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Prior to the Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) mission that collected a water sample from Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit on October 26, reconnaissance UAS missions were flown. This video, taken over a period of 15 minutes, has been sped up 7 times to show the UAS as it approaches Halema‘uma‘u from the southwest. The UAS reaches the northeast portion of the lake, surveys the area where the water sample was later collected, and then returns to the launch area. Limited UAS flights in this area are conducted with permission from and in coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The information is used to assess hazards at Kīlauea's summit, and is shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers.
The Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) that collected water from the crater lake in Halema‘uma‘u on October 26 was outfitted with both visual and infrared (thermal) cameras. This reconnaissance video shows fumarolic activity on the walls of the crater. Fumaroles appear light in color (yellow and white) in the visual imagery due to alteration of the crater wall rock. In the thermal image (upper left inset), lighter colors indicate warmer temperatures associated with the fumaroles. Limited UAS flights in this area are conducted with permission from and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The information is used to assess hazards at Kīlauea's summit and is shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers.
In this October 26 reconnaissance survey, the Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) reaches the northeast part of the Halema‘uma‘u crater lake, where large rocks at the lake margin are often used to visually track the rising water level. Taken over a period of about 5.5 minutes, the survey is shown at 3 times the speed it was filmed. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission from and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The information is used to assess hazards at Kīlauea's summit and is shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Footage is courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Aviation Services.
