Fern in a ground crack that widen following January 31–February 2, 2024, intrusion at Kīlauea

On February 3, 2024, a team of HVO scientists documented ground cracks in three areas, caused by ground deformation from the intrusion at Kīlauea south of the summit caldera. There were many new cracks and some pre-existing cracks in the area widened. This photo shows a fern which was growing in a pre-existing crack (going from left to right), which had its roots disturbed as the cracks widened during the intrusion event. USGS photo by N. Deligne.