Looking southwest from the Steens Mountain summit area into the Alvord desert of eastern Oregon. This fault-block escarpment reveals the oldest lava flows of the Columbia River Flood Basalts, which erupted about 17 million years ago. Three or four vertical dikes that feed these flows are evident in the midground ridge where they stand as rock walls cutti
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Volcano Hazard Program images.
Looking southwest from the Steens Mountain summit area into the Alvord desert of eastern Oregon. This fault-block escarpment reveals the oldest lava flows of the Columbia River Flood Basalts, which erupted about 17 million years ago. Three or four vertical dikes that feed these flows are evident in the midground ridge where they stand as rock walls cutti
Around sunset on Saturday (January 9, 2021), a break in the rain allowed HVO scientists to visit and monitor the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. The west vent is still actively effusing lava, but outflow into the lava lake is increasingly sluggish, as evidenced by slow-moving crustal plates near the once-vigorous vent outlet.
Around sunset on Saturday (January 9, 2021), a break in the rain allowed HVO scientists to visit and monitor the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. The west vent is still actively effusing lava, but outflow into the lava lake is increasingly sluggish, as evidenced by slow-moving crustal plates near the once-vigorous vent outlet.
The arrival of nightfall at Halema‘uma‘u on January 9, 2021, provided a clearer view of ongoing eruptive activity for USGS scientists monitoring the eruption this Saturday evening.
The arrival of nightfall at Halema‘uma‘u on January 9, 2021, provided a clearer view of ongoing eruptive activity for USGS scientists monitoring the eruption this Saturday evening.
Kīlauea’s summit lava lake, in Halema‘uma‘u, just after sunset on January 8, 2021. This view is to the north, from the south rim of the crater. HVO scientists continue to monitor the eruption within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. USGS image by N. Deligne.
Kīlauea’s summit lava lake, in Halema‘uma‘u, just after sunset on January 8, 2021. This view is to the north, from the south rim of the crater. HVO scientists continue to monitor the eruption within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons. USGS image by N. Deligne.
Aerial image of the active west vent area and the largest island in Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. During the overflight of Kīlauea's summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists noted that the dome fountain, which had been persistent near the base of the west vent area, had subsided and was no longer present. USGS photo by K.
Aerial image of the active west vent area and the largest island in Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. During the overflight of Kīlauea's summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists noted that the dome fountain, which had been persistent near the base of the west vent area, had subsided and was no longer present. USGS photo by K.
This photo, taken during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit this morning (January 7, 2021), shows the southeast margin of Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. The photo shows the boundary between the active portion of the lava lake (left) and the subtle levee around the lake perimeter that allows the lake to be slightly perched.
This photo, taken during an overflight of Kīlauea's summit this morning (January 7, 2021), shows the southeast margin of Halemaʻumaʻu's growing lava lake. The photo shows the boundary between the active portion of the lava lake (left) and the subtle levee around the lake perimeter that allows the lake to be slightly perched.
During an overflight of Kīlauea summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists captured this image of the growing lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu. Sunny weather allowed for clear views of Mauna Loa, to the west. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
During an overflight of Kīlauea summit today (January 7, 2021) at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST, HVO geologists captured this image of the growing lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu. Sunny weather allowed for clear views of Mauna Loa, to the west. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
This thermal image, looking northwest, shows the distribution of activity on the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The lake is slightly perched and surrounded along its perimeter by a lower ledge of cooler lava. The western fissure, in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater, is visible in the upper left portion of the image, just above the lake.
This thermal image, looking northwest, shows the distribution of activity on the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The lake is slightly perched and surrounded along its perimeter by a lower ledge of cooler lava. The western fissure, in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater, is visible in the upper left portion of the image, just above the lake.
Kīlauea summit KW webam image taken on January 6, 2021, just after 6:30 a.m. HST. The eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu continues and this photo shows that activity remains focused at the west vent as of Jan. 6 morning.
Kīlauea summit KW webam image taken on January 6, 2021, just after 6:30 a.m. HST. The eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu continues and this photo shows that activity remains focused at the west vent as of Jan. 6 morning.
View to the north-northwest from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and showing the activity at the western fissure, partly obscured by a rainbow.
View to the north-northwest from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and showing the activity at the western fissure, partly obscured by a rainbow.
View to the northwest from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater showing the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. The active western fissure is visible above the lake, producing minor spatter and a gas plume from vents at the top.
View to the northwest from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater showing the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. The active western fissure is visible above the lake, producing minor spatter and a gas plume from vents at the top.
An HVO geologist takes Kīlauea summit eruption lake-level, spatter-cone, and dome-fountain measurements with a laser rangefinder. The top of the dome fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu was up to 5 meters (16 ft) above the lake surface. The lake elevation suggests a maximum lava lake depth of approximately 193 m (211 yd).
An HVO geologist takes Kīlauea summit eruption lake-level, spatter-cone, and dome-fountain measurements with a laser rangefinder. The top of the dome fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu was up to 5 meters (16 ft) above the lake surface. The lake elevation suggests a maximum lava lake depth of approximately 193 m (211 yd).
A helicopter overflight on January 5, 2021, at approximately 8:30 a.m. HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the eruption within Halema'uma'u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. The dimensions of the lava lake are 760 m (831 yd) E-W axis and 470 m (514 yd) in N-S axis.
A helicopter overflight on January 5, 2021, at approximately 8:30 a.m. HST allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the eruption within Halema'uma'u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. The dimensions of the lava lake are 760 m (831 yd) E-W axis and 470 m (514 yd) in N-S axis.
Telephoto view of the lava flow and “dome fountain” activity at the west vent of the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea Volcano summit, at 5:45 p.m. HST on 5 January, 2021. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Telephoto view of the lava flow and “dome fountain” activity at the west vent of the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea Volcano summit, at 5:45 p.m. HST on 5 January, 2021. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
View through the laser rangefinder from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea Volcano summit, and showing the “dome fountain” and west vent effusive lava flow around 3:30 p.m. HST on January 5, 2021. A glowing vent is also visible at the top of the spatter structure. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
View through the laser rangefinder from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea Volcano summit, and showing the “dome fountain” and west vent effusive lava flow around 3:30 p.m. HST on January 5, 2021. A glowing vent is also visible at the top of the spatter structure. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
View looking north across Kīlauea caldera from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, showing the ongoing eruption around 5:30 p.m. HST on January 5, 2021. The west vent activity included the “dome fountain,” effusive lava flows from a mid-elevation vent, and weak strombolian spattering activity from the high-elevation vent. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
View looking north across Kīlauea caldera from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u, showing the ongoing eruption around 5:30 p.m. HST on January 5, 2021. The west vent activity included the “dome fountain,” effusive lava flows from a mid-elevation vent, and weak strombolian spattering activity from the high-elevation vent. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Topography of Halema'uma'u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, on December 26, 2020 (left), and January 5, 2021 (right). These Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are created from aerial imagery collected during helicopter overflights. They show that the lava lake within Halema'uma'u continues to rise and deepen.
Topography of Halema'uma'u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, on December 26, 2020 (left), and January 5, 2021 (right). These Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are created from aerial imagery collected during helicopter overflights. They show that the lava lake within Halema'uma'u continues to rise and deepen.
The west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater continues to erupt at Kīlauea’s summit. These telephoto images from December 29 (left) and December 30 (right) compare the lava lake surface below the west vent. The west vent is supplying lava to the lake through a crusted over channel, which was starting to form by December 30. USGS photos by H. Dietterich.
The west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater continues to erupt at Kīlauea’s summit. These telephoto images from December 29 (left) and December 30 (right) compare the lava lake surface below the west vent. The west vent is supplying lava to the lake through a crusted over channel, which was starting to form by December 30. USGS photos by H. Dietterich.
At Halema‘uma‘u, the west vents (visible in the foreground of this photo as two glowing holes on a cone-shaped feature) erupt occaisional spatter.
At Halema‘uma‘u, the west vents (visible in the foreground of this photo as two glowing holes on a cone-shaped feature) erupt occaisional spatter.
Early this morning, the west vents in Halema‘uma‘u spattered from two places at the top of a small cone plastered on the northwest wall. This process can be seen in Kīlauea Volcano's summit F1 thermal webcam view of the lava lake.
Early this morning, the west vents in Halema‘uma‘u spattered from two places at the top of a small cone plastered on the northwest wall. This process can be seen in Kīlauea Volcano's summit F1 thermal webcam view of the lava lake.
View of the west vent area and lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
View of the west vent area and lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. USGS photo by K. Lynn.