Images

From the floor of Nāpau Crater, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observed where recent lava flows covered the trail in the crater. The trail is visible in the lower center portion of the photograph, as a track in tephra deposited during previous eruptions in the area. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas scientists measured the composition of gases being emitted by Kīlauea during the waning phase of the middle East Rift Zone eruption on September 20, 2024. They used a FTIR spectrometer, which measures how the plume of gases being emitted at the eruption site absorbs infrared energy.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field monitoring crews reported minor spattering and small fountains at one end of the vent as of 8:30 a.m. HST on September 20, 2024. By 10 a.m. HST, eruptive activity had paused but the eruptive vents continued to emit volcanic gas and steam, visible in this aerial photograph.

On September 20, 2024, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists examined a ground crack near the recent eruption site in the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

This image, captured during a UGSS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight the morning of September 20, 2024, shows that most of Nāpau Crater floor has been covered with new lava during the recent Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

A telephoto view of the fissure that briefly reactivated west of Nāpau Crater this morning, September 20. Low-level fountaining occurred from approximately 8–9:30 a.m. HST. USGS photo by H. Winslow.

During the September 20 monitoring overflight, USGS Hawaiin Volcano Observatory geologists observed the fissure west of Nāpau Crater reactivate briefly between 8–9:30 a.m. HST, with minor fissure fountaining and lava flows. View is looking southeast. USGS photo by H. Winslow.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a reconnaissance overflight of the eruption near Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. They observed a 150-m-long (nearly 500 feet) fissure west of the crater erupting lava that is flowing in the crater via a channel more than 50 meters (about 164 feet) wide.

The 150-m-long (nearly 500 feet) fissure erupting west of Nāpau Crater within Hawaʻi Volcanoes National Park began erupting yesterday, September 18, around 3:15 p.m. It's part of an eruptive sequence that began in this area the night of September 15, 2024.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a reconnaissance overflight of the eruption near Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. New lava from fissure eruptions over the past several days now covers about two thirds of the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a reconnaissance overflight of the eruption near Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. They observed a 150-m-long (nearly 500 feet) fissure west of the crater erupting lava that is flowing in the crater via a channel more than 50 meters (about 164 feet) wide.

A helicopter overflight on September 19, 2024, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected at the middle East Rift Zone eruption site on Kīlauea. The eruptive activity continues with a fissure vent active west of Nāpau Crater generating lava flows northeast into the crater.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a reconnaissance overflight of the eruption near Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. They observed a 150-m-long (nearly 500 feet) fissure west of the crater erupting lava in a curtain of lava 10-20 meters (33-66 feet) high. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

On September 19, 2024, USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists landed near the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption site, where they viewed lava flowing through a channel more than 50 meters (about 164 feet) wide. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

This reference map depicts fissures and lava flows from the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Map data are current as of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight that occurred between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.

During the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reconnaissance overflight the morning of September 19, geologists observed the fissure west of Nāpau Crater generating a lava flow that travels northeast before cascading into the crater on the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. This aerial view is looking in a south direction, from north of the eruption site.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a reconnaissance overflight of the eruption near Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. They observed lava cascading over the rim of the crater from a channel more than 50 meters (about 164 feet) wide. Lava is contained within Nāpau Crater and now covers about two thirds of the crater floor.

Weak low fountaining in a tiny lava pond within Nāpau Crater was visible during a morning Hawaiian Volcano Observatory eruption monitoring overflight on September 18, 2024. The eruptive activity has greatly decreased compared to yesterday. USGS photo by H. Winslow. 

From the ground in Nāpau Crater, spattering lava was visible above the newly formed lava flows. This eruption is taking place on the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by H. Winslow. 

Although most of the lava flow field within Nāpau Crater was inactive this morning, lava was actively oozing out of a marginal area. USGS photo by H. Winslow. 

During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight the morning of September 18, geologists observed only very weak activity at Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone eruption site in Nāpau Crater.