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Volcano Hazard Program images.

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Fountains, fissures and flow near Pohoiki Road on February 28, 1955...
Fountains, fissures and flow near Pohoiki Road on Feb. 28, 1955. (P...
Fountains, fissures and flow near Pohoiki Road on Feb. 28, 1955. (P...
Fountains, fissures and flow near Pohoiki Road on Feb. 28, 1955. (P...

This aerial view of the initial outbreak shows lava fountains erupting en echelon (staggered) fashion. Automobiles are parked along the Pahoa-Pohoiki Road. These fountains spawned a lava flow which quickly blocked the highway.

This aerial view of the initial outbreak shows lava fountains erupting en echelon (staggered) fashion. Automobiles are parked along the Pahoa-Pohoiki Road. These fountains spawned a lava flow which quickly blocked the highway.

A fast-moving ‘s‘ā flow erupted from Mauna Loa in 1950 as it advanc...
A fast-moving ‘A‘ā flow erupted from Mauna Loa in 1950 as it advanc...
A fast-moving ‘A‘ā flow erupted from Mauna Loa in 1950 as it advanc...
A fast-moving ‘A‘ā flow erupted from Mauna Loa in 1950 as it advanc...

Aerial photograph shows the Ka‘apuna lava flow erupted from Mauna Loa in 1950 as it advanced through the forest at about 3,000 feet elevation on the morning of June 2. This rapidly moving ‘a‘ā lava flow traveled from the Southwest Rift Zone vent to the ocean in about 17 hours. Earlier flows from this same eruption reached the ocean in as little as three hours.

Aerial photograph shows the Ka‘apuna lava flow erupted from Mauna Loa in 1950 as it advanced through the forest at about 3,000 feet elevation on the morning of June 2. This rapidly moving ‘a‘ā lava flow traveled from the Southwest Rift Zone vent to the ocean in about 17 hours. Earlier flows from this same eruption reached the ocean in as little as three hours.

Fissure of lava fountains erupting from Mauna Loa's upper southwest...
Fissure of lava fountains erupting from Mauna Loa's upper SW rift z...
Fissure of lava fountains erupting from Mauna Loa's upper SW rift z...
Fissure of lava fountains erupting from Mauna Loa's upper SW rift z...

Fissure of lava fountains erupting from Mauna Loa's upper southwest rift zone, June 2, 1950. Plumes of volcanic gas rise high into the air. Aerial photograph taken by the Air National Guard.

Fissure of lava fountains erupting from Mauna Loa's upper southwest rift zone, June 2, 1950. Plumes of volcanic gas rise high into the air. Aerial photograph taken by the Air National Guard.

Ka‘apuna lava flow, Mauna Loa 1950, creates steam plume as it enter...
Ka‘apuna lava flow, Mauna Loa 1950, creates steam plume as it enter...
Ka‘apuna lava flow, Mauna Loa 1950, creates steam plume as it enter...
Ka‘apuna lava flow, Mauna Loa 1950, creates steam plume as it enter...

The Ka‘apuna flow traveled from the Southwest Rift Zone vent (7,800 ft elevation) to the coast in just 17 hours.

The glow of an erupting fissure of lava fountains is seen in a fume...
The glow of an erupting fissure of lava fountains is seen in a fume...
The glow of an erupting fissure of lava fountains is seen in a fume...
The glow of an erupting fissure of lava fountains is seen in a fume...

The glow of an erupting fissure of lava fountains is seen in a fume cloud high on Mauna Loa's southwest rift zone at the start of the June 1, 1950 eruption, Hawaii.

The glow of an erupting fissure of lava fountains is seen in a fume cloud high on Mauna Loa's southwest rift zone at the start of the June 1, 1950 eruption, Hawaii.

Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area 1942
Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area in 1942
Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area in 1942
Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area in 1942

Beryl Spring is a hydrothermal area in some restrictive topography! The road from Norris Geyser Basin to Madison Junction follows the Gibbon River through a tight valley. With not much of a choice, the road threads between the river and Beryl Spring over some exceedingly hot ground.

Beryl Spring is a hydrothermal area in some restrictive topography! The road from Norris Geyser Basin to Madison Junction follows the Gibbon River through a tight valley. With not much of a choice, the road threads between the river and Beryl Spring over some exceedingly hot ground.

Aerial photograph of the 1942 Mauna Loa lava flow spreading downslo...
Aerial photograph of the 1942 Mauna Loa lava flow spreading downslo...
Aerial photograph of the 1942 Mauna Loa lava flow spreading downslo...
Aerial photograph of the 1942 Mauna Loa lava flow spreading downslo...

Aerial photograph of the 1942 Mauna Loa lava flow spreading downslope toward Hilo; smoke from burning trees in center of flow. Scattered cinder cones at the summit of Mauna Kea, top of photograph.

Aerial photograph of the 1942 Mauna Loa lava flow spreading downslope toward Hilo; smoke from burning trees in center of flow. Scattered cinder cones at the summit of Mauna Kea, top of photograph.

The interior of the Hamilton bathhouse in 1939
The interior of the Hamilton bathhouse in 1939
The interior of the Hamilton bathhouse in 1939
The interior of the Hamilton bathhouse in 1939

The interior of the Hamilton bathhouse in 1939.

Aerial view by the Naval Air Service of the 1933 Mauna Loa eruption...
Aerial view by the Naval Air Service of the 1933 Mauna Loa eruption...
Aerial view by the Naval Air Service of the 1933 Mauna Loa eruption...
Aerial view by the Naval Air Service of the 1933 Mauna Loa eruption...

Aerial view by the Naval Air Service of the 1933 Mauna Loa eruption from a fissure across the rim and floor of Moku‘āweoweo Crater.

Aerial view by the Naval Air Service of the 1933 Mauna Loa eruption from a fissure across the rim and floor of Moku‘āweoweo Crater.

Large crack across road near Koa‘e, Hawai‘i widens over a week....
Large crack across road near Koa‘e, Hawai‘i widens over a week.
Large crack across road near Koa‘e, Hawai‘i widens over a week.
Large crack across road near Koa‘e, Hawai‘i widens over a week.

The image on the left shows the road near Koa‘e on April 23, 1924. Motion was in progress as the men tried to touch hands. The image on the right shows the same scene on May 1. The crack had widened and the left side of the roadway had dropped substantially.

The image on the left shows the road near Koa‘e on April 23, 1924. Motion was in progress as the men tried to touch hands. The image on the right shows the same scene on May 1. The crack had widened and the left side of the roadway had dropped substantially.

Subsidence immerses coconut trees in the ocean at Kapele Lagoon, Pu...
Subsidence immerses coconut trees in ocean at Kapele Lagoon, Puna
Subsidence immerses coconut trees in ocean at Kapele Lagoon, Puna
Subsidence immerses coconut trees in ocean at Kapele Lagoon, Puna

On April 23, 1924, scientists from the observatory followed one of the large cracks towards the ocean and rested under a cluster of coconut palms where they refreshed themselves from coconuts that had been shaken to the ground by the earthquakes.

On April 23, 1924, scientists from the observatory followed one of the large cracks towards the ocean and rested under a cluster of coconut palms where they refreshed themselves from coconuts that had been shaken to the ground by the earthquakes.

T.A. Jaggar's dog, Teddy, stands where an injured spectator was fou...
T.A. Jaggar's dog, Teddy, stands where an injured spectator was fou...
T.A. Jaggar's dog, Teddy, stands where an injured spectator was fou...
T.A. Jaggar's dog, Teddy, stands where an injured spectator was fou...

Truman Taylor, a bookkeeper from Pahala sugar plantation, was near the rim of Halemaumau at the time of the 11:15 a.m. explosion on May 18. He was struck by a ballistic block and crawled to this spot, where Ruy Finch and others rescued him. He died later that evening from his injuries.

Truman Taylor, a bookkeeper from Pahala sugar plantation, was near the rim of Halemaumau at the time of the 11:15 a.m. explosion on May 18. He was struck by a ballistic block and crawled to this spot, where Ruy Finch and others rescued him. He died later that evening from his injuries.

Scientists from HVO examine paw prints in ash on the caldera floor ...
Scientists from HVO examine paw prints in ash on the caldera floor ...
Scientists from HVO examine paw prints in ash on the caldera floor ...
Scientists from HVO examine paw prints in ash on the caldera floor ...

The south edge of Kīlauea caldera after the explosive eruptions, showing a sun-cracked puddle of fine pisolitic ash, with paw prints from Teddy, the pet dog of Thomas Jaggar. These impressions were similar to footprints left by Hawaiians in the cemented ash of the much larger eruption of 1790.

The south edge of Kīlauea caldera after the explosive eruptions, showing a sun-cracked puddle of fine pisolitic ash, with paw prints from Teddy, the pet dog of Thomas Jaggar. These impressions were similar to footprints left by Hawaiians in the cemented ash of the much larger eruption of 1790.

Thomas Jaggar examines a 12 ton block ejected from Halemaumau onto ...
Thomas Jaggar examines a 12 ton block ejected from Halemaumau onto ...
Thomas Jaggar examines a 12 ton block ejected from Halemaumau onto ...
Thomas Jaggar examines a 12 ton block ejected from Halemaumau onto ...

Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., long time director of HVO, was on the mainland at the beginning the 1924 eruption and returned to HVO a few days after the explosions ended. Jaggar's absence left only two HVO staff members to monitor this 2 1/2 week long eruption at Kīlauea.

Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., long time director of HVO, was on the mainland at the beginning the 1924 eruption and returned to HVO a few days after the explosions ended. Jaggar's absence left only two HVO staff members to monitor this 2 1/2 week long eruption at Kīlauea.

Ejected tephra from Halemaumau at Kīlauea Volcano, May 31, 1924...
Ejected tephra from Halemaumau at Kīlauea, May 31, 1925
Ejected tephra from Halemaumau at Kīlauea, May 31, 1925
Ejected tephra from Halemaumau at Kīlauea, May 31, 1925

This scene west of Halemaumau looks toward the rim of the caldera, southwest of Uēkahuna Bluff. New ballistic blocks and ash from the 1924 eruption coat the floor of the caldera.

This scene west of Halemaumau looks toward the rim of the caldera, southwest of Uēkahuna Bluff. New ballistic blocks and ash from the 1924 eruption coat the floor of the caldera.

Steam cloud over Halema‘uma‘u about May 24, 1924. Before May 16, av...
Steam cloud over Halema‘uma‘u about May 24, 1924. Before May 16, av...
Steam cloud over Halema‘uma‘u about May 24, 1924. Before May 16, av...
Steam cloud over Halema‘uma‘u about May 24, 1924. Before May 16, av...

Steam cloud over Halema‘uma‘u about May 24, 1924. Before May 16, avalanche dust was rising continuously. After that, the pit cleared as shown here between explosions.

Steam cloud over Halema‘uma‘u about May 24, 1924. Before May 16, avalanche dust was rising continuously. After that, the pit cleared as shown here between explosions.

Spectators view another explosion cloud from the Volcano House Hote...
Spectators view another explosion cloud from the Volcano House Hote...
Spectators view another explosion cloud from the Volcano House Hote...
Spectators view another explosion cloud from the Volcano House Hote...

A crowd of visitors from the steamships Haleakalā and Matsonia view the eruption plume from the front of the Volcano House hotel. They were subsequently warned by Ruy H. Finch, acting director of HVO, that it was unwise to remain there.

A crowd of visitors from the steamships Haleakalā and Matsonia view the eruption plume from the front of the Volcano House hotel. They were subsequently warned by Ruy H. Finch, acting director of HVO, that it was unwise to remain there.

Airplane landing field at Kīlauea Volcano strewn with blocks from s...
Airplane landing field at Kīlauea strewn with blocks from several e...
Airplane landing field at Kīlauea strewn with blocks from several e...
Airplane landing field at Kīlauea strewn with blocks from several e...

Prior to the eruption of 1924, this area was swept clean and used as a landing field for airplanes. This view looking toward the north rim of Halemaumau shows the air field littered with ballistic blocks from explosions in the 1924 eruption.

Prior to the eruption of 1924, this area was swept clean and used as a landing field for airplanes. This view looking toward the north rim of Halemaumau shows the air field littered with ballistic blocks from explosions in the 1924 eruption.

Eight ton block ejected from Halema‘uma‘u during explosion at Kīlau...
Eight ton block ejected from Halema‘uma‘u during explosion at Kīlau...
Eight ton block ejected from Halema‘uma‘u during explosion at Kīlau...
Eight ton block ejected from Halema‘uma‘u during explosion at Kīlau...

This block was thrown out during an explosion at Halema‘uma‘u on May 18, 1924, while Acting HVO director Ruy Finch and others were nearby. The block landed about 600 meters (2000 feet) from today's rim of Halemaumau and created a large impact crater.

This block was thrown out during an explosion at Halema‘uma‘u on May 18, 1924, while Acting HVO director Ruy Finch and others were nearby. The block landed about 600 meters (2000 feet) from today's rim of Halemaumau and created a large impact crater.

Explosion from Halemaumau at Kīlauea Volcano as viewed from Uēkahun...
Explosion from Halemaumau at Kīlauea May 18, 1924.
Explosion from Halemaumau at Kīlauea May 18, 1924.
Explosion from Halemaumau at Kīlauea May 18, 1924.

This was probably the strongest explosion of the eruption. Rocks and debris fell among spectators southeast of Halemaumau, causing one fatality. A torrential downpour and an electrical storm followed.

This was probably the strongest explosion of the eruption. Rocks and debris fell among spectators southeast of Halemaumau, causing one fatality. A torrential downpour and an electrical storm followed.