HVO field crews observed the continuing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea’s early this morning. Overnight, the western vent in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u continued to erupt, and the northern/eastern vent remained inactive. At approximately 4:30 a.m. HST today (Dec. 28), HVO field crews measured the lava lake as 179 m (586 ft) deep. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Kīlauea’s summit eruption continues on the Island of Hawai‘i. HVO field crews—equipped specialized safety gear and PPE—monitor the current eruption from within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park with NPS permission. The west vent in Halema‘uma‘u remains active; the lava lake level has not changed. Gas emissions and seismic activity at the summit remain elevated.
Sunrise at the summit of Kīlauea, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on the morning of December 28, 2020. Portions of Crater Rim Drive that down-dropped during Kīlauea’s 2018 collapse events, are visible in the lower left. This area remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions. USGS photo by C. Parcheta.
HVO field crews have been using a laser range finder to measure the vertical distance between points of known elevation and features of the ongoing eruption, such as the lava lake surface level and the erupting vents. This morning, the eruption continues at the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, and streams of lava about 40 m (131 ft) pour from the vent to the lava lake surface. USGS photo by C. Parcheta.
During the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists continue to monitor the event. A geologist on the southwest rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater records eruptive activity. At approximately 7:30 a.m. HST the lava lake was measured at 177 m (581 ft) deep. For comparison, the maximum lava lake depth measured during the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption was 126 m (413 ft) deep. Mauna Loa Volcano is visible in the background. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick.
The western fissure vents remain active within Halema‘uma‘u crater, but have slightly decreased in eruptive vigor since yesterday afternoon (December 26). Emission rates remain elevated but have decreased significantly since the northern fissure shut down shortly after 2:40 a.m. HST on December 26. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick at approximately 8:50 a.m. HST on December 27.
The ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater continues at the western fissure vents. On December 26 around 2:40 a.m. HST, all three vents increased in eruptive vigor and were sending channels of lava into the lava lake. The increase in lava discharge from the western vents continued into Saturday afternoon (left photo). On Sunday, December 27, the eruptive activity appears to have slightly decreased. This morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. HST (right photo) the western-most vent (left) had a small skylight visible with occasional spatter ejected. The central vent channel was crusted over, but a swift stream was visibly entering the lava lake near the tubes base. The eastern (right) vent continues to produce an open channel that feeds into the lava lake. USGS photos by M. Patrick.
The Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater continues this evening with no major changes from earlier Sunday. The western fissure vents (right) remain active. A HVO scientist makes observations of the ongoing activity. Mauna Loa Volcano is visible in the background. USGS photo taken at approximately 5:45 p.m. HST on December 27 by F. Trusdell.