Images

Group of sulfur-depositing fumaroles overlook the pond of water in Halema‘uma‘u. USGS photo by D. Swanson, 08-14-2019.

Schematic model showing a cross section of Old Faithful's plumbing system as determined from seismic studies. The red circles (t0-t3) show the location of the tremor source over time, and how the tremor source migrates upward prior to an Old Faithful eruption. Times between red circles are based on a 93-minute eruption interval.

These four images show the change in the area and level of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u spanning August 9 to 13. Rocks in the center of the pond and near the shoreline help show the change in the waterline.

Different portions of the ponds have different colors, presumably reflecting different amounts or varying chemistry of dissolved particles in the water.

On behalf of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Carolyn Donlin, Chief of the USGS Menlo Park Publishing Service Center, accepted an award from the National Association of Government Communicators recognizing HVO's weekly "Volcano Watch" articles as excellent communication products.

On August 7, HVO geologists measured temperatures and documented the rock layers exposed as sections of Highway 132 buried by lava during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption are "ripped" (shown here) to reopen the road. USGS photo by C. Parcheta, 08-07-2019.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, while assisting Alaska Volcano Observatory colleagues this summer, mounted a radio antenna on an upgraded seismic station at Great Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutian Islands. 

The photo above has been cropped here to better show agitation on the pond surface. The agitation could be due to escaping gases from below rising through the water, or from the water boiling, or, perhaps, a combination of both.

USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory staff, June 2019

During field observations on August 8, HVO scientists noted that all three ponds are now joined, indicating that the water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly rise. Rangefinder measurements also suggested continued pond deepening.

Synchrotron X-Ray microtomography 3D image (a) and cathodoluminescence slice (b) from the same reentrant-bearing quartz crystal from the Lava Creek Tuff. The reentrants are in darker blue in (a) and the black cavities in (b). Note their relationship to quartz growth bands. Red domains are small magnetite crystals.

Computer model of Lone Star Geyser constructed from multiple overlapping and scaled photographs and looking down into the geyser vent. This is a perspective that is only possible with images collected specifically to build a 3D model. Only the inner portion is obscured because in all the images, this area is continuously blanketed in opaque vapor.

A close-up of the water ponds at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, using a zoom lens on the thermal camera. The smaller hot patches above the main pond show areas of warm water in the smaller ponds.

The water level continues to slowly rise at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, resulting in enlargement and merging of the small ponds. Today, the second and third ponds (top of image) observed over the weekend have merged, and are nearly connected to the main pond (bottom of image). For scale, the main pond is about 15 meters (yards) wide.

Zooming in on the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u, the small puddle between the two greenish ponds is more visible. USGS photo by J. Babb, 08/04/2019.

USGS scientists Rebecca Kramer and Dan Dzurisin install a solar panel and GPS antenna (green square) at a semipermanent GPS station in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The work first required digging through 4 feet of snow!

With the help of a powerful telephoto lens, HVO geologists confirmed today that there are two areas of ponded water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u. Using a laser range finder from their observation site, they were able to measure the two greenish ponds.

This image shows an area of greenish fume (near top of photo) east of the water pond (center) at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u. This fume could suggest another emerging area of ponded water, but this has not yet been confirmed. HVO continues to closely monitor the area, and will report any significant changes.

While making observations today, HVO geologists noted a koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) gliding across the ponded water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u. The bird is visible in the top left quarter of the photo. USGS photo by M. Patrick, 08/03/2019.

The water pond deep within Halema‘uma‘u is impossible to see from most areas along the rim of Kīlauea's caldera. But one potential viewpoint on the rim was examined today by HVO geologists, who were able to see the small pond of water at the bottom of the crater, despite poor weather and fleeting views through fog.

A slightly closer view of the water in the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u taken with a telephoto lens during HVO's overflight today (August 1, 2019). USGS photo by S. Conway, 08/01/2019.