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Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - June 20, 2018

June 20, 2018

Geologists at work monitoring Kīlauea's Lower East Rift Zone eruption
 

Geologists at work monitoring Kīlauea's Lower East Rift Zone erupti...
Geologist makes early morning observations of the lava fountain and channelized flow at fissure 8 in Leilani Estates.
A geologist points a thermal camera at a fissure to take a temperature reading
HVO geologist measures 260 degrees C (500 degrees F) along ground cracks near fissure 10 in Leilani Estates. Geologists routinely make temperature measurements to track changes throughout the fissure complex in the lower East Rift Zone.
Close up view of pāhoehoe
Sluggish pāhoehoe briefly spills over a section the levee along the well-established lava channel. Such overflows generally travel short distances measured in meters (yards). Geologists track the extent of oveflows and look for potential areas of weakness and seepages along the sides of the perched channel in order to assess potential breakouts from the channel.
Fissure 8 and lava channel from above
Fissure 8 lava fountains reached as high as about 50 m (164 ft) during the past day. The fountain height varies, often sending a shower of lava fragments over the rim of the cone, building it slightly higher and broader. Lava from fissure 8 flows through a well-established channel to the ocean south of Kapoho.
Aerial view of lava channels
Lava from fissure 8 travels about 13 km (8 mi) to the ocean in an open channel. Lava remains incandescent (glowing orange) throughout its journey. The ocean entry is at upper right.
Laze plume from ocean entry
Small streams of lava enter the ocean across a broad area, shown by the multiple white steam and laze plumes. Lava has added about 380 acres of new land into the sea.
Laze plume from ocean entry
Small streams of lava enter the ocean across a broad area, shown by the multiple white steam and laze plumes. Lava has added about 380 acres of new land into the sea.

Big changes at Halema‘uma‘u
 

A helicopter overflight on June 19 confirms that the Overlook parking area (closed since 2008) has slumped into the crater of Halema‘uma‘u. The road viewed beneath the helicopter leads to the former parking area in the center right. The view is to the northwest.
A temporary GPS station is set up on the Kīlauea caldera floor to t...
A temporary GPS station is set up on the Kīlauea caldera floor to track subsidence and relay data to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in near real-time. The data will assist is assessing hazards in this rapidly-changing area. Work within the caldera is conducted with the cooperation and support of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

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