Pu`u`Ō`ō's crater floor collapses

Ash cloud rising from Pu`u `Ō `ō as crater floor collapses


The geologists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have released a first look at the new fissure eruption that just started today between Pu`u `O`o and Napau Crater. According to geologists, the first portion of the video was shot from the air looking southwest at the fissure eruption between Pu`u `O`o and Napau Crater. The fissure segment in the tephra in the foreground opened seconds earlier, and only about 10 minutes after the eruption as a whole started. The cracks through the tephra are in the process of opening, though this can’t be picked out at this distance. Meanwhile, the current Volcano Alert Level for Kilauea on Hawaii Island has been upgraded from Watch to Warning, and the current aviation color code has been upgraded from “orange” to “red.
Ash cloud rising from Pu`u `Ō `ō as crater floor collapses due to magma withdrawal. Incandescent rubble can be seen crumbling and rolling down the scarp. The east rim of Pu`u `Ō `ō is in the foreground.

Incandescent rubble rolling and sliding down the scarp on the edge of the collapsing crater in Pu`u `Ō `ō. A remnant of the pre-collapse crater floor can be seen in the background below the crater's south wall. The east rim of Pu`u `Ō `ō is in the foreground.

Video clip shot from the air looking SW at the fissure eruption between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau Crater. The fissure segment in the tephra in the foreground opened seconds earlier, and only about 10 minutes after the eruption as a whole started. The cracks through the tephra are in the process of opening, though this can't be picked out at this distance.

Video clip shot in front of the propagating fissure, showing low spattering that started moments earlier. Thick white steam from the crack in the foreground indicates that lava is about to reach the surface, and is seen doing so seconds later.

Video of spattering near the front of the propagating fissure.

Left. New fissure eruption SW of Pu`u `Ō `ō between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20 m into the air, above the trees. Pu`u `Ō `ō in the background.Right. New fissure eruption SW of Pu`u `Ō `ō between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau crater. Spatter is reaching 15-20 m into the air, above the trees.

Left. View to the SW at the new fissure eruption between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau. Cracks in the foreground could be seen opening as photo was being taken..Right. Close-up of recently opened fissure segment. Spatter reaching about 5 m into the air.

View looking at the NE end of the actively propagating fissure. Lava is just breaking the surface in foreground crack.

Left. Close-up of just-opened fissure segment at NE tip of propagating fissure. Spatter reaching 5 m into the air.Right. Close-up of just-opened fissure segment at NE tip of propagating fissure. Spatter reaching 5 m into the air. Lava just breaking the ground surface to the left.

Close-up of spattering fissure. Lava reaching 10 m into the air.

Left. View looking along recently opened fissure segment crossing tephra flats SW of Pu`u `Ō `ō, which is in the background. Right. View along fissure looking NE toward Pu`u `Ō `ō shrouded in clouds in the background. Fissure segment in forest has shut down.