Tuesday Night Eruption Update: Lava Lake Now 52 Acres in Size

The 2 active fissures continue to fountain lava into the fast-growing lava lake inside Halema'uma'u crater. The lava lake has grown to approximately 52 acres in size. As of 5 pm HST, the lake is now 470 feet deep. An island that rises approximately 55 feet above the surrounding lava lake has been moving/floating around the lava lake. Photo 1 Aerial imagery collected during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight at approximately 11:35 a.m. HST. This photo shows the two active fissures in Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater. These fissures in the wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater feed a growing lake at its base. In the center of the lake, an island rises approximately 17 m (55 ft) above the surrounding lake surface. The island moves as if floating and is likely material erupted early in this eruption that accumulated at the base of Halema‘uma‘u crater. USGS photo. Photo 2 Aerial imagery collected during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight at approximately 11:35 a.m. HST. This photo shows the western, weaker of the two active fissures in Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater. USGS photo. Photo 3 The eruption at Kīlauea Volcano's summit continues within Halema‘uma‘u crater. This photo, taken at approximately 2:43 p.m. HST on December 22, shows the two fissures active on the crater wall that continue to feed a growing lava lake. USGS photo by L. DeSmither. Photo 4 The lava island that sits about 55 feet above the surrounding lava lake. To see the rest of the photos, visit the post page here: https://www.hawaiitracker.com/posts/5fe2cac6a2f0e80004cb775d