A geologist documents fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. In the field, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists measure the lava fountain and cone heights, channel widths, and lava channel dynamics. USGS image by J. Schmith.
Images
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
![Scientist documenting eruption](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2826%29_0.png?itok=Q_DKtBjj)
A geologist documents fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. In the field, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists measure the lava fountain and cone heights, channel widths, and lava channel dynamics. USGS image by J. Schmith.
![Scientist documenting eruption](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2829%29.png?itok=CW6ba8KY)
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas specialist uses a FTIR spectrometer on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The FTIR measures the composition of the gases being emitted during the eruption by measuring how the plume absorbs infrared energy.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas specialist uses a FTIR spectrometer on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The FTIR measures the composition of the gases being emitted during the eruption by measuring how the plume absorbs infrared energy.
![Color photograph of webcam monitoring eruption](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2830%29.png?itok=Wl_b9p8V)
Image of a webcam deployed to monitor the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. See this webcam for all Mauna Loa webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/webcams. USGS image by K. Mulliken.
Image of a webcam deployed to monitor the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. See this webcam for all Mauna Loa webcams: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/webcams. USGS image by K. Mulliken.
![Color map showing ground surface change](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2832%29.png?itok=bFTelzOX)
This map shows areas of surface change as determined through a comparison of satellite radar images acquired on November 16, 2022 and December 2 at 6:13 a.m. HST.
This map shows areas of surface change as determined through a comparison of satellite radar images acquired on November 16, 2022 and December 2 at 6:13 a.m. HST.
An HVO scientist installs a webcamera to monitor the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. The livestream is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnjGqn1K9ZQ. USGS image by M. Patrick.
An HVO scientist installs a webcamera to monitor the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. The livestream is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnjGqn1K9ZQ. USGS image by M. Patrick.
The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its sixth full day. One active fissure, fissure 3, is feeding a lava flow downslope to the north.
The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its sixth full day. One active fissure, fissure 3, is feeding a lava flow downslope to the north.
![Color photograph of scientists in field](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2820%29.png?itok=4jeLTTgg)
Taken from the intersection of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the old saddle road, USGS scientists take laser rangefinder measurements of the main flow front of fissure 3 from Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone eruption to determine where it is relative to the highway. USGs photo by J. Ball.
Taken from the intersection of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the old saddle road, USGS scientists take laser rangefinder measurements of the main flow front of fissure 3 from Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone eruption to determine where it is relative to the highway. USGs photo by J. Ball.
Taken from the intersection of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the old saddle road, this telephoto photo shows the main flow front of fissure 3 from Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone eruption. A plume of volcanic gas rises high above the erupting vent and is being wafted in a west direction. USGS photo by H. Dietterich.
Taken from the intersection of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the old saddle road, this telephoto photo shows the main flow front of fissure 3 from Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone eruption. A plume of volcanic gas rises high above the erupting vent and is being wafted in a west direction. USGS photo by H. Dietterich.
![Color photograph of volcanic vent](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2822%29.png?itok=oG7SVT1k)
View of fissure 3 erupting on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting during the morning of December 2, 2022. Fissure 4 continues to be active, but with very little eruptive activity observed this morning. USGS image by F. Trusdell.
View of fissure 3 erupting on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting during the morning of December 2, 2022. Fissure 4 continues to be active, but with very little eruptive activity observed this morning. USGS image by F. Trusdell.
The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its fifth full day. Fissure 3 is generating lava flows primarily to the north; fissure 4 continues to be active, but with very little eruptive activity observed this morning.
The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its fifth full day. Fissure 3 is generating lava flows primarily to the north; fissure 4 continues to be active, but with very little eruptive activity observed this morning.
![color photograph of lava crossing road](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/multimediaFile-3735.jpg?itok=bi8n5WEA)
December 2, 2022 — View of where the 2022 Mauna Loa lava flow crossed the Mauna Loa observatory road
linkThe 2022 Mauna Loa lava flow crossed the road leading to the Mauna Loa Observatory within the first 24 hours of the start of the eruption. On December 2, USGS monitoring field crews visited the eastern margin where the lava flow covered the road. The plume from fissure 3 is visible in the background. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
December 2, 2022 — View of where the 2022 Mauna Loa lava flow crossed the Mauna Loa observatory road
linkThe 2022 Mauna Loa lava flow crossed the road leading to the Mauna Loa Observatory within the first 24 hours of the start of the eruption. On December 2, USGS monitoring field crews visited the eastern margin where the lava flow covered the road. The plume from fissure 3 is visible in the background. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Spatter bomb from fissure 3 of Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption. The bomb was molten and plastic when it fell to the ground. As it flew through the air, the molten lava stretched and started to break apart as it was cooling. As this bomb came to rest on the round it continued to cool and solidify with these stretched morphologies. USGS image by D.
Spatter bomb from fissure 3 of Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption. The bomb was molten and plastic when it fell to the ground. As it flew through the air, the molten lava stretched and started to break apart as it was cooling. As this bomb came to rest on the round it continued to cool and solidify with these stretched morphologies. USGS image by D.
View of the Fissure 3 lava fountains that are throwing molten material up to 82-98 ft (25-30 m) into the air high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Over the past few days the molten bombs thrown into the air cool and have built up a cone around the lava fountains. USGS image by D. Downs.
View of the Fissure 3 lava fountains that are throwing molten material up to 82-98 ft (25-30 m) into the air high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Over the past few days the molten bombs thrown into the air cool and have built up a cone around the lava fountains. USGS image by D. Downs.
![Color photograph of volcanic vent](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/multimediaFile-3738.jpg?itok=W9M5adY7)
Close up view of the molten bombs being thrown into the air by the lava fountains at fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. USGS image by D. Downs.
Close up view of the molten bombs being thrown into the air by the lava fountains at fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. USGS image by D. Downs.
Mid-day on December 2, 2022, Mauna Loa's ongoing eruption on the Northeast Rift Zone was active primarily from fissure 3. This view is looking to the northeast (viewed from uprift) during a monitoring eruption monitoring overflight. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Mid-day on December 2, 2022, Mauna Loa's ongoing eruption on the Northeast Rift Zone was active primarily from fissure 3. This view is looking to the northeast (viewed from uprift) during a monitoring eruption monitoring overflight. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
On the morning of December 2, 2022, Mauna Loa's ongoing Northeast Rift Zone eruption was primarily active from fissure 3. The cone walls around the fissure are approximately 48 m (157 ft) tall at their highest point, shown in this view looking to the south up at the fissure. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
On the morning of December 2, 2022, Mauna Loa's ongoing Northeast Rift Zone eruption was primarily active from fissure 3. The cone walls around the fissure are approximately 48 m (157 ft) tall at their highest point, shown in this view looking to the south up at the fissure. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
![Color photograph of lava channel](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/multimediaFile-3739.jpg?itok=Vh-ufxxO)
Mauna Loa's ongoing eruption has generated channels of lava close to the vents on the Northeast Rift Zone. This section of the lava channel, viewed here looking across the flow (the vent is to the right off the image) on the morning of December 2, 2022, is approximately 20 m (66 ft) wide. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Mauna Loa's ongoing eruption has generated channels of lava close to the vents on the Northeast Rift Zone. This section of the lava channel, viewed here looking across the flow (the vent is to the right off the image) on the morning of December 2, 2022, is approximately 20 m (66 ft) wide. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
![Color map of lava flow temperature](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20221202thermalmapweb.jpg?itok=DWuPMYh9)
A helicopter overflight on December 2, 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.
A helicopter overflight on December 2, 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.
This radar interferogram spans before the eruption (November 16, 2022) until December 2 at 6:13 a.m. HST.
This radar interferogram spans before the eruption (November 16, 2022) until December 2 at 6:13 a.m. HST.
![Color photograph of volcanic plume](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Picture2_6.jpg?itok=-UdBbCV0)
Mauna Loa’s Fissure 3 gas plume as seen from the Saddle Road on December 2, 2022. Winds were from the northeast at the time the photo was taken, and spread the plume over much of the island to the south and west of Mauna Loa summit. USGS photo by P. Nadeau.
Mauna Loa’s Fissure 3 gas plume as seen from the Saddle Road on December 2, 2022. Winds were from the northeast at the time the photo was taken, and spread the plume over much of the island to the south and west of Mauna Loa summit. USGS photo by P. Nadeau.
Dr. Lis Gallant measuring fountain heights during the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa using a laser rangefinder. USGS photo.
Dr. Lis Gallant measuring fountain heights during the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa using a laser rangefinder. USGS photo.