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Photo and Video Chronology — November 25, 2024 — Visiting the September 2024 Kīlauea eruption site

Learn more about the September 2024 Kīlauea eruption
By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory December 9, 2024

With permission from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, team of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the site of the September 2024 Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. They surveyed, sampled, and documented the new volcanic fissures and features, which formed west of and in Nāpau crater from September 15–20, 2024. 

Color photograph of lava flows on floor of crater
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This view, taken on Monday, November 25, 2024, around 8 a.m., looks to the east from the west rim of Nāpau Crater. The September 2024 lava flows on the floor of Nāpau Crater are visible in the foreground while Pu‘u‘ō‘ō, active from 1983–2018, is visible in the background. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Color photograph of cooled lava draped over crater wall
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On November 25, 2024, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists surveyed the lava-draped west walls of Nāpau Crater. This view looks to the southwest and shows where the lava falls were vigorous enough to throw molten spatter over to the trail area. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Color photograph of burned tree next to hole in lava flow
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A close-up view of a tree mold in a lava flow from the September 2024 Nāpau eruption. When the active lava flow came into contact with the tree, a mold was formed (black hole near center of photo). The high heat of the lava eventually burned through the base of the tree on the right side of the image causing it to fall on top of the newly emplaced lava flow. USGS photo taken on November 25, 2024, by L. DeSmither. 
Color photograph of boot next to volcanic spatter
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This image shows spatter that was thrown up onto the Nāpau Crater trail to the northeast of the September 2024 middle East Rift Zone lava falls that spilled over the western rim of Nāpau Crater. Boot for scale. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Color photograph of feature in lava flow with foot for scale
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During field work on November 25th, 2024, HVO geologists spotted these lava "rosettes" in Nāpau Crater. They could be found on the edges of the September 15–20 lava flows, and seemed to be twirled up lava margins that spun into flower shapes as the molten flows were viscous and cooling. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Color photograph of lava trees
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A close-up view of two tree molds beneath the surface of a September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone lava flow. Gas-rich lava flows near the September 2024 fissure vents created void spaces beneath the flow surface, which partially collapsed to reveal the base of these tree molds. USGS photo by L. DeSmither, taken on November 25, 2024.
Color photo of lava trees
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Lava trees stand in the middle of a lava flow from the September 2024 eruption on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone. The height of these lava trees represents the height of the lava flow at the time it was emplaced, with the lava cooling as it came into contact with the tree trunks. The lava flow then spread laterally as it moved downslope, dropping the level of the lava flow and leaving the cooled lava casts of the trees behind. On November 25, about two months after the eruption ended, steam and volcanic gas is still emanating from some of the fissure vents and tree molds forming sulfur deposits. USGS photo by L. DeSmither.
Color photograph of lava draped on tree
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Near the western-most fissures from the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption, lava spatter is visible on the branches of a small ‘ōhi‘a tree. The lava spatter landed while it was still partially molten, causing it drape and stretch over the branches before hardening. USGS photo taken on November 25, 2024, by L. DeSmither.
Color photograph of scientist taking a cold lava sample
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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist uses a hammer to collect a sample from a cooled lava flow near the western end of the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone fissure system. On November 25, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the recent eruption area to collect lava samples and other data to further their studies of the eruption. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither.
Color photograph of sulphur deposits on tree
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A close-up view of sulfur crystals that have grown on a fallen tree from the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption. This tree fell over a lava tree cast, which is releasing hot steam and volcanic gas to form this sulfur deposit. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on November 25, 2024.
Color photograph of scientist standing at edge of cooled lava flow
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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist observes a fissure from the September 15–20, 2024, Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption that occurred in and near Nāpau Crater. This photo was taken on November 25, where the first fissure opened, uprift (west) of Nāpau Crater. Pu‘u‘ō‘ō is visible on the skyline in the upper right. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither.
Color photograph of cooled lava flow margin
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On November 25, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the site of the September 2024 eruption on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone. Here, a shelly pāhoehoe lava flow (left) covered the base of a spatter cone (right) that grew around one of the lava fountains from an eruptive fissure vent. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither. 
Color photograph of scientist standing in inactive lava channel
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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist stands in a lava channel from the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption and examines the spatter rampart of a fissure on the south side of the channel. Red oxidized blocks from the spatter rampart lay on the floor of the channel in the middle and bottom of the photo. USGS photo taken on November 25, 2024, by L. DeSmither.
Color photograph of a person's hand with volcanic glass features
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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist displays pieces of lava spatter on their hand that were collected for geochemical analyses. The volcanic glass, erupted from a fissure on the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea in September 2024, was twisted in the air while still molten to form unique shapes. USGS photo taken on November 25, 2024, by L. DeSmither.

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