Eruption Types/Sources
Lava Lake - the majority of the current eruptive activity at Mt. Erebus is issued from this vent. This activity is characterized by strombolian eruptions, which are capable of hurling volcanic bombs onto the crater rim and beyond (~800 meters). The floor of the inner crater is littered with volcanic bombs having been erupted from this vent. While it is rare to observe a strombolian eruption while watching the streaming video, it is likely you will see small gas bubbles bursting on the surface of the lava lake.
Ash Vent - a relatively new style of eruptive activity at Mt. Erebus are ash eruptions. Clouds of ash are issued infrequently from the ash vent, often obscuring the view of the inner crater. Freshly fallen snow around the ash vent may take on a "dirty" appearance from the ash that has recently fallen onto it.
Lava Flow Vent - this vent is also known as "Werner's Fumarole" after volcanologist Werner Giggenbach. Recently, this vent was the source of a small (~20 meter long) lava flow. The viscous phonolitic lava oozed out over a period of several hours, forming a broad, flat flow. Currently, this "fumarole" appears to be a small lava lake as activity here has persisted for several w