Images

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist uses a hammer to collect a sample from a cooled lava flow near the western end of the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone fissure system. On November 25, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the recent eruption area to collect lava samples and other data to further their studies of the eruption.

On November 25, 2024, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists surveyed the lava-draped west walls of Nāpau Crater. This view looks to the southwest and shows where the lava falls were vigorous enough to throw molten spatter over to the trail area. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

During field work on November 25th, 2024, HVO geologists spotted these lava "rosettes" in Nāpau Crater. They could be found on the edges of the September 15–20 lava flows, and seemed to be twirled up lava margins that spun into flower shapes as the molten flows were viscous and cooling. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

Near the western-most fissures from the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption, lava spatter is visible on the branches of a small ‘ōhi‘a tree. The lava spatter landed while it was still partially molten, causing it drape and stretch over the branches before hardening. USGS photo taken on November 25, 2024, by L. DeSmither.

A close-up view of sulfur crystals that have grown on a fallen tree from the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption. This tree fell over a lava tree cast, which is releasing hot steam and volcanic gas to form this sulfur deposit. USGS photo taken by L. DeSmither on November 25, 2024.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist stands in a lava channel from the September 2024 Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption and examines the spatter rampart of a fissure on the south side of the channel. Red oxidized blocks from the spatter rampart lay on the floor of the channel in the middle and bottom of the photo. USGS photo taken on November 25, 2024, by L.

Map showing Kualoloa lava flows originating near the summit of Kīlauea, with pre- and post-Kualoloa lava flows shown for context. District boundaries and ahupuaʻa borders are also shown, along with placenames mentioned in text.

Examples of Hawaii geologic maps. The lefthand map is a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory map created on September 17, 2024, within hours of remote sensing (helicopter overflight) of the eruption that occurred from September 15–20, 2024.

High winds at the summit of Mauna Loa ripped several solar panels from their masts, damaging them. HVO staff performed a partial fix to the site to bring the summit webcams back online November 7, 2024. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

HVO staff inspected the radio telemetry site at the summit of Mauna Loa and found wind damage to several components. Mauna Kea is in the background. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Mauna Loa summit webcams have been down for several months due to wind damage at the radio telemetry site. On November 7, 2024, HVO staff visited the site and performed a partial fix that brought the webcams back online. Further visits will be needed to repair damaged solar panels. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This map shows recent deformation at Kīlauea over the timeframe of October 6–18, 2024. Data were acquired by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellites. Colored fringes denote areas of ground deformation, with more fringes indicating more deformation. Each color cycle represents 2.8 cm (1.1 in) of ground motion.

A view of vegetation that has appeared along the rim of Pu‘u‘ō‘ō since 2018, and the red ash along the rim that was deposited during the 2018 collapses. Handheld radio for scale. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist inspects the R3cam webcam enclosure, which had a small amount of water accumulation in recent months that obscured the image. This area of the volcano experiences very high rainfall. Drying out the enclosure and adding fresh desiccant should keep the camera views clear in the future. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This photo looks west along the south rim of Pu‘u‘ō‘ō. Red ash from the collapses during 2018 fills depressions in the lava flows, allowing moss and small ferns to grow. Green vegetation such as this was not observed by geologists near the rim during the 1983-2018 eruption, presumably due to high gas concentrations. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

The R3cam is a webcam on the east flank of Pu‘u‘ō‘ō, and it monitors areas downrift of Pu‘u‘ō‘ō. Given the recent eruptive activity in nearby Nāpau crater, this webcam is essential for detecting any changes that could occur in the area during future unrest. Today, USGS geologists visited to site to dry out the camera enclosure and add new desiccant.

A view into Pu‘u‘ō‘ō's crater from the south rim. The white layers represent numerous lava flows and spatter-fed flows formed during periods of high fountaining in the 1980s. The crater floor collapsed in 2018, and dropped by more than 300 meters (yards). Subsequent collapses have filled the deepest part of the crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Another view of moss and ferns along the rim of Pu‘u‘ō‘ō, on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. The red ash originates from collapses within the crater during 2018. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

An area of forest continues to burn in a remote area on the south rim of Nāpau Crater following the recent eruption on Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Beginning around 4 p.m. HST on October 6, a smoke plume from the burning vegetation became visible in HVO webcam imagery, and intermittent incandescence was seen overnight.

This aerial photo of Nāpau Crater, looking south, shows the lava flows (gray) from the recent Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. Along the south rim of the crater (background of image), smoke plumes are visible from a small wildfire that continues to burn in a remote area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo taken by L.

Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. An ongoing wildfire in the vicinity of the recent eruption area near Nāpau Crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has been intermittently visible in HVO webcam imagery.