Images

View of fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting during the morning of December 1, 2022. Fissure 3 continues to be the dominant of two erupting fissures on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its fourth full day. At this time two fissures are active, sending lava flows primarily to the north-northeast.

This image, taken during an early morning overflight on 30 November 2022, shows Fissure 3, the dominant source of activity. As of 7 a.m. HST, the lava fountains are 20-25 meters in height (65-82 feet) and feed a lava flow moving to the northeast at ~130 meters per hour (0.08 miles per hour).

A helicopter overflight on November 30, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. Two active fissures on the Northeast Rift Zone are feeding lava flows to the north, northeast, and southeast.

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa has continued into its third full day. At this time two fissures are active, sending lava flows primarily to the north-northeast.

Aerial image of fissure 4 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 4 is less active than fissure 3, but is generating lava flows moving toward the northeast and a small lobe moving to the east. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Aerial image of fissure 3 on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone erupting the morning of November 30, 2022.  Fissure 3 remains the dominant source of the largest lava flow being generated during the eruption. USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

A field crew was out documenting the location of the front of the flow closest to Saddle Road on Nov. 30, 2022, between 3:00 and 4:00 pm HST. This photo shows the front of the aʻa flow, with a helicopter for scale.

Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road.

Photo showing the front of the aʻa flow closest to Saddle Road, taken on Nov. 30, around 3:30 pm HST. The photo was taken looking south to southeastward from the Hilo-Kona Road, approximately 4 miles south of Saddle Road and one mile west of the Mauna Loa Observatory Road.

Fissure 3 of the Northeast Rift Zone Mauna Loa eruption with a plume of volcanic gases and fine volcanic ash and Pele's hair being wafted in a near vertical plume. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.

Photograph of a high-definition video camera filming fissure 3. Field crews are out today monitoring the eruption of Mauna Loa. Mauna Kea is in the distance behind the fountaining fissure. Taken at about 7:15 AM on November 30, 2022.

Aerial image of the distal end of a lava flow from Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of November 30, 2022. As of 12:30 HST p.m. on November 30, the flow front remained about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). USGS image by K. Mulliken. 

Photograph taken from Saddle Road at 6AM Hawaii time on November 29, 2022 shows lava flows moving northeast downslope of Mauna Loa volcano from the Northeast Rift Zone eruption.

Photograph taken from Saddle Road at 6AM Hawaii time on November 29, 2022 shows lava flows moving northeast downslope of Mauna Loa volcano from the Northeast Rift Zone eruption.

Aerial photograph of the dominant fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, taken at approximately 8 a.m. HST November 29, 2022. Fissure 3 fountains were up to 25 m (82 ft) this morning and the vent was feeding the main lava flow to the northeast.  USGS photo by M. Patrick.  

A morning view of Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone eruption plume from Hilo. Volcanic gas emissions are generating an eruption plume primarily being blown to the North this morning. USGS photo by K. Hon on November 29, 2022. 

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist documents a lava flow from the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa the morning of November 29, 2022. The ‘a‘ā lava flow, on the northeast flank of Mauna Loa, is several feet thick. 'A'ā flows have a rough rubbly surface composed of broken lava blocks called clinkers.

Photograph of fissure 3 erupting on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone the morning of November 29, 2022. The longest and largest lava flow is issuing from fissure 3. This lava flow crossed the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory Road at approximately 8 p.m.

These Pele's hairs were collected along the Saddle Road many kilometers (miles) away from the eruptive vents. They were carried downwind and deposited across the landscape. Each hair is less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide and they form as lava pulls and stretches as it cools during eruption. Photo taken at around 10:45 a.m.

An erupting fissure high on Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone was issuing multiple lava flows on the morning of November 29, 2022. Fountain heights of 20-25 meters (65-82 feet) were measured by HVO field crews. A gas plume is rising off of the fissure and partially obscuring Mauna Kea in the background of the image. USGS image by L. Gallant.