Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has been conducting overflights of Kilauea Volcano.  The first video is from Sunday Dec. 27, 202, and includes evening views of the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. The west vent remained active overnight, with strombolian-like bursts and lava cascades. [ Ed note:  strombolian:  denoting volcanic activity of the kind typified by Stromboli, with continual mild eruptions in which lava fragments are ejected. ]  Lava cascading from the vent plunges into the lava lake in multiple places, causing local upwelling. As the cascades enter the lava lake, they cause the lava lake surface to slosh and pull cooled pieces of crust under the surface.

 

 

This overflight video was shot today, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020.  A helicopter overflight this morning around 9:30 a.m. HST provided aerial views of the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u. This video shows the lava lake and active west vent. The spatter rampart built by the northern/eastern vent that is no longer erupting is visible on the crater wall. Visual and thermal imagery collected during the overflight are used to map the ongoing activity.

 

Videos and photos courtesy USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.