Images

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 image by M. Patrick. 

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 image by M. Patrick. 

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 image by M. Patrick. 

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa continues with a major change overnight. The fissure 3 (F3) vent continues to erupt but the supply of lava appears to be much reduced this morning. Lava is overtopping channels near the vent with flows extending no farther than 2.5 mi (4 km) from the vent.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa that began the evening of November 27, 2022, continues as of December 8, 2022 (eleventh full day). One active fissure, fissure 3, feeds lava flows downslope to the north.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

A helicopter overflight on December 7, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. This map only shows activity from Fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone, which is feeding a lava flow to the north.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa continues the morning of December 7, 2022. This image, taken during a morning overflight, shows an overflow from the main channel several kilometers upslope from the lava flow front. USGS image by F. Trusdell. 

Early morning views of the Mauna Loa Northeast Rift Zone Eruption on December 7, 2022 showed continued lava effusion from fissure 3 into the developed upper channel system. USGS Photo by K. Lynn.

View of the fissure 3 lava channel looking upslope during a morning overflight of the Mauna Loa Northeast Rift Eruption on December 7, 2022. The eruption vent was emitting a strong plume of volcanic gas, visible in the background of the image. USGS Photo by K. Lynn.

A morning overflight on December 7, 2022, provided aerial views of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

A morning overflight on December 7, 2022, provided aerial views of fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists have been working to understand what volcanic gases are being emitted by the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates of approximately 120,000 tonnes per day (t/d) were measured on December 4, 2022, and remain elevated at this time.

Telephoto view of the fissure 3 lava channel on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone, as seen by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews on the morning of December 7, 2022. Channel velocities here, closer to the vent where the channels are narrow, have been measured at around 26-36 feet per second (8.2-11 meters per second). USGS image by M. Patrick.

A view of the lava channel erupting from fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Near the vent, the lava channel moves at around 26-36 feet per second (8.2-11 meters per second). Farther downslope, the wide lava flow front is advancing more slowly, at an average rate slower than 20 feet (6 meters) per hour. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

Aerial view of a lava flow from the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa taken the morning of December 7, 2022. A significant breakout removing lava from the channel about 2.8 mi (4.5 km) behind the tip of the main flow on the east side was observed this morning.