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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
Two USGS scientists service a seismic station on Tutuila island in American Samoa. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory uses this site and three others to monitor volcanic activity in American Samoa. These stations are also used by the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the USGS National Earthquake Information Center. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Two USGS scientists service a seismic station on Tutuila island in American Samoa. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory uses this site and three others to monitor volcanic activity in American Samoa. These stations are also used by the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the USGS National Earthquake Information Center. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo, taken from an airplane, shows Ofu Island from the south looking north. Nuʻutele Island is visible to the left (west) of Ofu Island. The tallest point of Ofu Island is the peak of Tumutumu Mountain at 1,611 feet (491 meters). The westernmost edge of Olosega Island is visible to the right of Ofu Island; the two islands are connected by the Asaga bridge.
This photo, taken from an airplane, shows Ofu Island from the south looking north. Nuʻutele Island is visible to the left (west) of Ofu Island. The tallest point of Ofu Island is the peak of Tumutumu Mountain at 1,611 feet (491 meters). The westernmost edge of Olosega Island is visible to the right of Ofu Island; the two islands are connected by the Asaga bridge.
This photo, taken from an airplane, shows Aunu‘u Island from the south looking north; Tutuila Island is visible on the left. Aunu‘u Island is a tuff cone less than 1 mile southeast of Tutuila Island and is considered part of Tutuila volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.
This photo, taken from an airplane, shows Aunu‘u Island from the south looking north; Tutuila Island is visible on the left. Aunu‘u Island is a tuff cone less than 1 mile southeast of Tutuila Island and is considered part of Tutuila volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.
This photo, taken from an airplane, shows Ofu-Olosega from the southeast looking northwest. Olosega Island is in the right foreground, while Ofu Island is in the middle left background. Ocean waves are breaking at some distance from shore where there is a coral reef. According to the 2020 US Census, less than 300 people live on Ofu-Olosega. USGS photo by N.
This photo, taken from an airplane, shows Ofu-Olosega from the southeast looking northwest. Olosega Island is in the right foreground, while Ofu Island is in the middle left background. Ocean waves are breaking at some distance from shore where there is a coral reef. According to the 2020 US Census, less than 300 people live on Ofu-Olosega. USGS photo by N.
This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. Most of the data for this map were collected during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on August 28, 2026, so the provided statistics are reflective of the entire eruption through episode 54 on August 25.
This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. Most of the data for this map were collected during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on August 28, 2026, so the provided statistics are reflective of the entire eruption through episode 54 on August 25.
This photo, taken from a boat looking to the northwest, shows Olosega Island on the right and Ofu Island on the left in the distance. Together, they make up the top of Ofu-Olosega volcano, most of which is underwater. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo, taken from a boat looking to the northwest, shows Olosega Island on the right and Ofu Island on the left in the distance. Together, they make up the top of Ofu-Olosega volcano, most of which is underwater. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This panorama photo shows the heavily vegetated Judds Crater from the north looking south on eastern Ta‘ū Island in American Samoa.
This panorama photo shows the heavily vegetated Judds Crater from the north looking south on eastern Ta‘ū Island in American Samoa.
This photo, taken from a boat, shows the northwest side of Nuʻutele Island, off the west coast of Ofu Island in the Manuʻa Islands, American Samoa. Nuʻutele Island, which may be known by other names locally, is an eroded tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.
This photo, taken from a boat, shows the northwest side of Nuʻutele Island, off the west coast of Ofu Island in the Manuʻa Islands, American Samoa. Nuʻutele Island, which may be known by other names locally, is an eroded tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seismologist services the FAGA seismic station on eastern Taʻū Island, American Samoa. This station is part of the volcano monitoring network of American Samoa, and is also used by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) and by the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). USGS photo by N. Deligne.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seismologist services the FAGA seismic station on eastern Taʻū Island, American Samoa. This station is part of the volcano monitoring network of American Samoa, and is also used by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) and by the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This map depicts cumulative tephra thicknesses for the Kīlauea summit eruption in areas southwest of the Halema‘uma‘u eruptive vents as of July 29, 2026.
This map depicts cumulative tephra thicknesses for the Kīlauea summit eruption in areas southwest of the Halema‘uma‘u eruptive vents as of July 29, 2026.
Panorama of Faleāsao village harbor on northwest Ta‘ū island, looking primarily north. This harbor is situated within a tuff cone that is thousands of years old, formed when hot magma interacted with either shallow groundwater or sea water. There are several tuff cones located within the northwest corner of Ta‘ū island. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Panorama of Faleāsao village harbor on northwest Ta‘ū island, looking primarily north. This harbor is situated within a tuff cone that is thousands of years old, formed when hot magma interacted with either shallow groundwater or sea water. There are several tuff cones located within the northwest corner of Ta‘ū island. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo, taken from a boat looking south, shows Olosega Island to the left, Ofu Island to the right, and the Asaga bridge connecting the two islands. The Asaga bridge was built in 1970; this single-lane bridge connects the two islands that form Ofu-Olosega volcano. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo, taken from a boat looking south, shows Olosega Island to the left, Ofu Island to the right, and the Asaga bridge connecting the two islands. The Asaga bridge was built in 1970; this single-lane bridge connects the two islands that form Ofu-Olosega volcano. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo, taken from a boat, shows the eastern side of Olosega Island in the Manuʻa Islands of American Samoa. This volcanic island is part of Ofu-Olosega volcano, which is estimated to be 440,000 years old. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
This photo, taken from a boat, shows the eastern side of Olosega Island in the Manuʻa Islands of American Samoa. This volcanic island is part of Ofu-Olosega volcano, which is estimated to be 440,000 years old. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Another view of Kīlauea summit north, south, and west vents during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring helicopter overflight on Friday, August 28, 2026. Tephra and lava that filled in the south vent during lava fountaining episode 54 on August 25 is very noticeable here, whereas the north and west vents remain open and degassing. USGS photo by P.
Another view of Kīlauea summit north, south, and west vents during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring helicopter overflight on Friday, August 28, 2026. Tephra and lava that filled in the south vent during lava fountaining episode 54 on August 25 is very noticeable here, whereas the north and west vents remain open and degassing. USGS photo by P.
Sample collection and analyses are an important part of understanding the state of Kīlauea, and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) manages to collect samples of tephra and lava flows after almost every episode.
Sample collection and analyses are an important part of understanding the state of Kīlauea, and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) manages to collect samples of tephra and lava flows after almost every episode.
On Friday, August 28, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff conducted a morning overflight of the north, south, and west vents on the western side of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Flames and weak glow could be seen in the livestream videos overnight, but during the overflight no glow or incandescence was visible from the north or west vents.
On Friday, August 28, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff conducted a morning overflight of the north, south, and west vents on the western side of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Flames and weak glow could be seen in the livestream videos overnight, but during the overflight no glow or incandescence was visible from the north or west vents.
After digging out and removing this volcanic gas monitoring site from a hole in the tephra deposit at Kīlauea summit, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field technicians make repairs to the station including changing a solar panel that was cracked from tephra (volcanic rock fragments) impacting it.
After digging out and removing this volcanic gas monitoring site from a hole in the tephra deposit at Kīlauea summit, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field technicians make repairs to the station including changing a solar panel that was cracked from tephra (volcanic rock fragments) impacting it.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff dig out infrastructure from one of several volcanic gas monitoring stations that were buried by a thick tephra deposit at Kīlauea summit that has accumulated since the episodic lava fountaining eruption began in December 2024.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff dig out infrastructure from one of several volcanic gas monitoring stations that were buried by a thick tephra deposit at Kīlauea summit that has accumulated since the episodic lava fountaining eruption began in December 2024.
On August 27, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff spent much of the day digging volcanic gas monitoring sites out of the tephra deposit from the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. This station was moved out of a hole, seen to the right in the background of this image, and onto the top of the tephra deposit. USGS photo by L. DeSmither.
On August 27, 2026, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff spent much of the day digging volcanic gas monitoring sites out of the tephra deposit from the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. This station was moved out of a hole, seen to the right in the background of this image, and onto the top of the tephra deposit. USGS photo by L. DeSmither.
The V1 livestreaming camera, located on the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea, captured this image of the episode 54 lava fountain at 11:47 a.m. HST. At that time, the lava fountain from the north vent was an estimated 400 feet (120 meters) high. USGS webcam image.
The V1 livestreaming camera, located on the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea, captured this image of the episode 54 lava fountain at 11:47 a.m. HST. At that time, the lava fountain from the north vent was an estimated 400 feet (120 meters) high. USGS webcam image.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas scientist collects FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer) data during lava fountaining episode 54 in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. This data is used to measure the chemical composition of volcanic gas being emitted during eruptive episodes. USGS photo by C. Gansecki.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas scientist collects FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer) data during lava fountaining episode 54 in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. This data is used to measure the chemical composition of volcanic gas being emitted during eruptive episodes. USGS photo by C. Gansecki.