Images

A koa‘e kea (white tailed tropicbird) soars above Halema‘uma‘u crater floor in front of low fountaining at the south vent on April 20. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 18, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew their aircraft directly above the south vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea for a close-up view into its depths.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 18, the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea was vigorously degassing although it did not host any obvious active lava. This high-angle aerial photo shows multiple openings in the base of the vent cone that glowed hot in simultaneously captured thermal images.

On April 18, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. This oblique aerial photo provides an overview of the two eruptive vents, north (background) and south (foreground).

Satellite image showing changes in the Pohoiki area on the Island of Hawaiʻi. The pre-2018 coastline is shown in white, extent of the first and second phase of growth in blue (about 1 year after the end of the 2018 eruption), and the current active phase as seen in the satellite image from March 2024. Satellite image from GoogleEarth.

This map shows deformation at Kīlauea volcano associated with the ongoing summit eruption that started on December 23, 2024. The image covers the timespan from April 9–17, 2025, using data recorded by the Italian Space Agency's (ASI) COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite constellation.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 15, the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea was not emitting as much volcanic gas as its southern counterpart, and it did not glow as hot in thermal images.

On April 15, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.

On April 15, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist prepares for a UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) flight into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. UAS flights are conducted with the permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and aid in hazard assessment of ongoing volcanic activity.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 15, USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff monitor the UAS, which is visible just to the right of center in this image. HVO staff collected aerial imagery and volcanic gas concentration data during the UAS flights, which aids in volcanic hazard assessment of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.

A view of the north and south vents within Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea volcano, on April 15, 2025, taken from the south rim of the caldera. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists measured the height of the crater wall behind the vents using a laser rangefinder.

Helicopter overflight and a field visit by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists to the crater rim to observe the lava fountaining in episode 17 of the ongoing summit eruption of Kīlauea.

During a monitoring overflight at 7:15 a.m. HST on April 9, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews observed Pāhoehoe flows on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. These flows were fed by the south vent fountains, which ceased activity around 9:45 a.m. this morning, April 9, marking the end of episode 17. USGS photo by E.

During a monitoring overflight on April 9, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews observed that the ponded lava in the north vent from April 8 had drained and/or collapsed. The south vent was still active, with fountaining sending lava flows across the floor of Halema‘uma‘u. USGS photo by K. Lynn. 

This thermal map was taken on the 7 a.m. overflight of Kīlauea summit on April 9, 2025, and shows the expansive lava flow covering the floor of Halema‘uma‘u, supplied by lava fountains at the vent. As in earlier episodes, the lava exited the vent into a short channel that fed a broad perched lava pond.

This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. As of this posting on April 9, the eruption has had seventeen episodes, with the most recent concluding earlier this morning.

This photo shows the low fountaining in the south vent, at the summit of Kīlauea, just minutes before the fountaining ended at 9:45 a.m. HST on April 9, 2025. Visibility in the caldera was variable this morning with passing showers. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist collects a molten lava sample for geochemical analysis, which will inform hazard analyses of the ongoing eruption. This lava flow was supplied by lava fountaining in the western end of the crater, during episode 17 of the ongoing summit eruption of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Lava fountains during episode 17 supplied lava into a broad lava flow field covering much of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. Here, a small lobe of pāhoehoe breaks out at the far eastern end of the crater. The lava fountain and its degassing plume are visible in the distance. USGS photo by M. Patrick

A helicopter overflight the morning of April 9, 2025, at 7 a.m. HST provided views of the episode 17 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea just a few hours before it ended. The lava fountains were supplying lava into a flow that covered much of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. The fountains also produced a towering outgassing plume above the summit.

A USGS IT Specialist presents a visualization of volcanic hazards derived via satellite radar systems. IT systems facilitating the swift and accurate production of such solutions will be vital to the success of NVEWS. USGS image.