma‘u can be seen at upper right against the dark mass of Mauna Loa.

A portion of charred, lava covered forest along the east rift zone, from the initial fissure eruption that began yesterday evening (March 5).

A small fissure eruption between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater and Nāpau, extending 100 m long (330 ft) and spattering 20 m (66 ft) high.

Close-up of recently opened fissure segment. Spatter reaching about 5 m into the air.

Close-up of spattering fissure. Lava reaching 10 m into the air.

View toward the SW of fissure eruption. Fissure segment in forest has shut down. Compare to earlier photos before fissure opened up in tephra.

Aerial view of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and surrounding features.

A channelized flow was being erupted today from the vent on the west side of the floor of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

These tephra deposits are from the Kulanaokuaiki Tephra erupted from Kīlauea Volcano about 200 to 1000 C.E. The base of a lava flow overlying the tephra is just above the person's hand. This site is located near the base of Kīlauea's summit crater wall, directly below the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NPS Jaggar Museum.