Images

As of 7:00 a.m. on December 12, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observed only residual incandescence and no lava movement in the fissure 3 vent on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The channels below the vent appear drained of lava and no longer feed the main flow front. USGS image by F. Trusdell. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues at greatly reduced levels as of December 12, 2022 (fifteenth full day). Only incandescence was observed within fissure 3 overnight. This morning, field crews heard small explosions accompanied by sprays of spatter from the west end of the fissure 3 vent.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues at greatly reduced levels as of December 11, 2022 (fourteenth full day). Only incandescence was observed within fissure 3 overnight.

Aerial view of the fissure 3 cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 10, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted there are no fountains present in fissure 3. Only a lava pond is present with minor circulating activity. Photograph by K. Mulliken.

Aerial view of the fissure 3 cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 10, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted there are no fountains present in fissure 3. Only a lava pond is present with minor circulating activity. Photograph by K. Mulliken.

Aerial view of the fissure 3 cone on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 10, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted there are no fountains present in fissure 3. Only a lava pond is present with minor circulating activity. USGS image by J. Bard.

Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of December 10, 2022. The eruption output has greatly decreased over the past two days and within the fissure 3 cone, geologists noted a small lava pond rather than a lava fountain. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

View of fissure 3 the morning of December 10, 2022. As of 7:00 a.m. on December 10, a lava pond replaced the fountains at the fissure 3 vent. The pond fed short lava flows that extended only 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the vent but are already stagnating. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Just days, ago, lava was full in the channels from the fissure 3 eruption on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. Over the past two days, the eruption output has greatly reduced. A pond of lava in the fissure 3 cone feeds short lava flows that extended only 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the vent.

Just days, ago, lava was full in the channels from the fissure 3 eruption on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. Over the past two days, the eruption output has greatly reduced. A pond of lava in the fissure 3 cone feeds short lava flows that extended only 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the vent.

Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. As of 7:00 a.m. today, December 10, a lava pond replaced the fountains at the fissure 3 vent. USGS image by J. Bard. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues at reduced levels as of December 10, 2022 (thirteenth full day).

Aerial view of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on December 9, 2022. The eruption continues but the vigor has greatly reduced over the past 24 hours. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

During a morning overflight on December 9, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted a reduced output of lava at fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The lava fountain is much lower than yesterday and the lava in the channel is much lower than the levees. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

Aerial view of the upper lava channel from fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 9, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted a reduced output of lava at fissure 3 and this photo shows that the level of lava in the channel is the lowest it has been since the eruption started. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues as of December 9, 2022 (twelfth full day). One active fissure, fissure 3, feeds lava flows downslope to the north.

Aerial image of the lava channel issuing from fissure 3, erupting high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The reduced lava output at fissure 3 is evident in the low level of lava in the channel. Mauna Kea is visible in the background of the image. USGS image by P. Dotray. 

Eruptive activity in Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone fissure 3 was diminished on the morning of December 9, 2022, around 8:20 a.m. HST. This view from a monitoring overflight shows little fountaining activity in the fissure and ponded lava flowing out of the fissure to the east. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

Eruptive activity in Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone fissure 3 was dominated by ponded lava inside the fissure that drained to the east into the lava channel system, as viewed here from a monitoring overflight around 10:30 a.m. HST on December 9, 2022. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

A helicopter overflight on December 7, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. This map only shows activity from Fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone, which is feeding a lava flow to the north.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa continues with a major change overnight. The fissure 3 (F3) vent continues to erupt but the supply of lava appears to be much reduced this morning. Lava is overtopping channels near the vent with flows extending no farther than 2.5 mi (4 km) from the vent.