UAS mission at Kīlauea summit - October 5, 2022

This photo shows a Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) unit staged for take-off on October 5, 2022. Data from this flight will be used to construct an updated high resolution map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. By comparing these detailed topographic maps constructed from routine helicopter and UAS overflights a, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is able to monitor the effusion rate of lava into Halema‘uma‘u. Between September 12 and October 5, 2022, there was a net decrease in the volume within Halema‘uma‘u, likely due to the lake draining and a nearby intrusion on September 20, 2022.



USGS has special use permits from the National Park Service to conduct official UAS missions as part of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's mission to monitor active volcanoes in Hawaii, assess their hazards, issue warnings, and advance scientific understanding to reduce impacts of volcanic eruptions. Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is prohibited under 36 CFR Closures & Public Use. USGS photo by N. Deligne.