Images

A close-up of the flow front in the forest.

On the west end of the fissure system, spatter ramparts are forming as the lava fallout solidifies in a mound upwind from the source.

A broad view of the Kamoamoa fissures. The fissures extend 2.3 km (1.4 mi) between Nāpau Crater and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The western most fissure is just out of view in this photo.

The east rift zone eruption is currently in a hiatus. The east and west Kamoamoa fissures are still fuming, but no lava is erupting. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is the fuming cone in the background.

Fume from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō has diminished enough to see a portion of the rubble-filled crater floor.

Gobs of spatter solidified in the remaining trees. The spatter was erupted from the first fissure to open on March 5.

Overview of the Kamoamoa eruption looking south. The northeastern vent is to the left, and the southwestern vent is to the upper right. A river of lava, erupting from the southwestern vent, can be seen advancing toward the southeast through forest within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

A view of the spattering source from the ground.

Measuring the thickness of an ‘A‘ā flow produced by the Kamoamoa fissure eruption. The measuring stick is 2 m (6.5 ft) tall.

A massive earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, struck the northeast coast of Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011. The USGS calculated the magnitude of the earthquake as a 9.0, the fourth largest ever recorded. The tsunami that followed was over 10 meters high in places.

Map showing the extent of the active flows. Reddish-brown is the flow as mapped on February 4, 2011, while bright red shows the advancement of the flow from January 13-February 4. Small ocean entries remains active at the front of both the western and eastern branches of the flow.

This fissure began in the early hours of March 6, erupting spatter and producing lava flows.

Spatter reaching up to 30 m (100 ft) from a fissure that opened this morning.

View looking along recently opened fissure segment crossing tephra flats SW of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, which is in the background.

Map showing the extent of the "July 2007 eruption", or Episode 58, flow field relative to surrounding communities. Reddish-brown is the active flow as mapped on January 13, 2011, while bright red shows the advancement of the flow from January 13-February 4. Light red represents older flows erupted during Episode 58 of the ongoing East Rift Zone eruption.

Increased activity on one of the new fissures between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater and Nāpau.

Ash cloud rising from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō as crater floor collapses due to magma withdrawal. Incandescent rubble can be seen crumbling and rolling down the scarp. The east rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is in the foreground.

View to the SW at the new fissure eruption between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and Nāpau. Cracks in the foreground could be seen opening as photo was being taken.

Close-up of just-opened fissure segment at NE tip of propagating fissure. Spatter reaching 5 m into the air.

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. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō in the background.

A close-up of the fissure just west of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater. Spatter was reaching heights of 40 m (130 ft).