December 11, 2009 - Multiple plumes blow toward the south-southwest from Kilauea. One of Hawaii’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea is a shield volcano with a low, broad shape resembling an ancient warrior shield. It overlaps a neighboring shield volcano, Mauna Loa, to the west. This true-color image shows a wide-area view of Kilauea Volcano, the Halema‘uma‘u Crater (top left) and Pu‘u O‘o Crater (far right). The largest and thickest plume appears at Pu‘u O‘o Crater. At the Halema‘uma‘u Crater, a plume emanates from a relatively small location on the southeastern crater rim. The plume’s light color suggests a high proportion of water vapor, although some ash might mix with steam in this plume. The Pu‘u O‘o Crater is completely obscured by a volcanic plume, which appears to arise from the entire crater. Northeast of this crater, another plume billows from a pinpoint of activity, the Thanksgiving Eve Breakout Vent. (This breakout vent formed on the eve of Thanksgiving in 2007.) Like the plume from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, these plumes appear light in color, and likely contain predominantly steam.