Images

This photo shows an overflow from the northwest side of the West Gap pit advancing as a narrow channelized flow. The flow is just beginning to transition into ‘A‘ā at its terminus. The view is to the south-southeast.

Since overflows to the west began yesterday morning (9/14), perched lava ponds have developed outside of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on the cone's upper west flank. Unless something else gives, these ponds will likely continue to grow taller, impounded by chilled lava from the ponds themselves. Overflows from the ponds will continue to mantle the west flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

A deflation-inflation (DI) event, which began yesterday afternoon, led to a marked decrease in eruptive activity at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō overnight. The western lava lake, at upper right, became inactive, while the eastern lava lake, filling the center of the frame, dropped several meters and became very sluggish.

Two vertical air photos, stitched together, show all of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's crater. The islands within the eastern lava lake, to the right, give it an appearance somewhat like Edvard Munch's "The Scream".

This thermal image, looking east, shows the two perched lava ponds within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. The eastern perched pond was just below the level of the east rim today.

This photograph, looking west, shows the active lava within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater in the early morning light.

This photograph shows a close-up of the perched lava pond abutting the east rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. The lava was just a meter (yard) or so below the low point on the rim, and was close to spilling over.

This vertical view from today's overflight shows the layout of activity within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. The shiny area towards the right portion of the crater floor is the eastern perched lava pond, while the shiny area in the left portion of the crater floor (close to the center of the image) is the western perched pond.

Steam rises from the Mud Geyser fumarole on the northeast side of the Mud Volcano thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. Gas that discharges from Mud Geyser has the most magmatic character of any sampled feature in Yellowstone.

HVO geologist and helicopter pilot repair a mobile Webcam on Kupaianaha to continue monitoring the east flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

Over the past week, the lava pond in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater has rebuilt its retaining walls and is once again perched 3-5 m (10-16 ft) above the surrounding crater floor.

View looking east into Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, its crater partly filled by lava flows accumulating on the crater floor. The active lava lake in the crater is 205 m (673 ft) long and varies in width from 80-115 m (262-377 ft). The West Gap pit is in the central foreground, and the Puka Nui and MLK pits are to the right (the MLK pit is in back).

When viewed from a steeper angle (here looking west) the lava lake's shape makes it look like a huge slipper. Recent overflows appear as lighter-colored patches of lava on the crater floor around the lake.

Along with overflows, low-level spattering from points wandering around the perimeter of the lava lake continually builds up the levee that impounds the lake.

The lava lake's levee stands up to 8 m (26 ft) above the surrounding crater floor. This steep-sided levee impounds the lava and forms what is called a "perched" lava lake. Pieces of the rim occasionally collapse into the lake, leading to sudden and fast-moving overflows of lava onto the crater floor.

Looking west into Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater. Recent flows that have spilled out of the perched pond stand out by their silver color. These overflows have built up the crater floor another 5 m (16 ft) since last week. Kane Nui o Hamo, Mauna Ulu, and Pu‘u Huluhulu are in the background.

A breach in the south wall of the perched pond allowed lava to gush out onto the floor of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater.

A different perspective of the perched pond, from the west side of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater.

Over the past few days, lava has filled the floor of the Puka Nui pit (lower left) and the MLK pit (lower right) on the west end of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

Looking south toward the MLK pit (straight) and Puka Nui pit (right). Lava is only a few meters (yards) away from overtopping the pits and flowing onto the southwest flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

Photo looking southwest at the lava lake in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. Starting by July 25, lava began to exit Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō through a gap in the southwest side of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone, and flowed a short distance down Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's flank. By July 29, lava had begun to pond on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's southwest flank, completely filling the Puka Nui and MLK pits.