Images

On May 23, 2018, the Hilo Civil Air Patrol captured this evening photograph of the coastline where lava flows are entering the sea. There are currently three primary ocean entry points, which have evolved over the course of the eruption.

Multiple explosions at Kīlauea's summit occurred throughout today, with some of the ash plumes rising 6,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level. HVO scientists keeping tabs on the explosions from a safe distance captured these images. This photo was taken at 10:36 a.m. HST. 

An aerial view looking downrift from Leilani Estates at erupting fissures 5, 6, 19, and 22. Ponded lava from these fissures fed lava channels moving downslope, right side of the image, including the channels that fed the ocean entries just north of MacKenzie State Park. USGS photo taken on May 22, 2018, by S. Isgett.

Solidified lava from Fissure 17 (located to the east of the currently active fissure complex) has a consistency similar to toothpaste.

View during an early morning overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. Two fissures (not pictured) are sending lava down two channels that merge near the coast.

Aerial view of an active lava break-out.

The fissure complex remains active in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. At times, fountaining at Fissure 22 reached a height of about 50 m (about 160 ft).

The fissure complex, pictured in the upper right, continues to feed a meandering lava flow (in the center). Lava in the easternmost lobe i

A helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone shows the interaction of lava and seawater to produce a laze plume. Laze is formed when lava enters the ocean. The interaction sends hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles into the air.

Lava continues to enter the sea at two locations this morning. During this morning's overflight, the wind was blowing the "laze" plumes along the shoreline toward the southwest.

Lava fountain at fissure 22, 9:03 a.m. HST, from the north side the fissure complex. Geologists report this morning the lava fountain as high as about 50 m (164 ft).

Aerial view of erupting fissure 22 and lava channels flowing southward from the fissure during an early morning overflight. View is toward the southwest.

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's Lower East Rift Zone shows fountaining at Fissure 22.

By the end of the afternoon, only a single ocean entry was active. The lava channel originates from fissure 22. This photo was taken during a late afternoon overflight of the lower East Rift Zone, Kīlauea Volcano.

Map as of 8:00 am HST, May 21. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Lava from the eastern channel of the Fissure 20 complex is flowing into a crack in the ground that opened on the morning of May 20, 2018. The crack is "robbing" the easternmost channel of lava and the eastern ocean entry is therefore less vigorous than the western entry point.

The helicopter hovers above the ocean entry on May 20, 2018, around 6:45 AM HST. Several braided lava channels (red) are visible on the right. The white plume is "laze," which forms when hot lava hits the ocean sending hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles into the air.

Lava from the eastern channel of the Fissure 20 complex flows into a crack in the ground. The crack opened in the early morning hours of May 20, 2018. Prior to opening, lavawas flowing vigorously down a channel. After the crack formed, the lava began pouring into the ground.

View of ocean entry point from helicopter overflight on May 20, 2018, at 6:45 AM HST. 

Lava from the fissure complex erupting in Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone entered the ocean in late evening on May 19, 2018. The active ocean entry is producing a white "laze" plume. Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean, forming a plume of hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles.

Lava from the Fissure 20 complex is entering the ocean in two locations, separated by an area tens of yards wide. At the time of this early morning photo, lava flowing into the ocean entry on the eastern (left-most) lobe was diminishing while lava flowing into the ocean on the western (right-most) lobe was vigorous.