Images

A helicopter overflight on November 9, 2021, at approximately 8:30 a.m. HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures.

A telephoto view of the western lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Around 10:00 a.m. on November 9, geologists in the field witnessed lava from the western part of the active lava lake (right) flowing onto an area of cooled solidified crust (left).

An aerial telephoto view of the western vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater on the morning of November 9. Spattering at the west vent occasionally reached above the level of the cone rim. The ponded lava within the cone was supplying lava to the lake from a tubed over spillway that is slightly elevated above the lava lake surface. USGS photo taken by B. Carr.

During a helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater on November 9, HVO geologists observed spattering within the west vent cone and lava entering the lake via a spillway that is now tubed-over. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rates remain elevated with the largest volcanic gas plume coming from the west vent. USGS photo by B. Carr.

A view of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake taken during a helicopter overflight on the morning of November 9, 2021. Lava is visible in the spillway and in the west vent on the far side of the lava lake (center). There are also several small perched overflows in the northwest quadrant of the lake (near center between the vent and main island). USGS photo by L. Gallant.

A telephoto view in the same area of the western lava lake surface within Halema‘uma‘u. Lava continued to flow from the active western lake surface (right) onto the lower area of cooled solidified crust just north of it (left).

On the morning of November 9, a wispy volcanic gas plume (lower left) was visible over Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. As the hot plume rose to meet the cool morning air, water vapor formed a cloud above the crater. USGS photo by J. Schmith.

A telephoto view of the west vent along the western wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. On November 9, spatter bursts in the west vent cone triggered sloshing on the surface of the ponded lava. Spatter was thrown about 6–9 m (20–30 ft) above the pond surface and occasionally deposited onto the rim of the cone.

A wide view of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u taken during a helicopter overflight on the morning of November 9, 2021. Lava is once again visible in the spillway of the west vent after a brief drop in activity on Monday, November 8.

A helicopter overflight on November 9, 2021, at approximately 8:30 a.m. HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures.

A telephoto view of the west vent along the western wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. On November 9, spatter bursts in the west vent cone triggered sloshing on the surface of the ponded lava. Spatter was thrown about 6–9 m (20–30 ft) above the pond surface and occasionally deposited onto the rim of the cone. USGS photo by J. Schmith.

This compilation of recent thermal maps shows the evolution of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures. 

Despite the temporary decrease in activity at Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, spattering was still visible within the west vent cone. This telephoto image was taken from the western rim of the crater during a lower level of eruptive activity on November 8, 2021. USGS photo by J.M. Chang.

The extent of the active lava lake surface (lower right) within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, had decreased substantially over the previous day and (at the time of this photo) was limited to the area around the west vent. This photo was taken at 5:48 p.m. HST on November 8, 2021, from the western rim of the crater. USGS photo by J.M. Chang.

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on November 4, 2021. One eruptive vent is active within Halema‘uma‘u at this time, along the western edge of the rising lava lake.

A photo of the west vent and active western portion of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea summit. The eastern side of the lava lake (out of view to the right), has a stagnant solidified crust on the surface. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on November 3, 2021.

A telephoto image of the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, taken from the northwest rim on November 3. Low roiling lava continues to erupt from the west vent, with occasional larger bursts of spatter. The spatter cone that has built up since the eruption began on September 29, contains ponded lava that supplies the lava lake through the tubed-over spillway.

A telephoto image of the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Ponded lava within the spatter cone supplies lava into the lava lake through the tubed-over spillway. The fast-moving lava stream is incandescent as it enters into the lava lake at the base of the cone.

The vent in the western wall of Halema‘uma‘u continues to erupt at the summit of Kīlauea. Volcanic gas emissions, primarily from the west vent (right), remain elevated. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rates were measured at around 3,600 tonnes per day on October 28, 2021. USGS photo taken on November 3, 2021, by L. DeSmither.

The extent of the active surface of the lava lake (orange) within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, is clearly delineated as the sun sets on November 2, 2021. Photo taken at 5:56 p.m. HST from the west rim. USGS photo by J.M. Chang.

A sequence of telephoto images of the west vent (spanning 4 seconds), within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea summit. The west vent continues to produce low-level lava fountains (seen here), which are forming an elevated pond of lava within the spatter cone.