Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The USGS Volcano Observatories host videos, photos, web camera views, and sometimes podcasts to share visual and audio information about volcanic eruptions and volcanic processes.
Check out the photos, videos, webcams, and other multimedia from the USGS Volcano Observatories.
During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater, this close-up image was taken of the tephra hill on the southwest rim of Kaluapele (the Kīlauea summit caldera). This hill of tephra formed during the ongoing episodic summit eruption as tephra fallout from many high fountaining episodes accumulated here.
During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater, this close-up image was taken of the tephra hill on the southwest rim of Kaluapele (the Kīlauea summit caldera). This hill of tephra formed during the ongoing episodic summit eruption as tephra fallout from many high fountaining episodes accumulated here.
On October 22, 2026, a crew of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists traveled via helicopter to the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor to collect lava samples from Kīlauea summit eruption episode 55, which occurred on October 17.
On October 22, 2026, a crew of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists traveled via helicopter to the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor to collect lava samples from Kīlauea summit eruption episode 55, which occurred on October 17.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist collects cooled lava samples from episode 55 lava flows on the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. During a helicopter overflight, HVO scientists landed on the crater floor to collect samples from an episode 55 lava channel for chemical analysis.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist collects cooled lava samples from episode 55 lava flows on the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. During a helicopter overflight, HVO scientists landed on the crater floor to collect samples from an episode 55 lava channel for chemical analysis.
An aerial view of the episode 55 lava channels and flows on Halema‘uma‘u crater floor taken on October 22, 2026, during a Kīlauea summit overflight. On October 17, lava flows from episode 55 covered a large portion of the crater floor.
An aerial view of the episode 55 lava channels and flows on Halema‘uma‘u crater floor taken on October 22, 2026, during a Kīlauea summit overflight. On October 17, lava flows from episode 55 covered a large portion of the crater floor.
An aerial view of the vent complex within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea, taken during a helicopter overflight on October 22, 2026. Deep within the north vent (lower left) a small area of incandescence was visible during the flight but isn’t visible in this photo.
An aerial view of the vent complex within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea, taken during a helicopter overflight on October 22, 2026. Deep within the north vent (lower left) a small area of incandescence was visible during the flight but isn’t visible in this photo.
A close-up aerial view of the north vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater taken during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on October 22, 2026. During the flight, a small area of incandescence was visible deep within the vent but can’t be seen in this image.
A close-up aerial view of the north vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater taken during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on October 22, 2026. During the flight, a small area of incandescence was visible deep within the vent but can’t be seen in this image.
Long before explosive eruptions formed the Yellowstone Caldera and heat from the magmatic system began feeding a dynamic hydrothermal system, there was the Absaroka volcanic range. Remnants of the rugged terrain are still visible on the east and north sides of Yellowstone National Park.
Long before explosive eruptions formed the Yellowstone Caldera and heat from the magmatic system began feeding a dynamic hydrothermal system, there was the Absaroka volcanic range. Remnants of the rugged terrain are still visible on the east and north sides of Yellowstone National Park.
Over the past few decades, an area on the north rim of Yellowstone Caldera has risen and fallen. Just last year a new period of uplift in this area began!
Over the past few decades, an area on the north rim of Yellowstone Caldera has risen and fallen. Just last year a new period of uplift in this area began!
Did you hear that??? Well, Roaring Mountain isn’t quite as loud as it used to be, but it’s still one of the hottest thermal areas in all of Yellowstone National Park!
Did you hear that??? Well, Roaring Mountain isn’t quite as loud as it used to be, but it’s still one of the hottest thermal areas in all of Yellowstone National Park!
Meet a friend of ours. This friend has been monitoring changes of the ground surface in Yellowstone for decades and is so good that it can detect movement of just a few millimeters in magnitude (just a fraction of an inch). The friend? A continuous GPS station!
Meet a friend of ours. This friend has been monitoring changes of the ground surface in Yellowstone for decades and is so good that it can detect movement of just a few millimeters in magnitude (just a fraction of an inch). The friend? A continuous GPS station!
Happy New Year! Let's go back and take a look at the top five geologic stories for Yellowstone in 2025.
Number five: Rumors. It was a year of internet rumors, mostly related to animals fleeing the park, and none of which were true.
Happy New Year! Let's go back and take a look at the top five geologic stories for Yellowstone in 2025.
Number five: Rumors. It was a year of internet rumors, mostly related to animals fleeing the park, and none of which were true.
Just last week, Kīlauea put on another dramatic display of lava fountaining and flows within the caldera, during its 37th episode of this most recent eruption. It doesn't seem like Hawaii and Yellowstone have a lot in common, but actually, those two magmatic systems have a common cause.
Just last week, Kīlauea put on another dramatic display of lava fountaining and flows within the caldera, during its 37th episode of this most recent eruption. It doesn't seem like Hawaii and Yellowstone have a lot in common, but actually, those two magmatic systems have a common cause.
Sounds of lava lake activity within Kilauea Volcano's summit vent inside Halema`uma`u Crater on the afternoon of February 14, 2011. The continuous "crashing wave" noise is the sound of churning lava as gases are released from the lake surface, which is in nearly constant motion.
Sounds of lava lake activity within Kilauea Volcano's summit vent inside Halema`uma`u Crater on the afternoon of February 14, 2011. The continuous "crashing wave" noise is the sound of churning lava as gases are released from the lake surface, which is in nearly constant motion.
Welcome to CoreFacts, where we're always short on time and big on science. I'm Brian Campbell. Today's question is …
How far did the ash from Mount St. Helens travel?
Welcome to CoreFacts, where we're always short on time and big on science. I'm Brian Campbell. Today's question is …
How far did the ash from Mount St. Helens travel?
Listen to hear the answer.
Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii has experienced its first explosive eruption in more than 80 years and is now spewing noxious gas at 10 times the normal rate. John Eichelberger, head of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program, fills us in on the situation.
Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii has experienced its first explosive eruption in more than 80 years and is now spewing noxious gas at 10 times the normal rate. John Eichelberger, head of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program, fills us in on the situation.
The camera view is north-northwest from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk looking at Black Diamond Pool, which is in the foreground (the tilted viewing angle is due to the slope of the boardwalk).
The camera view is north-northwest from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk looking at Black Diamond Pool, which is in the foreground (the tilted viewing angle is due to the slope of the boardwalk).
This static image is from a USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory research camera located at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, north of Mount St. Helens. The view is to the south. This camera is intended to assist the USGS with situational awareness. At times, clouds, rain, and snow obscure visibility.
This static image is from a USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory research camera located at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, north of Mount St. Helens. The view is to the south. This camera is intended to assist the USGS with situational awareness. At times, clouds, rain, and snow obscure visibility.
Live view of the northwest flank of Mauna Loa; the view is from the southeast flank of Hualālai [HLcam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
Live view of the northwest flank of Mauna Loa; the view is from the southeast flank of Hualālai [HLcam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
Live Image of Mauna Loa's Summit and Northeast Rift Zone from Mauna Kea [MK2cam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
Live Image of Mauna Loa's Summit and Northeast Rift Zone from Mauna Kea [MK2cam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
Live view of Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), from the northwest rim of the crater [V1cam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
Disclaimer
Live view of Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), from the northwest rim of the crater [V1cam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
Disclaimer
This image is from a temporary research camera positioned just south of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, looking north at the southern flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō's cone.
Disclaimer
This image is from a temporary research camera positioned just south of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, looking north at the southern flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō's cone.
Disclaimer
