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Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea – July 28, 2021

By Kīlauea July 30, 2021

Kīlauea's summit is no longer erupting; lava supply to the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake has ceased and sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased to near pre-eruption background levels. HVO field crews—equipped with specialized safety gear—monitor for new changes from within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park with NPS permission.

HVO scientists collect detailed data to assess hazards and understand evolving processes 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.

July 28, 2021 — Kīlauea

Kīlauea caldera gas mapping

Color photograph of scientist calibrating instrument
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A USGS scientist calibrates two MultiGas instruments to prepare for mapping volcanic gasses on the floor of Kīlauea caldera. With the MultiGas strapped to metal backpack frames, the scientists traverse across the caldera floor to collect gas data which will be compared to the last survey. These instruments measure the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and water vapor (H2O) that are emitted. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on July 28, 2021.
Color photograph of caldera
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
While mapping volcanic gasses in Kīlauea caldera, HVO scientists got a view (looking west) of Halema‘uma‘u and the down-dropped block. The steep crater walls of Halema‘uma‘u are visible in the upper center and right portions of this photo, but the recently active lava lake is out of view below the eastern crater rim. The down-dropped block—in the center of the photo—was at the same height as the caldera floor in the foreground prior to subsiding more than 100 m (330 ft) in some places during the 2018 collapse events. South sulfur bank, the light-colored walls on the left side of the image, were also exposed during the 2018 collapses. The southeast flank of Mauna Loa is visible in the upper right. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on July 28, 2021.

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