Images

The former Hawaiian Volcano Observatory building, perched on Kīlauea caldera rim, has spectacular views of the summit eruption. The tower was built with a vision of overlooking eruptions such as this one. This building was damaged during the 2018 summit collapse and is slated for deconstruction later this year. USGS photo by C. Gansecki. 

An HVO geologist makes observations of the vents erupting on the floor of the downdropped block in Kīlauea summit caldera on September 12, 2023. Field crews measure the height of the cones around the vents, the height of the lava fountains, and the height of the lava flow field as it becomes perched above the surrounding pre-eruptive landscape. USGS photo by N.

A helicopter overflight on September 12, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruptive activity continues with fountains active on the downdropped block, just east of Halema‘uma‘u crater, with lava pouring west onto the crater floor.

During the week of September 11, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers rebuilt station KOHD on Kohala, which had been severely damaged by storms and heavy winds earlier this year. In this photo, new 48 volt solar panels are being installed. USGS photo by M. Warren. 

During the week of September 11, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineers rebuilt station KOHD on Kohala, which had been severely damaged by storms and heavy winds earlier this year. In this photo, new 48 volt solar panels are being installed. USGS photo by K. Kamibayashi. 

On September 12, 2023, HVO geologists landed on the downdropped block to collect samples of tephra from the now-inactive easternmost fissures of the new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea. These samples will be analyzed to better understand how and why the new eruption occurred. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

An aerial view of the eruption at the summit of Kīlauea at approximately 6:30 a.m. HST on September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist are in the field today, September 11, monitoring the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera that began yesterday afternoon. From the scarp of the downdropped block on its north side, the active fissures on the downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater are visible.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists monitor the ongoing activity within Kīlauea summit caldera. They measure lava fountain and lake surface heights and document the location of still active vents. USGS photo by A. Nalesnik.

After preparing the lava samples, the pressed pellets are loaded into the energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) instrument for analysis (box on the left in the image). The computer screen shows the spectral spikes for certain elements measured in the sample during the analysis.

A dried sample of the recent Kīlauea summit eruption is ready for processing at the University of Hawai‘i. UH-Hilo photo by S. Lundblad. 

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

A new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano began at approximately 3:13 p.m. on Sunday, September 10, 2023. This map depicts activity within Halema‘uma‘u on the second day of the eruption, September 11.

A photo showing what completed pellet look like, with a sharpie pen for scale. The rough and uneven lava sample has been transformed into a pellet that is dense, fine-grained, and has a flat surface that can be analyzed. USGS photo by S. Lundblad. 

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera.

A sample of the recent Kīlauea summit eruption that was collected and quenched (cooled) with water is dried later that day in a warm oven at the University of Hawai‘i. UH-Hilo photo by S. Lundblad.