Chain of six rootless shields

Looking northwestward along a chain of six rootless shields toward Pu`u `O`o, the source of fume in upper center. The shields are fed by lava flowing from Pu`u `O`o through a tube system that extends beneath the shields to the lower part of the photo. Shield in foreground is the lowest of six and is centered at about the 2050-foot elevation. Uppermost shield--indistinct in this view--is centered at about the 2240-foot elevation. Active or recently active lava can be recognized by its shiny silvery appearance. Four of the shields were active today.