December 7, 2021 — Kīlauea

This zoomed-in view of the western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, was captured on December 7, 2021, through the lens of a laser rangefinder. After an eruptive pause in recent days, lava effusion resumed on December 6 with the western fissure now feeding the lava lake via a new open channel on the south (lower-left) side of the fissure's spatter cone. Crusted-over lava tubes remain active on the eastern and northern (right) sides of the cone. USGS scientists measured the cone to be standing 20 m (66 ft) above the surface of the nearby active lava lake. USGS image by M. Zoeller.