Dome Fountain Formed at Lava Lake Inlet, Halema’uma’u (Jan 2-3, 2020)

Lava forms a “dome fountain” at the inlet to the lava lake in Halema’uma’u crater January 2-3, 2021. Lava from the western vent cascades beneath roofed vertical channels to enter the lava lake at an inlet that has become partially submerged. The result is a rolling upwelling of lava near the inlet called a “dome fountain.” Dome fountains have been observed during eruptions at Mauna Ulu and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Dome fountains can occur when lava rapidly emerges from a constricted vent or fissure onto the surface or,