Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea – May 11, 2021

By Kīlauea May 11, 2021

Kīlauea's summit eruption continues on the Island of Hawai‘i; Halema‘uma‘u west vent erupts lava into the lava lake, which was 229 m (751 ft) deep this morning, May 11. Gas emissions and seismic activity at the summit remain elevated. HVO field crews—equipped with specialized safety gear—monitor the eruption from within

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.

May 10, 2021 — Kīlauea

Halema‘uma‘u lava lake surface foundering

A telephoto view of the active lava surface in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. While less frequent than previous weeks, crustal foundering on the active surface of the lava lake persists. Field crews observed this foundering event on Monday afternoon, May 10. It only lasted a few minutes and was approximately 30 m (100 ft) across. USGS photo by B. Carr.

Halema‘uma‘u thermal image comparison

This thermal image comparison shows the diminishing area of active surface lava over the past month in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Over this time period, the activity has transitioned from a small lava lake to a series of weak surface flows near the western inlet. USGS images by M. Patrick.