Videos

During an overflight at approximately 6 a.m., USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observed the fissures system that opened on the upper portion of the Southwest Rift Zone early this morning. Approximately half a mile (about 1 km) in length, only the southwest portion of the system was active by daylight. 

Aerial video of the Southwest Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea, viewed during an overflight at approximately 6 a.m. on June 3, 2024. USGS video.

This two-minute video summarizes the 1924 explosive eruption at the summit of Kīlauea, which occurred 100 years ago this year. The video is narrated by Thomas Jaggar, who founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 1912. His description of the 1924 eruption was recorded in 1951 by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. 

Mount St. Helens and Yellowstone are two of the most well-known volcanoes in the United States. They have some pretty obvious differences, but they have some similarities as well. So, just how similar are Mount St. Helens and Yellowstone?

Mt St. Helens before 1980, Land of Transformation

A stylistic interpretation of pre eruption snowcapped Mount St Helens as seen from a blue Spirit Lake with green rolling hills.  

Text changes to May 18, 1980, Eruption. There is a grey explosion of rocks and smoke coming out the top of Mt St Helens. The hills and water are grey and brown.

Mt St. Helens before 1980, Land of Transformation

A stylistic interpretation of pre eruption snowcapped Mount St Helens as seen from a blue Spirit Lake with green rolling hills.  

Text changes to May 18, 1980, Eruption. There is a grey explosion of rocks and smoke coming out the top of Mt St Helens. The hills and water are grey and brown.

This video presents a visualization of how the MIT Green Building in Cambridge, Massachusetts, shook during the Mw 4.8 April 5, 2024, Tewksbury, New Jersey, earthquake. The building was instrumented by the U.S. Geological Survey to obtain data for studying its behavior and performance during strong shaking.

Press conference held at 12pm EST April 5, 2024. 

Press conference held at 2:30 pm EST on April 5, 2024. 

Is there a wrecked ship rising out of Yellowstone Lake or is it an April Fool's joke? Watch to learn more!

This is a remarkable film of the underwater landslide and tsunami at Valdez, Alaska, taken during the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake. 

It has never been seen before in its correct sequence. There is no other film that we are aware of that shows the formation of a large submarine landslide.

This is a remarkable film of the underwater landslide and tsunami at Valdez, Alaska, taken during the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake. 

It has never been seen before in its correct sequence. There is no other film that we are aware of that shows the formation of a large submarine landslide.

Volcanic ash in Kansas? It's true there's thick deposits there, but where are the source volcanoes? Geologists began puzzling over this in the late 1800s when these deposits were first recognized. 

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediment or coral over time. They process and analyze these core samples at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Sediment Core Lab. 

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediment or coral over time. They process and analyze these core samples at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Sediment Core Lab. 

On February 6, 2023, magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Turkey near the Syrian border. Over 50,000 people lost their lives. Earthquake shaking was not the only hazard. The quake triggered landslides, liquefaction, and other cascading hazards.

Ever wonder how scientists measure how thick landslides are? There are a few ways, but the one Kate Allstadt explains might surprise you.

If a geyser erupts and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Of course it does, and now we can hear it no matter when it happens thanks to a new monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park.

In this monthly update of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, we present our take on the top five headlines for 2023.

0:12 - Earthquakes, Deformation

1:20 - Steamboat Geyser Eruptions

2:30 - New Monitoring for Hydrothermal

3:24 - Volcanic Eruptions at Yellowstone

4:34 - Magma Chamber below Yellowstone

Steamboat Geyser is the tallest geyser in the world. It has been putting on a show the last few years for visitors at Yellowstone National Park with a record number of water eruptions, 48 eruptions each in 2019 and 2020. But it's only had eight eruptions in 2023. Is Steamboat losing steam? 

Debris flows occur as a result of glacial outburst floods or intense fall storms prior to snow accumulations and occur commonly at the glaciated Mount Rainier, WA. Over 60 such events have been documented since 1928, 35+ of which have occurred in Tahoma Creek on the southwest side of the park.