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Photo and Video Chronology – Mauna Loa – December 9, 2022

Mauna Loa Eruption Webpage
By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory December 9, 2022

Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption continues, with reduced vigor. There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows.

 

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During a morning overflight on December 9, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted a reduced output of lava at fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The lava fountain is much lower than yesterday and the lava in the channel is much lower than the levees. USGS video by M. Patrick. 
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Aerial view of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on December 9, 2022. The eruption continues but the vigor has greatly reduced over the past 24 hours. USGS video by M. Patrick. 
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Aerial view of the upper lava channel from fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. On December 9, 2022, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted a reduced output of lava at fissure 3 and this photo shows that the level of lava in the channel is the lowest it has been since the eruption started. USGS video by M. Patrick. 

 

Images taken on December 8, 2022, for comparison:

 

Color photograph of volcanic vent
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Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on December 8, 2022. Lava fountain heights were very variable on December 8; the fountains were jet like, sometimes spraying at an angle just off vertical (as shown in this photo). USGS image by T. Orr. 
Color photograph of eruption
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Aerial image of the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on December 8, 2022. The fissure 3 lava fountain is visible in the distance, and the lava channel issuing from it in a northeast direction dominates the foreground. USGS image by T. Orr. 
Color photograph of lava channel
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Lava boats are visible in the upper parts of the fissure 3 lava channel during the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa on December 8, 2022. Lava boats or lava balls form when portions of the fissure cone or lava channel levees break away and are rafted down the lava stream. As they move along in the channel, additional lava can cool to their surface to form accretionary lava balls. USGS image by T. Orr.
Color photograph of volcanic vent
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Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on December 8, 2022. The eruption has built up a cone around the vent, which was 98 feet (30 meters) tall on December 7, 2022. USGS image by T. Orr. 
Color photograph of volcanic vent
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Aerial image of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on December 8, 2022. Lava fountain heights were very variable on December 8; the fountains were jet like, sometimes spraying at an angle just off vertical and with pulses of activity. USGS image by T. Orr. 
Color photograph of lava flow
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Aerial view of the front of a lava flow from fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists noted that the supply of lava was reduced the morning of December 8, 2022. Lava was overtopping channels near the vent with flows extending no farther than 2.75 mi (4.4 km) from the vent the morning of December 8, 2022 (one of which is pictured here). USGS image by T. Orr. 
Color photograph of lava channel
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Aerial image of the lava channel issuing from fissure 3, erupting high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The reduced lava output at fissure 3 is evident in the low level of lava in the channel. Mauna Kea is visible in the background of the image. USGS image by P. Dotray. 
Color photograph of volcanic vent
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Eruptive activity in Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone fissure 3 was dominated by ponded lava inside the fissure that drained to the east into the lava channel system, as viewed here from a monitoring overflight around 10:30 a.m. HST on December 9, 2022. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Color photograph of volcanic vent
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Eruptive activity in Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone fissure 3 was diminished on the morning of December 9, 2022, around 8:20 a.m. HST. This view from a monitoring overflight shows little fountaining activity in the fissure and ponded lava flowing out of the fissure to the east. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

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