Images

An HVO geologist samples lava from an active lava tube. These samples are analyzed routinely to track changes in lava chemistry.

The dramatic change in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō landscape from 1992 (top) to 2005 (bottom). Both photos are taken from the same location, looking toward the east.

This photo shows the view with the naked eye during the high lava stand shown in the thermal video from today. When the lava is at a high stand like this, the plume becomes very thin and a rare view of the lava pond is possible. Typically, the fume is too thick to view the lava surface with the naked eye, and we rely on thermal cameras to image the lava.

This photo shows the view into Overlook vent during a relatively high level of the lava lake in 2010. When the lava was at a high stand like this, the plume became very thin and a view of the lava lake was possible.

As evident by the small plume at the ocean entry, the amount of lava traveling through the tubes from the vent to the ocean has diminished. The most active area of the flow field is above the pali where the new rootless shield is forming.

This composite image overlays a thermal image on a normal photograph, and shows the flow field in the vicinity of the County viewing area, at the end of the Kalapana access road. Recent flows, from the past few weeks, show up as light red, whereas the currently active breakouts are yellow and white.

A closer view of the County viewing area, looking northeast. Again, the thermal image is shown together with a normal photograph. Recently emplaced flows, from the past several weeks, are light red (center of image). The currently active breakouts, just 250 yards northwest of the road, show up as white and yellow.

An aerial photograph looking west along the coastline of the current flow field. The Ki entry continues to produce a small plume, which is distributed along the newly formed delta. The color change in the ocean near the entry is due to the wave erosion of material from the delta and the lava itself.

Since reaching the water a few weeks ago, the Ki ocean entry has formed a small delta, seen here, with a surface area of about 7 acres. A small steam plume rises above the entry, indicating that relatively little lava is making it into the ocean.

Fumes marks the trace of the tube system within the new Quarry flow. The Ki ocean entry, where the lava flowing through the tube system spills into the ocean, is at upper left. The shiny surfaces in the foreground at the center of the image are active lava flows.

Steep view of the Overlook vent from over the south rim of Halema`uma`u. The closed and partly destroyed visitor overlook is visible at the bottom of the image.

View of HALEMAUMUA Crater during typical tradewind conditions, which blows the gas plume to the southeast. For scale, the Halema‘uma‘u Crater is about 1 km (0.6 mi) across (left to right); the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater is about 80 m (260 ft) m below the crater rim.

The western side of the delta was the most active, with several small streams of lava pouring off the front of the delta into the water.

Looking south across Halema`uma`u Crater at the gas plume rising from the Overlook vent.

Seismologists demonstrates how an earthquake's S and P waves travel through the earth at a CVO public open house.

A closer view of the recent flows working their way down the road and through the trees. The viewing area has been moved back once again due to its proximity to the lava flows and potential fire hazards.

View of the current TEB flow field. The ocean entry continues, producing a weak plume scattered along the coastline. The lighter gray colored lava is the recent flow that has entered the vegetation and reached the pavement at the end of Highway 130. Plumes from the TEB shield and Pu`u `Ō `ō crater are on the horizon.

Sometime in the last week, a 2-3 m (yard) skylight opened over the recently formed lava tube that is currently feeding the ocean entry. The terrace on the edge of the lava stream hosts smooth ripple-like features that form during lava level fluctuations, when lava rises up and spills over onto the ledge. Flow direction is from right to left.

Fume from Pu`u `Ō `ō crater was relatively light today, allowing for nice views into the crater. The Halema`uma`u plume is in the background just below the clouds.

Upslope from the west end near the Kalapana access road, scattered breakouts continued to be active.

Breakouts continued to be active on the east margin of the flow field, and hit the pavement of the Kalapana access road today creating thick black smoke from the burning asphalt.