Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea – January 28, 2022

By Kīlauea January 28, 2022

An eruption at Kīlauea's summit began at approximately 3:20 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021. Lava activity is currently confined within Halema‘uma‘u crater, in the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

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.

January 28, 2022 — Kīlauea summit eruption

Color photograph of lava lake at base of crater — A view of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, at Kīlauea summit, from the western crater rim. Lava within the main western lava lake (lower center) drained overnight, and now all active surface lava is confined to the small lava pond north (left) of the west vent. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on January 28, 2022.

Color photograph of volcanic vent and lava pond — A telephoto view of the west vent and lava pond within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. On January 28, HVO field crews only observed active lava within the small lava pond to the north (upper left) of the west vent (lower right). A diffuse volcanic gas plume was being emitted from the west vent. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither from the western rim of the crater.

Color photograph of cone on lava lake surface — A telephoto view of the northeastern edge of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Two steep-sided spatter cones (near center) have been making audible gas-jetting sounds which have been noted by field crews over the past few days. These gas-jetting sounds have also been audible from the Uēkahuna bluff area within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on January 28, 2022.

January 27, 2022 — Kīlauea summit eruption observations

Color photograph of lava lake — On January 27, HVO scientists surveyed parts of the downdropped block in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, north of Halema‘uma‘u crater, for an area to deploy a new continuous gravity instrument funded through the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157) to support recovery and rebuilding activities in the wake of Kīlauea’s 2018 events. As the scientists were on the ground, they noted gas-jetting sounds being emitted by a small and steep spatter cone that has developed on the inactive lava lake surface in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u. The spatter cone is visible near the center of this photo, which was taken from the north rim of Halema‘uma‘u and looks to the southeast. USGS photo by I. Johanson.

Color photograph of small cones — This telephoto view, taken from the northeast rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater and looking to the southwest, shows newly developed spatter cones on the surface of the inactive lava lake in the eastern portion of the crater. These features are similar in appearance to hornitos, which are steep and conical structures that form over lava tubes. Like hornitos, these features appear to have formed by accumulation of lava that is ejected from the crust. The presence of these features in the inactive eastern portion of the lava lake at the summit of Kīlauea demonstrates that molten material is present under the solidified surface. USGS photo by A. Flinders.

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