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Kīlauea's summit eruption continues on the Island of Hawai‘i; the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u erupts lava into the lava lake. Gas emissions and seismic activity at the summit remain elevated. HVO field crews—equipped with specialized safety gear and PPE—monitor the current eruption from within the closed area of Hawai&lsq
HVO scientists collect detailed data to assess hazards and understand how the eruption is evolving at Kīlauea's summit, all of which are shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Eruptive activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The active surface lava remains largely confined to the western (left) portion of the lava lake. As of the afternoon of January 31 lava had filled about 212 m (695 ft) of Halemaʻumaʻu in the active western portion of the lava lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A close-up view of the western fissure, which is supplying lava to the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater. A slow-moving lava stream marked the inlet where lava entered the lake. Several incandescent openings remain over the vent region. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A view of the central region of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u. On the left is the main island. In the center, a lobe of surface lava is moving south (towards the bottom of the photo) as surface crust founders along its leading edge. Just below the center point of the photo a terracing can be seen marking the front of previous advancing, overlapping lobes in this area. On the right side of the photo, the inactive eastern portion of the lake begins, with a more dull surface color. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A close-up view of the leading edge of the active lobe of surface lava slowly moving south in the central part of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A close-up view of the main island near the center of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u. All the islands have been stationary since approximately January 10. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists collect tephra from the December 2020 deposit, found in the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano on January 29, 2021. The sample collection and mapping of the deposit helps scientists to better understand the dispersal and extent of the tephra from this eruption. This area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remains closed to the public for safety reasons. Sample collection and access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo taken by D. Downs.
View of the active west vent from the south rim of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater on January 29, 2021. The west vent is almost completely crusted over and the effusion is slow from the base of the spatter cone. This photograph was taken from an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. USGS photo taken by D. Downs.
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