Kilauea volcano (Hawai’i): cracks divide active and inactive portions of lava lake

Cracks divide active and inactive portions of the growing Halema‘uma‘u lava lake (image: HVO)

The effusive eruption of the volcano continues and has remained essentially unchanged at moderate levels.
The western fissure continues to supply the lava into the growing Halema‘uma‘u lava lake.
According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) a north-south trending line of surficial cracks divides the boundary between the western active portion (left) and eastern stagnant portion (right) of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake. Lake depth measurements from 28 January on both sides of the cracks (near center) indicate that the eastern portion of the lava lake is 4 m (13 ft) lower than the western portion of the lava lake. In contrast, the stagnant eastern portion is a duller gray with several smaller islands visible. North of the cracks (upper center), the top of the inactive northern vent spatter cone is nearly submerged by the rising lava lake.
On 23 January a sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions reached to a 2200 tonnes/day and continues at elevated levels including seismic activity.
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory volcano activity update 1 February 2021

Western fissure emits the gas content and supplies the lava flow into the lava lake. Snow from a recent storm can be seen on the summit of Mauna Loa Volcano, in the upper left corner of the image (image: HVO)