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Photo and Video Chronology – Halema‘uma‘u overflight and fieldwork; update on the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project – May 3, 2023

Learn more about the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project
By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory May 4, 2023

HVO scientists conducted  Halema‘uma‘u fieldwork and a Kīlauea summit overflight on May 3, 2023. The Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project continues, as more nodes are deployed in the Kīlauea summit region. 

HVO scientists collect detailed data to assess hazards and understand Kīlauea volcano. This information is shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

May 3, 2023 — Halema‘uma‘u fieldwork and Kīlauea summit overflight

 

Color photograph of crater floor
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This view of Halema‘uma‘u was captured from partway up the northwestern wall of the crater by an HVO geologist visiting the area on Wednesday, May 3, to collect geologic samples. The basin of the lava lake from the end of the most recent eruption is defined by the steaming area in the upper center of the frame. USGS image by M. Zoeller.  
Color photograph of crater
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HVO scientists conducted a routine Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight during the morning of May 3, 2023. During the overflight, the helicopter flies around Halema‘uma‘u several times, and scientists take both regular pictures and infrared images that tell us about the temperatures on the crater floor. These images are used to create maps of the crater. USGS image by K. Mulliken.
Color photograph of crater
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Eruptions within Halema‘uma‘u over the past several years have filled the deepest part of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) that collapsed in 2018, which was Halema‘uma‘u crater. However, only about 21 percent of the volume of the 2018 collapse has been filled by these eruptions—about one fifth of the volume of the 2018 collapse. Most of the volume of the 2018 collapse is in the down-dropped block to the east of Halema‘uma‘u crater, featured in the foreground of this photo. The fault scarps on the bottom and side edges of the photo outline the down-dropped block. USGS image by K. Mulliken.
Color photograph scientist working on crater wall
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On Wednesday May 3, HVO geologists visited the northwestern wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater to sample older ash beds and lava flows exposed by the caldera collapse in 2018. Here, one of the geologists is collecting ash samples while standing on a large pile of rockfall debris that mantles the crater wall. USGS image by M. Zoeller. 
Color photograph of crater and cinder cone
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Kīlauea Iki and Pu‘u Pua‘i are visible in this aerial image taken during the May 3, 2023, Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight. Pu‘u Pua‘i is the cinder cone, which was built up by spectacular lava fountaining during the 1959 eruption in Kīlauea Iki crater. You can learn more about the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption here: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/1959-kilauea-iki-eruption. USGS image by K. Mulliken.
Color photograph of crater
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During a morning overflight on May 3, 2023, HVO scientists did not observe any activity within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The most recent eruptive activity was observed on March 7. Since April 16, small flurries of earthquakes have occurred irregularly beneath Halema‘uma‘u, Keanakāko‘i Crater, and the southern margin of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), and the summit region has been showing gradual inflationary tilt. USGS image by K. Mulliken.
Color map showing crater floor temperature
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A helicopter overflight on May 3, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. No active lava was present in the crater, with only scattered warm spots on the crater floor. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures.
Color map showing crater floor temperature
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A helicopter overflight on May 3, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. No active lava was present in the crater, with only scattered warm spots on the crater floor. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures.

April 28 and May 3, 2023 — USGS scientists install seismic nodes as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project

 

Color photograph of scientist with netting
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An HVO scientist prepares netting to move a pallet of equipment via helicopter for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project on April 28, 2023. During the project, caches of equipment are deployed around Kīlauea summit. HVO scientists and collaborators then distribute the equipment from the cache into a network across the summit region. USGS image by M. Patrick.
Color photograph pallet of equipment
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A pallet of buckets containing equipment for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is placed on netting so that it can be moved via helicopter sling load. These pallets package a small portion of the 1,800 seismic nodes (small earthquake-detecting devices) that are being deployed in Kīlauea summit region as part of the project. For more information, see the project webpage: https://www.usgs.gov/supplemental-appropriations-for-disaster-recovery-activities/science/2019-kilauea-disaster-2. USGS image by M. Patrick.
Color photograph pallet of equipment
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The gear for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is staged and ready to be moved on Crater Rim Drive in the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Portions of Crater Rim Drive collapsed into Kīlauea caldera in 2018 and this project is partially funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157), to better understand KILAEUA volcano. USGS image by M. Patrick.
Color photograph scientist walking in the field
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A USGS scientist hikes across lava flows in the Hilina Pali area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is operating under a research permit from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and prior to deploying the nodes, USGS scientists were trained on endangered plants and archaeological features within the park. As they hike in the Kīlauea summit region, they are cautious and avoid disturbing these important resources. USGS image by B. Meyers.
Color photograph scientist walking in the field
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This week, USGS Volcano Science Center scientists from other locations are helping the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to deploy the 1,800 seismic nodes (small earthquake-detecting devices) across Kīlauea summit region. The dense network of nodes will allow us to collect data that will help us understand what is below the summit of Kīlauea, including fault structures and bodies of magma. USGS image by B. Meyers.
Color photograph scientist installing equipment in the field
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On May 3, HVO scientists and collaborators deployed some seismic nodes for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project in the Hilina Pali area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Many of the nodes being deployed have spikes on the bottom to secure them into the ground to avoid wind movement, which cause noise in the data they collect. In areas where the ground surface is too hard to place the node spikes, bucket nodes are used instead. These buckets contain a spikeless node surrounded by sand to mimic the effect of being secured in the ground. In this photo, a scientist takes notes and a GPS location for where a bucket node is being deployed. The node will collect data for the next month. USGS image by B. Meyers.
Color photograph scientists installing equipment in the field
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Two USGS scientists are seen here installing a seismic node. This node is one of over 1,800 that are currently being deployed for a survey designed to image structures beneath Kīlauea's summit. After the seismic nodes, which will blend into the natural landscape, are deployed, a large vehicle will slowly traverse roads near Kīlauea’s summit in May. The vehicle, called a Vibroseis, will create tiny seismic signals. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the USGS Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157, provided in response to Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse). USGS image by L. Gallant.

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