November 25, 2024 — Kīlauea September 2024 Lava Trees

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.