Images

Another view of the ocean entry points and discolored water at Kupapa‘u. The thermal camera today showed that water surface temperatures were up 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) a short distance out from the entry points. Just beyond the ocean entry, the light colored areas represent active breakouts. On the pali, fume marks the path of the lava tube.

View looking northeast towards Kalapana from the ocean entry. The small white dots in the distance are houses in Kalapana Gardens subdivision.

A closer look at the start of the lava tube on the Kahauale‘a flow, near the rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. See photo above for aerial view. Unfortunately a direct view of the lava stream was not available here.

The Kahauale‘a flow remains active, with the flow front today about 4.9 km (3 miles) northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The flow is still on earlier Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō flows, but has been slowly approaching the edge of the forest.

Numerous ocean entry points were active today at Kupapa‘u, with a plume of discolored water drifting west.

View looking northeast towards Kalapana from the ocean entry. The small white dots in the distance are houses in Kalapana Gardens subdivision.

Pele's hair covers much of the ground in the area immediately downwind of the vent at Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Accumulations about a meter (yard) wide are found on the windward sides of the curbs in the Halema‘uma‘u parking lot, which is closed to the public because of the ongoing volcanic hazard (May 3, 2012).

Scientists performing monitoring duties in the Alaska Volcano Observatory operations room.

A model of the magma reservoir 1.5 km (1 mi) below Halema‘uma‘u Crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano.

The Kahauale‘a flow, at the center of the photo, has reached 4.4 km (2.7 miles) northeast from its source in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, which is in the background.

The Kahauale‘a flow has been outlined in this image for comparison with the previous photo.

The Kahauale‘a flow has been outlined in this image for comparison with the previous photo.

Kahauale‘a Cone, shown here, has long been a small oasis in the midst of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava. New lava from the active Kahauale‘a flow has now surrounded the cone, which has also partly burned. Vent structures the episode 58, active from 2007 to 2011, are in the background just behind Kahauale‘a. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is out of sight to the right.

The Kahauale‘a flow, at the center of the photo, has reached 4.4 km (2.7 miles) northeast from its source in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, which is in the background.

The Kahauale‘a flow has been outlined in this image for comparison with the previous photo.

The Kahauale‘a flow, at the center of the photo, has reached 4.4 km (2.7 miles) northeast from its source in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, which is in the background.

Spattering is common in the area where lava sinks back into the system, and this photo shows these processes are occurring in a small grotto. In the right portion of the photo, the ledge occupying much of the south part of the Overlook crater is visible.

South winds permitted clear views into the south portion of the Overlook crater, which is often obscured by thick fume. The bright orange area is the location where lava at the surface of the lake sinks back into the system, with spattering and degassing common in this area.

Spattering is common in the area where lava sinks back into the system, and this photo shows these processes are occurring in a small grotto. In the right portion of the photo, the ledge occupying much of the south part of the Overlook crater is visible.

A closer look at the flow extending northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone is at the right edge of the photo, and view is towards the northeast. In the foreground, two sources of fume mark the path of the lava tube supplying lava to the flow front. In the top-left, a few sources of smoke mark where the flow margin is burning moss and lichen on older flows.

South winds permitted clear views into the south portion of the Overlook crater, which is often obscured by thick fume. The bright orange area is the location where lava at the surface of the lake sinks back into the system, with spattering and degassing common in this area.