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Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea – March 16, 2021

March 16, 2021

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.

March 15, 2021 - Halema‘uma‘u lava lake

View of the lava lake from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea
View of the lava lake from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, looking north. The western (left) portion of the lava lake remains active, with small scale crustal foundering events. Lava enters the lake at two sources approximately 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 ft) apart at the base of the western vent spatter cone. The western active lava lake has been getting progressively smaller over the past several weeks, and is now confined to the area west of the main island. The stagnant eastern portion of the lake (right) is about 5 meters (16 ft) lower than the active western portion. USGS photo taken by N. Deligne on March 15, 2021.

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