Images

An HVO geologist shields his face from the intense heat as he takes a sample of active lava on the Kahauale‘a 2 flow. The chemistry of the lava is analyzed through time and used to study changes in the magmatic system.

This thermal image looks southwest towards the vent on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, and shows much of the Kahauale‘a 2 flow. Hotter colors (yellow and white) represent active breakouts, while warm colors (red and purple) show recently active portions of the flow.

A close-up view of one of the many breakouts of pāhoehoe on the Kahauale‘a 2 flow.

Repairs are made to an Acoustic Flow Monitor (AFM) located at the confluence of the North Fork Toutle River, Maratta, Castle and Coldwater Creeks, where the most recent lahar occurred in November, 2006. AFMs are installed to "hear" when lahars [muddy debris flows] move down channel so affected communities can be warned of the hazard.

The deep-sea drilling ship Chikyu, which will attempt to drill through the Moho [Image copyrighted by JAMSTEC. Used with permission].

Image of ripples in sand, next to a rocky surface on the seafloor 2.5 km (1.5 miles) offshore San Mateo County, California at a depth of 24.6 meters (81 feet). The two red dots in the image (from lasers mounted on the camera and used as reference points) are 15 cm (6 inches) apart.

The Kahauale‘a 2 flow is fed from a spatter cone, shown here, on the northeast edge of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's crater floor. The spatter cone is about 8 m (26 ft) high.

The Kahauale‘a 2 flow extends to the north and northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. From the edge of the flow, where it first reaches the forest, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō still appears to tower above the surrounding plain.

Active breakouts on the Kahauale‘a 2 are scattered over a broad area. Here, a breakout near the edge of the forest engulfs trees and burns dead foliage.

This beautiful bubble of glass, about the size of an small orange, adorns the surface of a breakout on the Kahauale‘a 2 flow. Note the delicate bubble walls stretched so thin that they grade from the color of honey to transparent.

Active breakouts on the Kahauale‘a 2 are scattered over a broad area. Here, a breakout near the edge of the forest engulfs trees and burns dead foliage.

The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u has fallen slightly over the past few weeks. It is now about 55 m (180 ft) below the surrounding crater floor.

The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u has fallen slightly over the past few weeks. It is now about 55 m (180 ft) below the surrounding crater floor.

All Hawaii residents are encouraged to participate in the Great Hawaii ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:17 a.m. on October 17, 2013.

The Kahauale‘a 2 flow extends to the north and northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. From the edge of the flow, where it first reaches the forest, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō still appears to tower above the surrounding plain.

Active breakouts on the Kahauale‘a 2 are scattered over a broad area. Here, a breakout near the edge of the forest engulfs trees and burns dead foliage.

The Kahauale‘a 2 flow extends to the north and northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. From the edge of the flow, where it first reaches the forest, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō still appears to tower above the surrounding plain.

This beautiful bubble of glass, about the size of an small orange, adorns the surface of a breakout on the Kahauale‘a 2 flow. Note the delicate bubble walls stretched so thin that they grade from the color of honey to transparent.

The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u has fallen slightly over the past few weeks. It is now about 55 m (180 ft) below the surrounding crater floor.

This beautiful bubble of glass, about the size of an small orange, adorns the surface of a breakout on the Kahauale?a 2 flow. Note the delicate bubble walls stretched so thin that they grade from the c

The USGS Big Thompson River at Loveland streamgage, pictured here, was damaged during the September 2013 Colorado flood event. USGS crews installed a temporary streamgage nearby to compensate for the lag in data.