In the Field
Once in the field, the team got to work. First, they set up their cameras. They wanted to take time‑lapse photos of the vent.
Three cameras were set up. They were put in separate places but all aimed at the same point. The cameras would be started using a remote control. Then photos could be taken at the same time.
The team took test shots to make sure the cameras were working. Then, they weighed them down with rocks to hold them in place. Everything was ready now!
Grocke inspects the cameras and other gear before setting them up.
Routine Maintenance
During the day, the cameras would take one picture every five seconds. At night, one picture every minute would be taken. The team would take pictures for 36 hours straight.
These three cameras will be connected using radio transmitters and receivers, so that they can take photos of the lava dome at the same time from three different places.
Batteries in the cameras had to be changed every eight hours. This was hard to do at night. The team used headlamps and hiking poles to help them reach the cameras.
Grocke took notes of her observations. Salazar took thousands of photographs. And Donihue used a drone to collect data and take pictures from the air.