Images

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 Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its fourth full day. At this time two fissures are active, sending lava flows primarily to the north-northeast.

Aerial view of Fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, and the channel that exits it to the left side of the photo. Over the past 24 hours, Fissure 3 has built up a significant spatter rampart around its lava fountains. The air is thick with a sulfur plume that is degassing from the lava as it rises to the surface here. USGS image by D.

Fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone has produced several lava channels that are winding their way down the northeast slopes of the volcano. These channels are surrounded by levees that insulate the lava and keep it fluid and moving at a brisk pace downslope. As it cools it can form a black crust on top of it in places.

Aerial view of Fissure 3 and its channel that is flowing downslope from the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The upper left side of the photo is Mauna Kea. Over the past 24 hours Fissure 3 has built up a significant spatter rampart around its lava fountains. The air is thick with a sulfur plume that is degassing from the lava as it rises to the surface here.

Zoomed in aerial view of Fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Its lava fountains consistently throw molten lava bombs up to 30 m (98 ft) in the air with some bursts to 40 m (131 ft) high. Over time as these bombs cool, around the base of the fissure, they built up a spatter cone.

View of of the lava channel that exits from Fissure 3 and is flowing downhill  from the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Once a channel forms, the lava can stay insulated and more fluid as it flows. This can allow for lava to move fast in steep parts of its channel and create rapids. USGS image by D. Downs.

An overflight the morning of November 30, 2022, provided views of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. This aerial photograph shows the volcanic vent erupting high on the rift zone and sending lava flows downslope on the Northeast flank of the volcano. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

A helicopter overflight on November 30, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. Two active fissures on the Northeast Rift Zone are feeding lava flows to the north, northeast, and southeast.

This image, taken during an early morning overflight on 30 November 2022, shows Fissure 3, the dominant source of activity. As of 7 a.m. HST, the lava fountains are 20-25 meters in height (65-82 feet) and feed a lava flow moving to the northeast at ~130 meters per hour (0.08 miles per hour).

Fissure 3 of the Northeast Rift Zone Mauna Loa eruption with a plume of volcanic gases and fine volcanic ash and Pele's hair being wafted in a near vertical plume. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.

Photograph of a high-definition video camera filming fissure 3. Field crews are out today monitoring the eruption of Mauna Loa. Mauna Kea is in the distance behind the fountaining fissure. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.

A field crew was out documenting the location of the front of the flow closest to Saddle Road on Nov. 30, 2022, between 3:00 and 4:00 pm HST. This photo shows the front of the aʻa flow, with a helicopter for scale.

Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road.

Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its third full day. At this time two fissures are active, sending lava flows primarily to the north-northeast.

Aerial image of fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 3 remains the dominant source of the largest lava flow being generated during the eruption. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Aerial image of fissure 4 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 4 is less active than fissure 3, but is generating lava flows moving toward the northeast and a small lobe moving to the east. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Aerial image of the distal end of a lava flow from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of November 30, 2022. As of 12:30 HST p.m. on November 30, the flow front remained about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Photograph taken from Saddle Road at 6AM Hawaii time on November 29, 2022 shows lava flows moving northeast downslope of Mauna Loa volcano from the Northeast Rift Zone eruption.

Photograph taken from Saddle Road at 6AM Hawaii time on November 29, 2022 shows lava flows moving northeast downslope of Mauna Loa volcano from the Northeast Rift Zone eruption.