Images

During episode 29 of lava fountaining from the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption, a USGS scientist uses a laser rangefinder from the caldera rim to measure the width and distance of lava channels—data that helps estimate the flow’s velocity. USGS staff visit this hazardous area with permission from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists prepare for a UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) flight at Kīlauea summit on July 17, 2025.

Crater Rim Drive within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was damaged during the earthquakes and collapse events in 2018. Tephra has been deposited parts of the damaged road during recent lava fountaining episodes in Halemaʻumaʻu, underscoring the hazardous nature of this area that has remained closed to the public since 2008. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory pilot guides a UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) to the landing pad after an observational flight over the eruptive vents in Halemaʻumaʻu.

The tephra mound on the crater rim southwest of the active vents in Halemaʻumaʻu is nearly 100 feet (30 m) tall after 28 episodes of lava fountaining since December 23, 2024. The profile of the tephra mound nearly mirrors that of Mauna Loa, outlined behind it. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

This near-vertical view into the north vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater was captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) flight on July 17, 2025. The aircraft was about 150 m (500 ft) above the vent, with north oriented to the upper left in this view. No incandescence or lava was visible within the vent.

Significant cracks have appeared in the cone around the eruptive vents in Halemaʻumaʻu, as this feature has slumped downwards following episode 28. The south vent, which did not erupt during episode 28, was completely covered but the north vent remains visibly degassing. Mauna Kea is on the horizon in the background of the image. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Following episode 28 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on July 9, this satellite image was acquired on July 11. It shows the tephra deposit extending in the predominant downwind direction to the southwest in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Solar panels that power USGS volcano monitoring equipment can be covered with tephra during eruptive episodes at the summit of Kīlauea. These tephra particles can range in size from fine ash to tennis-ball sized and larger.  USGS field engineers visit these stations after eruptive episodes to clean them off and restore power to the stations. USGS photo by M.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers visited monitoring stations downwind of the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents on July 10. They wore snowshoes as the large footprint keeps the field engineers walking on top of the frothy pumice everywhere, rather than through it. USGS photo by M. Warren. 

On July 10, USGS field engineers visited one of the volcanic gas monitoring stations downwind of the summit of Kīlauea, within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This area has been blanketed with tephra material during recent eruptive episodes within Halemaʻumaʻu. USGS photo by M. Cappos. 

During episode 28 lava fountaining on Wednesday, July 9, clasts of fluid, molten lava were ejected to heights of approximately 1000 feet (300 meters) from the vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater and deposited onto the growing tephra hill on the western side of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera).

During Kīlauea summit eruption episode 28 on Wednesday, July 9, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted an aerial overflight of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which included a brief landing on the crater floor to collect lava samples.

Halemaʻumaʻu crater is the home of Pele, the Native Hawaiian elemental force associated with lava, and numerous eruptions have taken place in the crater. With permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists landed briefly on the crater floor on Wednesday, July 9, to collect lava samples of episode 28.

USGS scientists use an FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer) to measure the chemical composition of volcanic gas during episode 28 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit on July 9, 2025. USGS photo by M. Cappos.

At around 6:30 a.m. HST on July 9, 2025, a fan-shaped lava fountain being erupted during episode 28 was visible from near Kīlauea Overlook within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

This photo was taken by a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring webcam just before 6:00 a.m. HST on July 9, during episode 28 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Mauna Loa looms in the background, illuminated by the morning sun. USGS photo.

Aerial view taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight, showing the lava fountain of episode 28 within the summit caldera (Kaluapele) of Kīlauea. These lava fountains reached a maximum of 1150 ft (350 meters) but were mostly lower than this height throughout the fountaining episode.

Near the Kīlauea Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, an ‘ōhi‘a lehua frames the lava fountains of episode 28 on July 9. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

During episode 28 of lava fountaining during the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption, USGS scientists approached the caldera rim to measure volcanic gas emissions with permission from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This lava fountain on the morning of July 9 was approximately 1000 feet tall (300 meters).

Captured on USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory livestreaming V2cam, the north vent produced a fan-shaped fountain during episode 28 on July 9. The south vent was quiet during this episode, giving the north vent the full spotlight. Maximum fountain height in this episode was 321 meters (1053 feet). USGS photo.