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Photo and Video Chronology – Mauna Loa – December 2, 2022

Mauna Loa Eruption Webpage
By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory December 2, 2022

Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption continues. No property is at risk currently. There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows.

Mauna Loa update: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/volcano-updates

County of Hawaii Civil Defense Agency: https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/

Color photograph of volcanic vent
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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.
Color photograph of volcanic vent
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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 lava bomb
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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. Downs.
Color photograph of lava flow margin
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A USGS scientist maps the eastern margin of the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption lava flow on December 1, 2022. In this area, the flow height is between 3 and 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) tall. The large block immediately to the right of the scientist likely rolled off from the lava flow a few hours before this photograph was taken, as the block was slightly above ambient temperatures. USGS scientists returned to this area on December 2 and observed that the lava flow margin in this area had not advanced between the two visits. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
color photograph of lava crossing road
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The 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.
Color map of eruption
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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. Webcam and satellite views overnight allowed USGS analysts to accurately map some of the most active flows, displayed in red here, along with older flows further uprift, in part of Mokuʻāweoweo Caldera, and in the upper summit region southwest of the caldera. Elsewhere the progression of the flows is marked by points for the flow fronts, mapped by HVO field crews.  
Color photograph of volcanic vent
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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. 
Color photograph of volcanic plume
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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 scientists in field
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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.
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Video of a fissure 3 erupting at a high elevation on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Consistent lava fountains at fissure 3 has built up a spatter rampart around the fissure. USGS video by M. Patrick.

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