Images

Solidified lava from Fissure 17 (located to the east of the currently active fissure complex) has a consistency similar to toothpaste.

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

Lava fountain at fissure 22, 9:03 a.m. HST, from the north side the fissure complex. Geologists report this morning the lava fountain as high as about 50 m (164 ft).

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.

Map as of 8:00 am HST, May 21. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

This animated GIF shows a sequence of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The series shows changes to the caldera area of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred over May 5 at 6:12 a.m. HST, May 17 at 6:12 a.m. HST, and May 21 at 6:12 a.m. HST.

This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 12:15 pm on Monday, May 21. The primary lava flows originate from the Fissure 20-22 area. The dominant ocean entry is marked. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map.

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.

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.

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

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's Lower East Rift Zone shows fountaining at Fissure 22.

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.

View of ocean entry point from helicopter overflight on May 20, 2018, at 6:45 AM HST.

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.

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, lava was 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 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 (see photos above).

Ocean entry photograph from Civil Air Patrol (CAP) overflight taken at about 12:50PM. CAP operates to support the mission of both the USGS HVO and the Hawaii County Civil Defense. Hard to discern here, but there are two entries. The coastal area spanning the entry is about 1 km (0.6 mi) wide with an about 250 m (0.15 mi) Kīpuka separating the two.

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.

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.

View of ocean entry point from helicopter overflight on May 20, 2018, at 6:45 AM HST. 

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.