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Lava lake now over 500 feet deep inside Halemaumau Crater on Hawaii island

By Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey

Dec. 25, 2020

Hawaii PhotosVolcanoes

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COURTESY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Lava activity at the western vent in the wall of Halemaumau Crater became more active than the northern vent on Dec. 26. Since the start of the eruption on Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m., the northern vent was erupting more vigorously than the weaker western vent. However, over the past two days, the northern vent has slowly been drowned by the rising lava lake and a more active western vent, according to this photo taken at about 5:15 a.m. Dec. 26. Hawaii Volcano Observatory field crews measured the rising lava lake at 583 feet deep.
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As 2:40 a.m. Dec. 26, activity at the west vent in Halemaumau Crater has increased. This photo taken at approximately 5:15 a.m. shows a lava fountain at the western vent and lava pouring from the northern end of the fissure into the growing lava lake. Hawaii Volcano Observatory field crews monitoring the activity overnight measured the western vent lava fountains at least 32 feet high.
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This aerial photo taken at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 26 shows Halemaumau Crater changes due to the ongoing Kilauea eruption. Around 2:40 a.m., the western fissure, which nearly inactive for several days, increased activity as all three vents started producing spatter and streams of lava. Shortly before 3 a.m., the northern vent, which was the most active, was drowned by the lava lake and became inactive.
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An aerial thermal image taken during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight around 9:30 a.m. Dec. 26. The western fissure vents, upper left, remain active and continue to produce small lava streams feeding into the lava lake. The northern fissure has become inactive as Hawaii Volcano Observatory field crews report that the lava lake is slowly draining at the northern fissure site, upper right. A cooled ledge of lava, similar to the ring on a bathtub, surrounds the perimeter of the lava lake as it slowly drains.
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COURTESY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Halemaumau Crater lava lake continues to grow. The northern fissure vent, top center, is inactive as lava lake draining continues. The “bathtub ring” of cooled lava is visible around the perimeter of the lava lake.
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COURTESY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

An early morning view of the ongoing eruption inside the Halemaumau Crater, where fountaining lava continues to feed a rising lava lake. This photo was taken at 2:30 a.m. Christmas Day from the south rim of the crater.
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COURTESY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Halemaumau Crater continues to fill with lava on Christmas Day.
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There are two adjacent lava fountains, the main fountain is on the east side and a tiny fountain to the west side.
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HVO field crews measured Kilauea's summit lava lake around 7:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
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COURTESY U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Monitoring stations, located downwind of Halemaumu Crater, need to be cleaned by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians. Small particle of tephra, also known as airborne fragments of lava, wind up on solar panels and other equipment.

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