Images

This image, taken midday during a helicopter overflight of Mauna Loa's eruption on December 5, 2022, shows a lava flow branching after it cuts across the Mauna Loa Access Road. The large blocks in channel are called lava boats. These are termed lava balls or lava boats and form when portions of the fissure 3 cone or levees break away and are rafted down stream.

A helicopter overflight on December 5, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. This map only shows activity from Fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone, which is feeding a lava flow to the north.

Aerial view of fissure 3 eruption lava channel on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 4, 2022. Fissure 3 has produced several lava channels that are winding their way down the northeast slope of Mauna Loa, coalescing into a single flow front.  As of 7 a.m. today, December 4, the flow front was about 2.3 mi (3.6 km) from the Daniel K.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has deployed a number of webcams to aid in monitoring the ongoing eruption of Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption. This image shows two webcams, which are monitoring the fissure 3 lava channel. USGS image by H. Dietterich. 

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientists are monitoring the eruption of fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. In the field, scientists relay geospatial information on the lava flow front location, document fissure 3 lava fountain and lava channel dynamics, and deploy new instrumentation to help monitor the eruption remotely. USGS image by L.

View of fissure 3 erupting high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 4, 2022. The eruption is generating a volcanic gas plume and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates of approximately 180,000 tonnes per day (t/d) were measured on December 1, 2022.

The ongoing Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa, as viewed from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) shortly after 6 a.m. HST on December 4, 2022. The eruption continues, with a flow front that is slowly advancing towards the highway. USGS image by N. Deligne. 

Aerial view of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 4, 2022. USGS image by L. DeSmither. 

Aerial view of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 4, 2022. Lava fountaining at the vent has been approximately 100 feet (33 m) tall over the past day, depositing fragments of volcanic material in the area near the vent.  USGS image by L. DeSmither. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its seventh full day. One active fissure, fissure 3, is feeding a lava flow downslope to the north.

A view of the northern side of fissure 3 taken during an early morning overflight. Fissure 3 is located on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone and is feeding a lava flow that is 10.34 miles (16.70 km) long. The spatter erupted has built the cone to a height of 95 feet (29 meters). USGS image by L. Gallant. 

A view of Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone fissure 3 taken from the southwest by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews on the morning of December 4, 2022. Sustained fountain heights of 141 feet (43 meters) with bursts reaching over 232 feet in height (71 meters) were measured. The flanks of Mauna Kea can be seen on the left side of the photograph.

This telephoto image of spatter being thrown from the fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa was taken on the morning of December 4, 2022. Sustained fountain heights of 141 feet (43 meters) with bursts reaching over 232 feet in height (71 meters) were measured. USGS image by L. Gallant. 

Telephoto image of spatter being thrown from the fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone during the morning of December 4, 2022. Sustained fountain heights of 141 feet (43 meters) with bursts reaching over 232 feet in height (71 meters) were measured. USGS image by L. Gallant.

Aerial photograph of the fissure 3 lava flow front. Fissure 3 is erupting at an elevation of about 11,500 ft (3510 m) above sea level on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. As of 12 p.m. December 4 the flow front had advanced about 10 miles (16 km) downslope and was about 2.25 mi (3.6 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). USGS photo by L.

Aerial image of the fissure 3 lava channel where it is braided, high on the Northeast flank of Mauna Loa. In this section of the channel, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observed several areas where lava overflowed from the channel, in one case due to a channel blockage downslope.

Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, at an elevation of approximately 11,500 feet (3,510 m) above sea level. On December 4, 2022, the new cone around fissure 3 was measured at 92-95 feet (28-29 m) tall. USGS image.  

Aerial view of the fissure 3 lava channel, erupting from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone on December 4, 2022. Channel velocities here, closer to the vent where the channels are narrow, were measured at 26-36 feet per second (8.2-11 meters per second) on December 5, 2022.

View of the Fissure 3 erupting high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of December 3, 2022. The eruption is generating a volcanic gas plume that is lofting high and vertically into the atmosphere before being blown to the west at high altitude, generating vog in areas downwind.

This map shows areas of surface change as determined through a comparison of satellite radar images acquired on November 16, 2022 and December 2 at 6:13 a.m. HST.

An HVO scientist installs a webcamera to monitor the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. The livestream is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnjGqn1K9ZQ. USGS image by M. Patrick.