Images

As noted above, the new flows have caused withdrawal of magma within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and small collapses of the several cones on the crater floor. Dropping lava levels in the northeast lava pond in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater caused collapses and enlargement of the pond, which has nearly claimed the time-lapse camera (left side of images) observing the lava pond.

Surface flows remained active this morning on the Kahauale‘a 2 flow, but today's observations suggest that the new breakouts at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō may have interrupted the lava supply to the Kahauale‘a 2 flow field. Observations over the next few days will be able to determine if the lava supply to the Kahauale‘a 2 flow has ceased.

Elevated pressure within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone reached a breaking point this morning with magma intruding through the cone and erupting from fissures on the northeast flank of the cone. These new vents fed a vigorous, but still relatively short, channelized flow that had reached about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō by 11 am.

View of the sinuous channelized flow that is moving to the northeast. The flow front this morning was about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

The advancing front of the channelized flow northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The front this morning was 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

Thermal image of the channelized lava flow. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is at the top of the image. The line of slightly lower temperatures down the center of the channel represents more intact (and cooler) crust, which is less disrupted than the lava near the channel margins.

Preview image for video: shows the swiftly moving lava in the channelized flow.

Preview image for video: shows a large chunk of lava being pushed by the current in the channel.

This comparison of a normal photograph with a thermal image shows the distribution of activity northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Today's breakouts originated from several fissures on the upper northeast flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone, sending out flows to the northeast. These partially overlap with the existing Kahauale‘a 2 flow, which had scattered surface flows this morning.

A sketch by Joseph Nāwahī showing the 1881 lava flow approaching Hilo. (Courtesy of National Park Service, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, HAVO 394, Volcano House Guest Register 1873 to 1885, illustration by Joseph Nāwahī, February 21, 1881.)

June 17, 2014, photo showing smoke produced by the incursion of the Kahauale‘a 2 flow into native forest 7.0 km (4.3 miles) northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, which is visible in the background.

Mike Poland (USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) shows Marcellin Kasereka  (Goma Volcanological Survey, Democratic Republic of Congo, red jacket) how to adjust the leg of a tripod, while Patricia Ponce (Colombia Geological Survey, white hat) keeps the GPS antenna rod steady.

Chain of Craters Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

The Kahauale‘a 2 flow remains active northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Today, its most distant tip, in the foreground of this photo, was burning into the forest 7.0 km (4.3 miles) from its source at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. View is toward the southwest.

The Kahauale‘a 2 flow remains active northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Today, its most distant tip, in the foreground of this photo, was burning into the forest 7.0 km (4.3 miles) from its source at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. View is toward the southwest.

The fuming spatter cone near the center of the photo is informally called the "Northeast spatter cone", and is the source of the Kahauale‘a 2 flow. Lava reaches the surface at that point and flows directly into a lava tube, which feeds the active flows downslope. View is toward the west.

The fuming spatter cone near the center of the photo is informally called the "Northeast spatter cone", and is the source of the Kahauale‘a 2 flow. Lava reaches the surface at that point and flows directly into a lava tube, which feeds the active flows downslope. View is toward the west.

While the top of the Northeast spatter cone is often open, revealing a small lava pond (see photo from June 6, 2014), today its top was sealed shut. This has happened several times over the past year, and is likely a temporary situation. View is toward the northwest.

While the top of the Northeast spatter cone is often open, revealing a small lava pond (see photo from June 6, 2014), today its top was sealed shut. This has happened several times over the past year, and is likely a temporary situation. View is toward the northwest.

The summit lava lake, its surface composed of solidified plates separated by incandescent seams, was about 42 m (138 ft) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u today. The mostly destroyed visitor overlook is at the left side of the photo, on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u. View is toward the west.

Spattering was occurring at three locations along the edge of the lava lake during today's overflight. Spattering like this is common, can occur anywhere around the lake margin (though it most often occurs at the southeast edge), and repeatedly starts and stops. View is toward the southeast.

Spattering was occurring at three locations along the edge of the lava lake during today's overflight. Spattering like this is common, can occur anywhere around the lake margin (though it most often occurs at the southeast edge), and repeatedly starts and stops. View is toward the southeast.