Fissure 8: The journey of lava from vent to sea

The journey: From vent to the sea.

A helicopter overflight video of the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea eruption on June 14, 2018, around 6:00 AM. The video shows lava fountaining at fissure 8 feeding and feeding the channelized flows that flow into the ocean. Lava is still flowing out of fissure 8 unabated and the channel is full.

At the start of the video, standing waves in the lava channel can be seen near the vent exit. The channel appears crust-free from vent to the bend around Kapoho Crater. A surface crust forms over the channel as it spreads out during its approach to the ocean. The overflight along the ocean entry is from north to south along the coastline. The ocean entry is active along the whole length - approximately 1 mile. Small litoral explosions are occurring and there are several plumes of laze.

Kīlauea Volcano - Midday Overflight (June 5)

A mid-day overflight on June 5 shows the ongoing partial collapse of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. To the north of the former visitor Overlook parking area (closed in 2008) is the site of the former lava lake—now a deep hole piled with wall-rock rubble. The western portion of Halema‘uma‘u has moved down and toward the center of the crater as new cracks form on the caldera floor to the west. Kīlauea's summit continues to subside due to the withdrawal of magma towards the volcano's East Rift Zone.