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Kilauea Volcano's lava lake emerged in February 2010, nearly two years after Overlook crater appeared on March 19, 2008. The crater formed with a blast, erupting on the floor of Halemau'mau' crater atop Kilauea's summit. In years since, the lava lake's surface has never approached the crater rim as closely as it did in April 2015. [Read the full story.]
The lava lake in Kilauea volcano on April 26, 2015. This is the highest the lava lake has reached during the current summit eruption. (Photo credit: USGS)
Rocks falling onto the lake surface trigger these small fire fountains. (Photo credit: USGS)
The lava lake surface within Overlook crater at the summit of Kilauea volcano. (Photo credit: USGS)
This April 25 photo shows the lava lake from the west side of Halema'uma'u crater. The lava lake was about 30 feet (10 m) below the crater rim. (Photo credit: USGS)
The Overlook crater lava lake on April 23, one day after the lake level started rising. (Photo credit: USGS)
Kilauea's summit in 2012. Volcanic gases mark the location of the lava lake. (Photo credit: NASA Earth Observatory)
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The summit of Kilauea volcano in 2003, before the lava lake emerged. (Photo credit: NASA Earth Observatory)
Becky Oskin covers Earth science, climate change and space, as well as general science topics. Becky was a science reporter at Live Science and The Pasadena Star-News; she has freelanced for New Scientist and the American Institute of Physics. She earned a master's degree in geology from Caltech, a bachelor's degree from Washington State University, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
