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Images

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.

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color photograph of summit of volcano
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit

Kīlauea Volcano’s summit, seen here from the northeast rim of the caldera, has remained quiet, with no collapse events since August 2. It remains too soon to tell if this diminished activity represents a temporary lull or the end of summit collapses.

Kīlauea Volcano’s summit, seen here from the northeast rim of the caldera, has remained quiet, with no collapse events since August 2. It remains too soon to tell if this diminished activity represents a temporary lull or the end of summit collapses.

color photograph of sand bar and boat ramp
Pohoiki boat ramp and sand bar
Pohoiki boat ramp and sand bar
Pohoiki boat ramp and sand bar

Close view of the Pohoiki boat ramp during this morning's overflight. The southern-most flow margin has not advanced significantly toward the Pohoiki boat ramp, but black sand and larger fragments from the entry areas have washed ashore to create a sand bar and beach at this site.

Close view of the Pohoiki boat ramp during this morning's overflight. The southern-most flow margin has not advanced significantly toward the Pohoiki boat ramp, but black sand and larger fragments from the entry areas have washed ashore to create a sand bar and beach at this site.

Color photograph of volcanic vent
 Aerial view of the fissure 8 cone
 Aerial view of the fissure 8 cone
 Aerial view of the fissure 8 cone

Aerial view of the fissure 8 cone and spillway captured by Civil Air Patrol during their overflight on August 7, 2018. View is toward the south.

Aerial view of the fissure 8 cone and spillway captured by Civil Air Patrol during their overflight on August 7, 2018. View is toward the south.

New outcrops make good geology
New outcrops make good geology
New outcrops make good geology
New outcrops make good geology

This aerial view of the western part of Kīlauea Volcano's caldera was taken on August 6, 2018. The down-dropped block is faulted about 120 m (400 feet) below the caldera floor. Many 19th-century lava flows are exposed in the fault scarps. Halema‘uma‘u (not visible) is to the left of this photo.

This aerial view of the western part of Kīlauea Volcano's caldera was taken on August 6, 2018. The down-dropped block is faulted about 120 m (400 feet) below the caldera floor. Many 19th-century lava flows are exposed in the fault scarps. Halema‘uma‘u (not visible) is to the left of this photo.

Color image of three scientists walking towards volcanic vent
USGS gas geochemist and colleagues at fissure 8
USGS gas geochemist and colleagues at fissure 8
USGS gas geochemist and colleagues at fissure 8

A USGS gas geochemist and colleagues from the United Kingdom carry multi-gas sensors as they approach the degassing fissure 8 cone during Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 eruption.

A USGS gas geochemist and colleagues from the United Kingdom carry multi-gas sensors as they approach the degassing fissure 8 cone during Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 eruption.

color photograph of volcanic lava channel
Lava in the fissure 8 channel spillway
Lava in the fissure 8 channel spillway
Lava in the fissure 8 channel spillway

Lava in the fissure 8 channel spillway was fairly low this morning, with the lava in the channel moving at a fairly low velocity.

fissures were characterized by low eruption rates
fissures were characterized by low eruption rates
fissures were characterized by low eruption rates
fissures were characterized by low eruption rates

During the first two weeks of Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, fissures were characterized by low eruption rates and small flows. This was because the erupted lava originated from pockets of cooler, less fluid magma stored in the rift zone.

During the first two weeks of Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, fissures were characterized by low eruption rates and small flows. This was because the erupted lava originated from pockets of cooler, less fluid magma stored in the rift zone.

Color photograph of volcano summit
Kīlauea summit caldera 
Kīlauea summit caldera 
Kīlauea summit caldera 

This view across the summit caldera shows ground cracks (center) just north of Halema‘uma‘u. Rockfalls within the crater and along the caldera walls continue to stir up dust that can be seen here rising above the caldera rim.

This view across the summit caldera shows ground cracks (center) just north of Halema‘uma‘u. Rockfalls within the crater and along the caldera walls continue to stir up dust that can be seen here rising above the caldera rim.

Color photograph of lava entering ocean
South edge of the lava flow
South edge of the lava flow
South edge of the lava flow

The south edge of the lava flow showed no incandescence this morning and remained less than 0.1 miles from the Pohoiki boat ramp in Isaac Hale Park. The main ocean entry area was still in the Ahalanui area.

The south edge of the lava flow showed no incandescence this morning and remained less than 0.1 miles from the Pohoiki boat ramp in Isaac Hale Park. The main ocean entry area was still in the Ahalanui area.

active lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone
active lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone
active lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone
active lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone

The fissure 8 vent (far distance, upper right) continues to feed an active lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone, shown here on July 26, 2018.

Color photograph of lava at night
Nighttime view of fissure 8 
Nighttime view of fissure 8 
Nighttime view of fissure 8 

Nighttime view of fissure 8 lava as it exits the vent and feeds into the channel.

Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village
Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village
Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village
Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village

Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village on the west side of Hawai‘i Island as it is blown by trade winds across the island and toward the Pacific Ocean. For more information on sulfur dioxide emissions and vog, see https://vog.ivhhn.org/.

Edge of the Kīlauea vog plume near Waikoloa Village on the west side of Hawai‘i Island as it is blown by trade winds across the island and toward the Pacific Ocean. For more information on sulfur dioxide emissions and vog, see https://vog.ivhhn.org/.

Color photograph of volcanic crater
The growing Halema‘uma‘u
The growing Halema‘uma‘u
The growing Halema‘uma‘u

View of growing Halema‘uma‘u from the southeast side of Kīlauea Crater.

This Hawai‘i County Fire Department aerial image shows Kapoho Crater
This Hawai‘i County Fire Department aerial image shows Kapoho Crater
This Hawai‘i County Fire Department aerial image shows Kapoho Crater
This Hawai‘i County Fire Department aerial image shows Kapoho Crater

This Hawai‘i County Fire Department aerial image shows Kapoho Crater with the most active branch of the fissure 8 lava channel now to the west (right) of the cone and feeding a robust ocean entry.

Color photograph showing the summit of Kīlauea Volcano.
Aerial view of Kīlauea summit on July 13, 2018.
Aerial view of Kīlauea summit on July 13, 2018.
Aerial view of Kīlauea summit on July 13, 2018.

USGS scientists captured this stunning aerial photo of Halemaumau and part of the Kīlauea caldera floor during a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's summit on July 13, 2018.

USGS scientists captured this stunning aerial photo of Halemaumau and part of the Kīlauea caldera floor during a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's summit on July 13, 2018.

Color photograph of plume from lava entering ocean
Ocean entry plume rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park
Ocean entry plume rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park
Ocean entry plume rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park

In this aerial view looking to the north, a robust ocean entry plume can be seen rising from just offshore of Ahalanui Beach Park, which was inundated with lava yesterday.

During an overflight this morning, the Hawaii County Fire Department captured this image looking east toward Kapoho Crater. A br
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow
Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow

During an overflight this morning, the Hawaii County Fire Department captured this image looking east toward Kapoho Crater.

During an overflight this morning, the Hawaii County Fire Department captured this image looking east toward Kapoho Crater.

Night time view of Halekamahina
Kīlauea Volcano — Looking Uprift Past Halekamahina
Kīlauea Volcano — Looking Uprift Past Halekamahina
Kīlauea Volcano — Looking Uprift Past Halekamahina

View from Bryson's quarry around 11:45 p.m. HST last night looking uprift past Halekamahina (an older ash cone) to fissure 8, which is creating the glow behind the cone.

View of fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Lava Channel

Fissure 8 and a full lava channel as seen during HVO's early morning overflight. The visible road is Nohea Street in the Leilani Estates subdivision.

Aerial view of Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial View of Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial View of Kapoho Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial View of Kapoho Crater

Aerial view of Kapoho Crater looking toward the south-southeast. Part of the lava channelbecame blocked just upstream of Kapoho Crater yesterday, diverting flows to the west and then south around the crater (center right). Lava exiting a crusted section of the channel continued flowing in the channel pathway (lower center to left).

Aerial view of Kapoho Crater looking toward the south-southeast. Part of the lava channelbecame blocked just upstream of Kapoho Crater yesterday, diverting flows to the west and then south around the crater (center right). Lava exiting a crusted section of the channel continued flowing in the channel pathway (lower center to left).

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